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Oh, it was so close for Ravens
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(Chris Ammann/Examiner)
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis breaks up a near touchdown reception by New England tight end Benjamin Watson during Monday night's game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The New England Patriots took a page out of Muhammad Ali’s book and pulled a rope-a-dope Monday night. With the Ravens on the verge of delivering a stunning upset, the Patriots waited until the last minute to pull out a 27-24 victory in front of a crowd of 71,382 fans at M&T Bank Stadium. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady found unlikely hero Jabar Gaffney for an eight-yard touchdown with 44 seconds remaining that proved to be the difference in enabling the Patriots (12-0) to remain undefeated. The Ravens (4-8) got sterling play from running back Willis McGahee (138 season-high rushing yards and a touchdown) in the crushing loss, which ended when Mark Clayton was tackled at the 2-yard line after catching a 52-yard pass from Kyle Boller as time expired. “The loss takes away everything, man,” McGahee said referring to his statistics. Baltimore was looking to snap a five-game losing streak before a national television audience that expected the Patriots to easily deal the Ravens their franchise record sixth straight loss. Instead, the largest crowd to ever watch a Ravens’ home game saw the team push the Patriots around in a manner the Ravens have failed to do all season to any opponent. Boller connected on 15-of-23 passes for 210 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception. The Ravens defense did what was considered impossible for three quarters, as it slowed the Patriots’ high-scoring offense. Brady, who completed 18-of-38 for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns and an interception, often looked bewildered as linebackers and defensive backs pursued him every play. Early on, the Patriots were on the verge of toying with the Ravens, as they marched down the field on their opening drive with a nine-play, 77-yard effort. Still, the Ravens held, and forced the Patriots to settle for a Stephen Gostkowski field goal and a 3-0 lead with 10:25 left in the first quarter. The teams traded possessions in the quarter, before Baltimore answered emphatically with a nine-play, 70-yard drive that gave the team a 7-3 lead. Boller spotted receiver Devard Darling for a 53-yard catch and run during the drive, which ended with a four-yard touchdown catch by receiver Derrick Mason with 1:18 left in the quarter. The Ravens added to their lead with a 29-yard Matt Stover field goal with 8:45 left in the first half quarter. The 10-3 lead was brief, as New England responded immediately with a one-yard touchdown run by fullback Heath Evans to tie the game with 5:24 left. Feeling momentum was on his team’s side, Ravens coach Brian Billick stuck with McGahee to open the second half. The result was sterling eight-play drive that ended with McGahee scoring on a 17-yard scamper that gave his team a 17-10 advantage. Brady found receiver Randy Moss for a late third quarter score to tie the game. The Ravens grabbed leads later in the fourth quarter that ultimately was not meant to last. |
