49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson threw two touchdowns and ran for 45 yards, Kyle Hamilton and the Ravens' defense intercepted Brock Purdy on three of the first four 49ers possessions, and the Baltimore Ravens beat the 49ers 33-19 at Levi's Stadium on Christmas Day. Purdy had his roughest game as a pro, becoming the first 49ers QB to throw four interceptions in a game since Colin Kaepernick in 2015. Purdy was replaced by Sam Darnold after a fourth-quarter stinger. McCaffrey ran for 102 and a TD. The 49ers fell to 11-4 and ended their six-game winning streak.[1][2][3]

Lamar Jackson came to Levi's Stadium Sunday night and put on the MVP performance the NFL had been talking about for two months. 252 passing yards. Two touchdowns. 45 rushing yards. The kind of complete afternoon that ends the MVP conversation.

The Ravens defense set the tone before Lamar's offense had to do much: Kyle Hamilton and the secondary picked off Brock Purdy on three of the first four 49ers possessions. Purdy finished with four interceptions, the first 49ers quarterback to manage that since Colin Kaepernick. He left the game in the fourth quarter with a stinger; Sam Darnold finished it.

The 49ers lost 33-19 and the six-game winning streak is over. The Ravens take the lead for the AFC's No. 1 seed. The 49ers stay in pole position for the NFC's No. 1 seed because the Eagles also lost Sunday, but the question that hangs over the Christmas-night defeat is whether Purdy can play this poorly against the conference's best defenses and still win Sundays in January.

Ravens 33, 49ers 19. Margin: -14. Sixteen-game record: 11-4, +177 differential.

• Lamar Jackson: 23-of-36 for 252, 2 TDs, 45 rushing yards (MVP performance).
• Purdy: 18-of-32 for 255, 4 INTs (first 49ers QB since Kaepernick 2015 with 4 INTs).
• Kyle Hamilton + Ravens secondary: 3 INTs of Purdy in first 4 possessions.
• Purdy: stinger in Q4, replaced by Sam Darnold.
• McCaffrey: 102 rushing, 28 receiving, 1 TD.
• Six-game winning streak ended.
• 49ers 11-4; Ravens 12-3 (AFC #1 seed).

A 33-19 Christmas Day loss to the Ravens at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers fall to 11-4 and the six-game winning streak ends.

How it unfolded

The Ravens' defense set the tone with two early interceptions of Purdy that turned into field goals. The Ravens led 16-12 at the half on a Jackson 30-yard scramble that set up a field goal. The third quarter saw Jackson throw a 6-yard touchdown to Nelson Agholor and a 9-yard touchdown to Zay Flowers to push the lead to 30-12. McCaffrey scored a late touchdown to make the final 33-19. Purdy left in the fourth quarter with a stinger and Sam Darnold finished out.

The turning point

Kyle Hamilton's interceptions in the first quarter. With Purdy missing three of his first four reads in a way the 49ers' quarterback had not missed since college, the Ravens turned the takeaways into points and the 49ers spent the rest of the game in catch-up mode.

By the numbers

Purdy 18-of-32 for 255 with four INTs. McCaffrey 102 rushing on 21 carries with a TD. Aiyuk five catches for 60. Jackson 23-of-36 for 252 with two TDs plus the 45 rushing yards. The Ravens' defense produced four turnovers total.

Personnel watch

Purdy in the worst statistical game of his career. The first 49ers quarterback to throw four INTs in a game since Colin Kaepernick. Lamar Jackson in the MVP performance the league had been waiting for. Sam Darnold the closer when Purdy left with the stinger.

What it means

11-4 with the streak ended and Purdy's first really bad game of the season. The 49ers still hold the NFC's No. 1 seed because the Eagles also lost Sunday. The Commanders come up at home next, the kind of road test that should let Purdy reset.