INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The bewildered expression on Jim Harbaugh’s face told the story of Monday night’s Harbowl.
Not even he seemed to have anticipated the daring fourth-down decision that flipped the latest Harbaugh sibling showdown in favor of his older brother.
It was audacious enough that John Harbaugh left the Baltimore offense on the field with two minutes left in the first half and Ravens facing 4th-and-1 from their own 16-yard line. No NFL team had gone for it on fourth down from inside their own 20 in the first half in four-plus years.
It was even riskier that John chose not to give the ball to either of his feared short-yardage playmakers, nimble-footed quarterback Lamar Jackson or bulldozing running back Derrick Henry.