There will be star power on both sides of the ball when the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers meet on Christmas night in the showdown of the NFL season.
The Baltimore Ravens (11-3), the AFC’s No. 1 team, visits Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., with the NFL’s No. 2 defense and No. 5 offense, while the San Francisco 49ers (11-3), the NFC’s No. 1 team, will counter with the No. 2 offense and No. 9 defense.
The outcome could determine which quarterback, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson or the 49ers’ Brock Purdy, should be the favorite for the NFL MVP award. But they will only be watching each other from the sidelines.
On the field, however, the game is likely to come down to several head-to-head matchups that will bear watching and will go a long way toward deciding which team comes out on top.
Of all the individual matchups in this Baltimore Ravens-San Francisco 49ers clash, the five listed below might be the most important.
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1. Lamar Jackson vs. Fred Warner
Lamar Jackson has advanced as a pocket passer, but as the game’s ultimate dual-threat quarterback, he’s still a weapon running the football if his receivers are covered downfield. For the first time since 2020, he leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards by nearly 200 yards over the next closest QB, Jalen Hurts.
On the other side of the ball, the 49ers have arguably the game’s best inside linebacker in Fred Warner, their defensive captain who’s smart, fast and explosive. He will be watching Jackson’s every move in the backfield and look to close quickly if Jackson tries to escape.
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2. Justin Madubuike vs. Colton McKivitz
Justin Madubuike has been a revelation for the Baltimore Ravens, an absolute destroyer inside who’s on the cusp of setting a record. If he gets credit for even a half-sack on Brock Purdy on Monday, Madubuike will become the first player in NFL history to sack the quarterback in 12 consecutive games. Overall, he has 12 sacks for the Ravens, who lead the league in that category.
While the Ravens will move him along the line, Madubuike normally sets up on the left side over the opponent’s right tackle. That means Madubuike will find himself across from Colton McKivitz most of the game. While McKivitz was one of the 49ers’ highest graded performers last Sunday agajnst Arizona, he’s not Trent Williams, his All-Pro teammate on the left side. McKivitz will have his hands full trying to keep Madubuike from blowing up plays and his quarterback.
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3. Roquan Smith vs. Christian McCaffrey
There’s no question that the first priority for the Ravens’ defense will be to stop Christian McCaffrey in the run game and make the 49ers more one-dimensional. And when McCaffrey ventures out of the backfield to catch passes, he’ll need company from someone on the Ravens’ defense.
For the Ravens, that someone is Roquan Smith, an All-Pro inside linebacker whose only equal in the NFL is the 49ers’ Fred Warner. Smith and McCaffrey are likely to be on a collision course all night. Whenever the 49ers try to get the ball to McCaffrey in space, Smith must be there to take it away, or else CMC will just add to his NFL-best TD total of 20.
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4. Morgan Moses vs. Nick Bosa
A year after winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, Nick Bosa is still a game-wrecker, even though his sack totals don’t show it. While Bosa ranks 15th with 10.5 sacks, he leads the league in QB hits and knockdowns and is second in pressures. The 49ers’ defense, with an NFL-best 19 interceptions, feeds off his ability to make the quarterback uncomfortable and hurry his throws.
Veteran tackle Morgan Moses draws the unenviable assignment of trying to slow down Bosa, and while he’s proven to be a capable pass protector on Lamar Jackson’s front side, he might require some assistance keeping Bosa out of Jackson’s face.
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5. Kyle Hamilton vs. George Kittle
George Kittle is a beast of a tight end, a perennial All-Pro who’s equally effective in both the running and passing games. He’s too big and strong for most safeties, and too fast for most linebackers.
If anyone on the Ravens’ defense can keep up with Kittle, it’s Kyle Hamilton, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound hybrid safety who has become one of the game’s most versatile defenders in only his second season. He’s strong in coverage, where he has a team-high 10 passes defended, and down in the box, where he’s second on the team with 10 tackles for loss.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hamilton is already the most valuable safety in the NFL. He’ll need to live up to that label against Kittle. Hamilton’s ability will likely be responsible for keeping the tight end from being a reliable target for Brock Purdy, and he can’t allow Kittle to manhandle him in the run game.
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