Chargers at Ravens: Brissett takes over as Baltimore tries to stop its slide

Baltimore has had more than a week to prepare for its first game with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, but time on the practice field cannot reproduce the decisions he will face against Los Angeles. Lamar Jackson's thumb injury has forced a change at the heart of the Ravens' offense just as a four-game losing streak has left them at 4-5. The Chargers are 0-8, yet Herbert remains capable of turning one protected snap into a long gain. Monday night's game asks whether Baltimore can give its newcomer a manageable assignment and whether Los Angeles can finally keep its own quarterback out of trouble.

• Competition: 2026 NFL regular season, Week 10.
• Matchup: Los Angeles Chargers (0-8) at Baltimore Ravens (4-5).
• Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland; the Ravens are at home.
• Kickoff: Monday, November 16, at 8:15 p.m. EST in Baltimore; 5:15 p.m. PST in Los Angeles; 01:15 UTC on Tuesday, November 17.

A new quarterback behind a familiar running game

The Ravens lost 33-10 to Jacksonville in their previous game. Jackson's injury has since put Brissett in line to make his Baltimore debut. Head coach Jesse Minter has spoken about how quickly the veteran has learned the offense, but his first start will show how well he and his receivers can make decisions together at game speed. Baltimore cannot assume that experience alone will restore an attack that has faltered during its losing streak.

Derrick Henry gives Brissett a way to avoid obvious passing downs. Henry entered the week with 689 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, while Baltimore averaged 137.8 yards on the ground per game, fourth in the league, according to the NFL's Week 10 figures. Productive early carries could open easier throws to Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. If Los Angeles slows Henry on first down, Brissett will have to make more plays when the defense knows a pass is coming.

Baltimore's defense has its own work to do. It was allowing 26.2 points per game and had intercepted only four passes entering this matchup, according to the Ravens' opponent preview. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins is out with a knee injury despite a limited return to practice. He played 81% of Baltimore's defensive snaps before getting hurt. Kyle Hamilton and Nate Wiggins have no final game-status designation on Saturday's injury report, but the loss of Hawkins still leaves Minter with one fewer option in the secondary against Herbert's deep arm.

Herbert's big plays come with a costly burden

Los Angeles lost 44-22 to Houston in Week 9. Through eight games, the Chargers were scoring an NFL-low 15.1 points per game, and Herbert had been sacked 31 times. He had thrown 11 interceptions, at least one in every game. Those numbers help explain the 0-8 start, but they sit alongside five completions of 50 yards or more, the league's highest total at the time of the Ravens' opponent assessment. Baltimore cannot treat an unsettled offense as one without explosive potential.

The status of Ladd McConkey makes the passing plan harder to project. The receiver led the Chargers in receiving through eight games, missed their game against Houston because of back trouble and did not practice Thursday, Friday or Saturday. The final Chargers injury report lists him as questionable, which leaves his participation open. Quentin Johnston scored on a 58-yard play against the Texans; he and Tre Harris may have to take a larger share of the targets if McConkey cannot go. Running back Omarion Hampton, with Keaton Mitchell behind him, also matters to an offense that cannot ask Herbert to rescue every possession with a long pass.

On defense, the Chargers were conceding 27.4 points and 122 rushing yards per game before Week 10. Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu can rush the passer, but Henry could make that pressure less useful if Baltimore repeatedly gains ground on early downs. Los Angeles needs to get Brissett into longer-yardage situations without opening easy throws over the middle. The Ravens, meanwhile, need a clean first half that keeps their new starter from chasing the game.

Saturday's availability report

These designations come from the Ravens and Chargers reports issued Saturday, November 14. Game-day active lists will settle any remaining questions.

Baltimore Ravens

• Lamar Jackson: unavailable with a thumb injury; Brissett has been named the starter.
• Jaylinn Hawkins: out with a knee injury, despite returning to limited practice.
• Adam Randall: questionable with neck and hamstring issues; the rookie running back has yet to play a regular-season game.
• Rashod Bateman, Kyle Hamilton, Olaivavega Ioane and Nate Wiggins: listed during the practice week but carrying no final game-status designation. That report does not itself guarantee they will be active Monday.

Los Angeles Chargers

• Branson Taylor: out with an ankle injury.
• Brenen Thompson: out with a hamstring injury.
• Isas Waxter: out with an ankle injury.
• Kendall Williamson: out with a calf injury.
• Ladd McConkey: questionable with a back injury after missing all three practices.
• Kayode Awosika: questionable with a fibula injury.
• Justin Eboigbe: questionable with an ankle injury.
• David Njoku: questionable with a fibula injury; he would also need the relevant roster activation to play.
• Denzel Perryman: questionable with a pectoral injury; he would also need the relevant roster activation to play.
• Trey Pipkins: questionable, with a knee issue and a personal matter listed on the report; he would also need the relevant roster activation to play.

Where the game could turn

Henry against the Chargers' front is the first contest to watch. A steady running game would let Baltimore choose when Brissett throws; early stops would put more weight on a quarterback still learning his teammates. Herbert against Baltimore's coverage is the second. The Ravens have forced few interceptions, but the Chargers' quarterback has given opponents chances. A takeaway or a sack that ruins field position would be especially costly for an offense averaging just 15.1 points.

There is also a familiar face across the field: Minter was the Chargers' defensive coordinator for the previous two seasons. He knows Herbert's strengths, while Herbert has seen Minter's approach at practice. That history may shape their preparation, but it does not reveal the calls either side will make Monday. McConkey's status and Hawkins's absence could force adjustments once the game begins.

How to watch Chargers at Ravens

• Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland.
• Kickoff: Monday, November 16, 8:15 p.m. EST in Baltimore. Television coverage may begin earlier.

United States

• Time: Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST / 5:15 p.m. PST.
• TV: ESPN nationally, with the alternative ManningCast on ESPN2. WMAR channel 2 carries the game in Baltimore, according to the Ravens' game-specific guide.
• Streaming: ESPN app with the viewer's applicable access; NFL+ carries live local and prime-time games on phones and tablets under its terms.

Australia

• Time: Tuesday, November 17, 12:15 p.m. AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne; 11:15 a.m. AEST in Brisbane; 9:15 a.m. AWST in Perth.
• Streaming: The Ravens' guide lists NFL Game Pass International on DAZN for this game. No Australia-specific television channel was confirmed in the schedules checked.

United Kingdom

• Time: Tuesday, November 17, 1:15 a.m. GMT. Sky Sports lists coverage from 1:10 a.m., ahead of kickoff.
• TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports NFL, both listed for this matchup.
• Streaming: NFL Game Pass International on DAZN is also listed in the Ravens' game guide; viewers should check their subscription and applicable conditions.

Baltimore has a chance to show that its running game can ease Brissett into the job. Los Angeles needs a cleaner game from its line, its quarterback and its defense to give Herbert a realistic shot at ending the winless start.