Patriots survive huge scare from Ravens, victorious 35-31
The New England defense prevented a Ravens' comeback after the Patriots had come back from two 14 point deficits.
A huge fourth down pass from Joe Flacco to Owen Daniels for 17 yards kept the drive alive. From the New England 36, S Duron Harmon intercepted Joe Flacco in the end zone. The Patriots used all but four seconds. The Hail Mary pass from Joe Flacco fell incomplete at the goal line.
Trailing 31-28 with just over nine minutes to play, New England won the reversal of a Shane Vereen fumble on replay. The drive continued culminating in a 23 yard TD pass from tom Brady to WR Brandon Lafell for a 35-31 lead.
After the first drive of the third quarter by the Patriots did not produce a first down, the Ravens marched 70 yards in nine plays. The key play in the drive was a 35 yard pass from Joe Flacco to WR Torrie Smith. A taunting penalty on Smith moved the ball back to the 16 yard line. The next play was an easy 16 yard completion to an uncovered RB Justin Forsett for Flacco's fourth TD pass.
Two third quarter New England drives resulted in touchdowns. The first one finished on a five yard TD pass from Tom Brady to TE Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots reached into their bag of tricks for their second score. A Tom Brady lateral to Julian Edelman preceded the 51 yard pass from Edelman to WR Danny Amendola for the tying TD.
Baltimore QB Joe Flacco wasted little time getting the Ravens on the scoreboard. With four completed passes on the first drive of the game, a 19 yard TD pass to WR Kamar Aiken from Flacco made it 7-0.
After struggling three times against the Ravens in the playoffs with an average QB rating of 56.8, Tom Brady's first drive produced one first down. A nine yard pass from Brady to WR Danny Amendola was ruled incomplete after a John Harbaugh challenge and the drive stalled.
After a second Baltimore drive ended with a nine yard TD pass from Joe Flacco to WR Steve Smith, New England responded. The Patriot's drive cut into the Baltimore lead at 14-7 on a four yard TD run up the middle by QB Tom Brady.
New England knotted the score at 14 on a 15 yard strike from Tom Brady to WR Danny Amendola. Following a Baltimore punt by Sam Koch, the Patriots moved near midfield before Tom Brady was intercepted by Ravens' LB Daryl Smith.
The Ravens drove 57 yards in six plays for a 21-14 halftime lead on an 11 yard TD pass from Joe Flacco to TE Owen Daniels. Joe Flacco finished the half 17 for 22 passing and three TD's. New England was held to only 18 rushing on nine attempts. Tom Brady passed for 192 yards, but had one crucial interception with one minute three seconds before halftime.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
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