2015 NFL AFC Div PO New England Patriots vs Baltimore Ravens

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• published: 01 Jul 2016
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AFC: New England Patriots 35, Baltimore Ravens 31 With only 13 rushing attempts for 14 total yards, New England put the game almost entirely in the hands of quarterback Tom Brady, who proved up to the task, completing 33 of 50 passes for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns while also rushing for a score as he led the team back from two 14-point deficits to earn their 4th consecutive AFC Championship and their 9th in his 14 years as the team's starter. Baltimore stormed to an early lead on their first drive, as Joe Flacco connected with Steve Smith, Sr. for 19 yards and Torrey Smith for 22 before getting the ball into the end zone with a 19-yard completion to Kamar Aiken. Following a New England punt, Ravens running back Justin Forsett rushed 4 times for 32 yards, while Flacco completed 5 of 6 passses for 40 yards, the last one a 9-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith to give Baltimore a 14–0 lead with 4:44 left in the first quarter. However, this time New England managed to respond. Faced with 3rd and 8 from his own 24-yard line, Brady completed a 16-yard pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski. On the next play, he completed a 46-yard pass to Gronkowski on the Ravens' 14-yard line, and eventually he finished the 8-play, 78-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. After the next three drives ended in punts, New England drove 67 yards, including a 23-yard reception by Gronkowski on 3rd and 8, to tie the score at 14–14 with Brady's 15-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola with 3:37 left in the second quarter. But just before halftime, Ravens linebacker Daryl Smith intercepted a pass from Brady at the Baltimore 43-yard line. Aided by a 20-yard pass interference penalty, the Ravens drove 57 yards in 6 plays and took a 21–14 lead on Flacco's 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Owen Daniels in the back of the end zone with 10 seconds left in the half. Baltimore retook their 14-point lead with the first drive of the second half, after Flacco's 35-yard completion to Torrey Smith on the Patriots' 1-yard line. A taunting penalty against Torrey Smith moved the ball back to the 16-yard line, but the Ravens still scored on the next play with Flacco's 16-yard completion to Forsett to make the score 28–14 in favor of the Ravens. New England responded by making some key adjustments to their formation for their ensuing drive. Having already lost starting center Bryan Stork for the game with an injury, the Patriots went with 4 linemen, while playing tight end Michael Hoomanawanui and running back Shane Vereen on the line next to them. This confused the Baltimore defense as to which players were eligible receivers—though they did announce it to officials as required—aiding the Patriots on a 9-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in which the team never faced a third down. This infuriated Ravens coach John Harbaugh enough that he stormed onto the field to argue with officials, earning his team a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Shortly after, Brady threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski, cutting the score to 28–21. After a Baltimore punt, Brady tossed a lateral pass across the field to receiver Julian Edelman, who promptly threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Danny Amendola, tying the game at 28 with under 4 minutes left in the third quarter. Then Patriots safety Devin McCourty gave his team a great chance to take the lead by intercepting a pass from Flacco on the Ravens' 37-yard line. It was Flacco's first postseason interception in his last 197 postseason pass attempts ending the 2nd longest streak of passes without an interception by a quarterback in post season history. However New England was unable to move the ball and punted rather than try a long field goal attempt.