Patriots Top Ravens In Playoff Classic

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Saturday, January 10, 2015

Matt LaPan, Go Local Sports Reporter

It was quite simply a playoff classic. The New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens renewed a playoff rivalry at Gillette Stadium on Saturday. For the third time in four season the two met in Foxboro for the playoffs. The two familiar opponents traded blows throughout the game, but in the end it was the Patriots surviving and advancing with a 35-31 win.

The Patriots were forced to overcome two 14-point deficits in the game. Tom Brady and Joe Flacco turned in classic playoff performances, but in the end Brady was the driving force to leading his team to victory. The Patriots become the first ever playoff team to overcome two 14-point deficits and win a playoff game.

Slow Patriots Start

The Patriots won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd Half, as they are known to do. This seemed like a mistake in this game however, as a red-hot Joe Flacco led the Ravens on a quick five-play, 71-yard drive to give the Ravens the quick 7-0 lead. Flacco used the deep part of the field to stretch the Patriots defense. He then found former Patriot Kamar Aiken for a 19-yard touchdown. Flacco was a perfect 4-4 on the drive.

The Patriots looked to answer on their opening drive, and started with newly re-signed Brandon Bolden at running back. Bolden caught the first play of the game for the Patriots, a solid 11-yard gain. The Patriots offense stalled shortly after that tough, despite Danny Amendola nearly hauling in a low Brady pass on 3rd-&-5. The play was called a catch for a 1st down on the field, but after a John Harbaugh challenge it was overturned.

Ravens Pull Ahead Early

The Ravens got the ball back and got right back to their offensive onslaught. Flacco continued to pick apart the Patriots’ defensive backfield before finding Steve Smith Sr. on an 11-yard touchdown. The touchdown came against Darrelle Revis, showing Flacco was not afraid to go after the All-Pro cornerback. Flacco started the game 9-10 for 110 yards and two touchdowns on the first two drives of the game, and more importantly held a 14-0 lead.

Gronkowski Gets Pats Going

The Patriots offense finally got moving on the next drive, thanks to All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski. Brady found Gronkowski in the middle of the field for a huge 3rd down conversion on 3rd-&-8. The very next play, Brady found Gronkowski for a huge 46-yard play to Gronkowski. After moving down to the Baltimore five, the Patriots got an unlikely five-yard touchdown run from Brady to get the offense on the board. The Patriots continued to trail, however, 14-7.

The defense seemed to be sparked by the touchdown, as they finally stopped Flacco and the Ravens offense. The big play on the drive was when Brandon Browner frustrated Torrey Smith and drew a personal foul after the play, backing the Ravens up.

Stork Injured

The offense came back on the field and looked to be in a rhythm, getting 1st downs on each of their first three plays on the drive. The drive stalled, however, as the Ravens got back-to-back sacks of Brady and pushed the Patriots out of field goal range. Rookie center Bryan Stork was injured on one of those sacks when Haloti Ngata rolled under his knee. Stork did not return to the game.

After stopping the Ravens again, the Patriots got the ball back and erased their early deficit. The Patriots used Gronkowski and Julian Edelman to go on a sustained drive. The drive featured Ryan Wendell inside to center and brought in Josh Kline due to the Stoke injury. The drive was capped on a great play by Danny Amendola, who broke a tackle and dove into the end zone for a 15-yard, game-tying touchdown.

After both defenses did their job, the Patriots had a chance to get a 2-minute drill going into the half. That was immediately stopped when Daryl Smith made a great interception on Tom Brady, who was looking for Gronkowski. That quickly turned into a touchdown to Owen Daniels, right before the half, to give the Ravens the 21-14 lead at the half. 

Ravens Back On Top

The 2nd half started much like the 1st half. The Patriots offense stalled and the Ravens moved the ball down the field to take a two-score lead. The big play came on a 4th-&-6 pass from Flacco to Torrey Smith. Flacco lofted the ball up and Smith hauled it in on the one yard line, despite a pass interference by Brandon Browner. Smith was called for taunting on the play, moving the Ravens back to the 16. The next play, however, Justin Forsett got open and went 16 yards for the touchdown to give the Ravens the 28-14 lead.

Brady and the Patriots offense had a response. He led them 80 yards on nine plays before finding his favorite target in the end zone. Brady used Michael Hoomanawanui on the drive for two big catches. He then found Rob Gronkowski for a five-yard touchdown to bring the Patriots back within a score, 28-21.

The Patriots defense was able to keep the momentum built by the offense by shutting down the Baltimore offense, despite Brandon Browner being out of the game with an apparent injury.

Trick Play Perfection

Then, the Patriots got tricky. The Patriots used a double pass from Tom Brady to Julian Edelman, then Edelman to a wide-open Danny Amendola for a 51-yard touchdown to tie the game 28-28. The pass was Edelman’s first career pass attempt. It was the second game-tying touchdown of the night for Amendola.

McCourty Picks His Spot

The Patriots then appeared to break the game open as Devin McCourty intercepted Joe Flacco on the next drive. Baltimore’s defense had other thoughts, however. They forced a 3-&-out from the Patriots and forced a punt.

The Patriots defense nearly got the ball back again when Jamie Collins forced a Flacco fumble, but it was a holding call on Darrelle Revis that gave Baltimore the ball back. Flacco took advantage and led a 16-play, 73-yard drive. The Patriots did stop the Ravens from getting into the end zone, however, forcing a 25-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. The field goal gave the Ravens the 31-28 lead.

On the Patriots next possession, they nearly gave Baltimore another opening. On a Brady pass to Shane Vereen the ball came out and was ruled a fumble. The fumble was forced and recovered by Daryl Smith. The play was reviewed, however, and Vereen’s knee was down, giving the Patriots the ball back.

Brady Sets The Record

That allowed the Patriots to spread the ball around and eventually take their first lead of the night. Tom Brady found Brandon LaFell down the left sideline for a 23-yard, go-ahead touchdown. The score moved Brady into the all-time NFL postseason lead for touchdown passes with 46 and gave the Patriots the 35-31 lead.

The Ravens got the ball back with a chance to take down the Patriots again. Flacco was moving the ball well by going to Owen Daniels. Then, Joe Flacco went for a deep pass to Torrey Smith and Duron Harmon slid over for a game-winning interception of Flacco.

The Patriots will wait to see who they will host in the AFC Championship next week when Denver and Indianapolis play tomorrow. It is the 4th-consecutive AFC Championship game for the Patriots.

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