SAN DIEGO - - The win was satisfying, but the number of big plays allowed by the Ravens was disturbing.
The Ravens (2-0) celebrated a hard-fought 31-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, but there will not be a lot of joy this morning on the defensive side when the coaches break out the videotape.
Stellar defense has been the trademark of this franchise since the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000, but that wasn't the case against the Chargers.
FOR THE RECORD - An article in Monday's Sports section incorrectly reported the field position where Darren Sproles was tackled by Ray Lewis on the San Diego Chargers' final offensive play of Sunday's game. Sproles was tackled at the Ravens' 20-yard line.
The Baltimore Sun regrets the error.
The Ravens allowed Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to pass for 436 yards. San Diego had pass plays of 81, 38, 37 and 45 yards.
The Ravens haven't given up these kinds of plays since they first moved here from Cleveland and had cornerbacks named Antonio Langham and DeRon "Third and Long" Jenkins.
The Ravens pulled the great escape coming out of San Diego with a win, but this kind of coverage can't continue, not with quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers on the schedule.
What can the Ravens do differently?
Maybe play more two-deep coverage than one deep to cut down on big plays. They might want to bring more pressure, as well.
They could ask their cornerbacks to grow bigger and stronger, but it's too late for that this year.
"Rivers made some plays against us I haven't seen in the last two years," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "Their receivers are big, and they made some big plays out there. We don't want to give up one play, not one play. It's something we have to work on."
San Diego took turns beating cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth, Fabian Washington and safety Dawan Landry. In fact, it got downright embarrassing.
"I'm sick with myself, to be honest with you," Foxworth said. "I was in position to make plays, but didn't. There is a difference in getting guys wide open and free, and then being in position, and not make a play."
The biggest play
Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis made the game's biggest play by tackling running back Darren Sproles in the backfield for a 5-yard loss on a fourth-and-2 at the Ravens' 15 late in the game, but he gets an assist from Chargers coach Norv Turner.
"They stayed true to what they had been doing on film," Lewis said. "Whenever they are in that formation, he goes downhill, and I just shot the gap. I took a risk, and I've told my teammates sometimes you have to take a risk."
