Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (C) cuts back across the field through San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Shaun Phillips (L) and linebacker Demorrio Williams as he runs for a first down on a 4th down with 29 yards to go play during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game in San Diego, California November 25, 2012. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
Let’s be clear here. What Ray Rice did on that pivotal 4th-and-29 conversion on Sunday in San Diego was nothing short of sensational.
His Baltimore Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh, called it the “greatest play I’ve ever seen or been a part of.”
A closer look at the play reveals that Rice and the Ravens got a lot of help – too much, in fact – from the Chargers. The defensive play call was defective.
Here’s the situation.
Baltimore trails 13-10 with 1:59 left in the fourth quarter, and has the ball 4th-and-29 at its own 37-yard line, at the right hash. To save you the math, the Ravens must advance to the Chargers’ 34, or San Diego wins.
