Ravens take advantage of Tennessee turn overs and penalties, win 13-10

January 10, 5:05 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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After turning the ball over three times, twice in the red-zone, Tennessee lost at home to the Baltimore Ravens by the score of 13-10. Kerry Collins was intercepted once, LenDale White coughed up the ball on a run and Alge Crumpler lost the ball after he was upended after a catch. Crumpler's miscue happened at the Baltimore seven and White lost the ball at the opponent's 20.

It was a huge play by rookie Joe Flacco that led to the winning 43 yard field goal by Matt Stover with less than a minute left in the game. Flacco became the first rookie in NFL history to win two playoff games.

He threw on third down and nine to Todd Heap for a bit more than eight yards and gave kicker Stover a chance to win the game. Flacco went 11-22 for 161 yards and one touchdown to Derrick Mason.

Tennessee won the stats battle as Kerry Collins threw for 281 yards with no TD's and one INT. His pass protection was good all day resulting in him completing 26 of 42 pass attempts.

The Titans ran the ball for 116 yards, 72 by Chris Johnson who scored the only Titans TD of the day. Johnson didn't come out onto the field for the second half after injuring his ankle.

There were multiple injuries on both teams as Samari Rolle went down for the Ravens as did Terrell Suggs and LeRon McClain. News immediately after the game indicates that only Rolle's injury might affect the AFC Championship Game.

Tennessee lost Javon Kearse as well as RB Johnson. Albert Haynesworth went out for one series after being shaken up but came back in the game. Baltimore will play the winner of tomorrow's Steelers vs. Chargers game.

In one key break for the Ravens, just prior to Flacco's completion that led to the winning score, the play clock went down to zero but no flag was thrown. The TV crew explained that the referee who watches the clock needs a second to turn to the field after time expires. At that point he checks to see if the ball has been snapped. Luck? Conspiracy? We'll never know.

Highlight reel plays:

A second quarter hit by LB Ray Lewis on receiver Ahmard Hall that leveled Hall and sent his helmet flying. No one was sure if his head was still attached to his body.

An early fourth quarter, 37 yard completion from Flacco to Mark Clayton who was double-covered along the left sideline led to a field goal and the Ravens first lead in the game.

Offensive drive and scoring summaries follow:

FIRST QUARTER

The Titans drew first blood and scored a TD on a Chris Johnson run from the eight yard line. The Titans got there thanks to a 20 yard pass down the sideline  from Kerry Collins to favorite target, Justin Gage.

Score: Titans 7-0                                      Game Clock 4:48

The Ravens sustained their first drive of the day after the touchdown by Tennessee. It included a backwards pass of about two yards from QB Joe Flacco to LeRon McClain that resulted in a nice gain. It was ugly but effective and kept their drive alive. They seemingly stalled at their own 47 yard line and faced a third down and 18. Tennessee committed an off-side penalty and Flacco promptly threw a bomb to Derrick Mason that he took into the end zone for a TD

Score: Titans 7 Baltimore 7                     Game Clock 1:20

Tennessee came right back with two strong running plays featuring Chris Johnson. He took it down to the Baltimore 30 yard line. The quarter ended.

                                                                       Game Clock: End of First Quarter

SECOND QUARTER

Ray Lewis made his mark, literally and figuratively against Tennessee receiver Ahmard Hall as he ran after a short pass from QB Kerry Collins. Hall was leveled and his helmet flew off his head. We all waited to see if his head was in the helmet or still attached to his body. It wasn't in the helmet. Yikes.

After that play, Kerry Collins continued to pick apart the Baltimore defense in between strong runs by Chris Johnson. The Titans reached the Baltimore 46 after another nice catch by Justin Gage.  Collins is getting unbelievable protection and taking advantage of it.                                          

                                                                       Game Clock: 5:47

Samari Rolle picked off an ill advised pass by Kerry Collins while being blitzed. He threw off his back foot, falling backwards and the ball got away from him. It was intended for wide receiver Justin McCareins. Baltimore took over its own 9 yard line.  Baltimore went three and out and was forced to punt.   

