San Diego Chargers (7-4) at Baltimore Ravens (7-4)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Jenny Dell

*Keys to the game: Chargers RB Ryan Mathews returned to the lineup last week with 102 rushing yards and gives QB Philip Rivers a reliable receiver in the flat when edge rushers Elvis Dumervil (12.5 sacks) and Terrell Suggs (5.5 sacks in his past six games) push Rivers up in the pocket. Inside pressure can be San Diego’s biggest bother – understandably with the Chargers working with their fourth-string center – and a weakness the Ravens will test early and often. With time, Rivers has the targets to peck his way down the field with mostly possession-type receivers.

LB Donald Butler gets sidekick Manti Te’o back near full strength just in time as the Ravens are running with a vengeance recently. RB Justin Forsett had 182 yards at New Orleans on Monday and the approach taxes the entire front seven because of the zone-based blocking system. Teams are still more concerned with QB Joe Flacco, who has the arm strength to tear up a secondary locked into stopping the run.

*Matchup to watch – Chargers C Chris Watt vs. Ravens NT Haloti Ngata: The Ravens credit Ngata’s improved play with his improved conditioning and his comfort playing more inside. Grasping Ngata’s quickness on film is one thing – seeing the 335-pounder zip through the line up close is another. Watt, a rookie, held up fine against the Rams but knows he’s in for a new challenge. “There’s not many guys like (Ngata) in the NFL,” he said.

*Player spotlight – Ravens S Will Hill: With physical play and more than enough speed, Hill drew raves for his showing against Saints TE Jimmy Graham in Week 12. A similar test awaits Sunday in Gates, who has nine touchdowns among 40 catches this season.

*Fast facts: Gates’ next touchdown reception would make him the first tight end with four 10-TD seasons. … Suggs is the first 100-sack player in Ravens history.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

The Chargers can make the game interesting by slowing down Forsett, but San Diego’s margin for error is thinning by the week.

*Our pick: Ravens 29-23