NFL – The last meeting of NFL week 12 promised us an exciting duel between John and Jim Harbaugh.
We left the two Harbaugh brothers one evening in February 2013 in the New Orleans Superdome during an emotional embrace that ended Super Bowl XLVII and the 2012 season. That evening, John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens imposed on Jim’s San Francisco 49ers in a spectacular match. Since then, the two brothers have never met in the NFL again… until this week 12 and this closing duel between the Ravens and the Chargers.
John takes Jim at his own game
Upon arriving at the Los Angeles Chargers, Jim Harbaugh announced his desire to implement a game plan resolutely focused on the ground game in the construction of his attack. To do this, he recruited two former Baltimore Ravens running backs, namely Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins, to carry this running game and somewhat unload Justin Herbert’s shoulders. A tactic that pays off since with an average of 118 yards on the ground per game, the Chargers’ attack ranks near the top 10 most effective teams in this area, notably with a very important JK Dobbins.
But the problem for Jim is that John also has a ground attack capable of bringing down any defense. Since the start of the season, the Chargers had the best defense in terms of points conceded with only 14.5 points per game. Offensive certainties which were shattered under the scoring strikes of Derrick Henry (144 yards on the ground) and under the finishing of Justice Hill or Lamar Jackson, both authors of a running touchdown in this game.
The result is clear: for the first time this season, the Chargers conceded at least 30 points in a game and did not have sufficient weapons in attack to respond. As during Super Bowl LVII between the two men, John Harbaugh adapted perfectly to his brother’s defense in order to achieve far from anecdotal success in the race for the AFC playoffs.
Since the start of their career, that is to say in the first three confrontations between the two men, John Harbaugh remains undefeated with three victories on the clock and no defeats. But there is no doubt that the two brothers will soon meet again with the desire for Jim to take his revenge. A new meeting which could take place this year if the Chargers and the Ravens were to face each other during the playoffs!
Crédit photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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