                                                                      Game Clock: 2:24

The Titans continued its stellar pass protection and Collins picked apart the Ravens secondary to get his team down into Baltimore territory with less than a minute left in the half. After an incomplete pass into the end zone  LenDale White fumbled as he picked up a first down across the Baltimore 20. It was recovered by the Ravens. Flacco took a knee as the clock ran out.

Score: Baltimore 7 Titans 7                     End of First Half

THIRD QUARTER

The injury news wasn't great for Baltimore. Terrell Suggs sustained a sprained shoulder and didn't come back in the game. LeRon McClain twisted his ankle but went back on the field.

The teams went no where on their first possessions of the half but it wasn't boring. A Joe Flacco pass was caught by Todd Heap close to mid-field and then he was seemingly sawed in half by the Ravens. He promptly dropped the ball and the referee called it an incomplete pass. Baltimore was forced to punt again.

On Tennessee's next drive they started at their own 45 yard line and thanks to a Baltimore penalty as well as timely short passes by Kerry Collins they made it down to the Baltimore 28. The field goal unit came out on the field as John Harbaugh threw a challenge flag to stop the action. The call in question was a pass to Bo Scaife which was overturned after review. The field goal unit was forced to back up and attempt a 52 yarder. It was wide left. Baltimore took over at their own 41

                                                                       Game Clock: 10:01

Both teams tried to stretch the field with deep passes that were ineffective and they were forced to punt. Chris Johnson didn't come back on the field for Tennessee's next possession. It was announced he sustained an ankle injury

                                                                        Game Clock 7:20

Just prior to the two minute mark in the quarter, Samari Rolle sustained a groin injury and didn't come back onto the field.  After a Tennessee punt and a return into its territory, Baltimore took over at the 41 yard line. Javon Kearse was hurt on the play and limped off the field. Joe Flacco promptly threw to Mark Clayton who was covered by two members of the Titans secondary that slipped and fell. Clayton went out of bounds at the 4 yard line after a 34 yard catch. Willis McGahee was pushed back to the 7 yard line as the quarter ended.

Score: Baltimore 7 Titans 7                       Game Clock: End of Third Quarter

FOURTH QUARTER

McGahee made it down to the three yard line on third down and Matt Stover kicked a field goal.

Score: Baltimore 10 Titans 7                      Game Clock: 14:10

After a long kick return, the Titans took over near their own 40. The drive was held together with third down conversion passes to Justin Gage that landed the Titans at the Baltimore 12. Tennessee turned the ball over again as Alge Crumpler was upended by Bart Scott at the 7 yard line. He coughed it up and the Ravens recovered at the 2. That is where their next drive began.

                                                                            Game Clock: 9:00

Baltimore went three and out and punted the ball away. Tennessee took over at their own 42. Tennessee drove down to the nine and with 4th and inches, Rob Bironas kicked a 27 yard field goal.

Score: Baltimore 10 Titans 10                      Game Clock: 4:23

Joe Flacco threw into double coverage and found Todd Heap at the Tennessee 45. Just a bit of a problem however, the play clock appeared to have expired and after the TV crew ran it back again, it seemed that no more than a second ticked off prior to Flacco's pass. Their explanation: there is a one second delay as the referee looks at the clock and then peers out onto the field to see if the ball was snapped. Luck? Conspiracy? Who knows.

                                                                              Game Clock: 2:00

The Ravens continued the drive down to the 33 yard line. On third and nine the rookie, Joe Flacco  picked up a bit more than eight yards as he completed a pressure-packed pass. A 43 yard field goal was GOOD by Matt Stover.

Score: Baltimore 13 Titans 10                         Game Clock .53

Tennessee ran the kick-off back to their own 35 yard line. On third and five, Collins' pass to Scaife was almost intercepted by dropped by the Baltimore defender. On fourth and five, Collins threw an incompletion as time ticked off the game clock.

GAME OVER: Baltimore 13 Titans 10