New England Patriots 26 - Baltimore Ravens 14
The Patriots and Ravens met in a battle of perennial powerhouses, with the Patriots emerging victorious thanks to a very surprising (and dominant) performance by their defensive line. More on that later.
The Patriots received the opening kickoff and were able to score when McCoy found Julius Thomas on a 3rd-and-2 out which Thomas took behind the defense for a 47 yard score. The Ravens answered back with a great drive of their own, capped by a Flacco pass to Torry Smith.
In the second quarter, Colt McCoy threw his first INT as a Patriot on an ill-advised deep ball to Demaryius Thomas. However, after driving down the field Flacco threw a pick to Cornel Patrick (who came to NE in the Brady deal), who returned it 82 yards for the score. The Ravens were able to answer back with a long drive on which Flacco found Jamie Brooks for a 7-yard score. The Pats drove down to give Gostkowski a chance at a 59 yarder to end the half, but given the distance (and rain) it was well short. It was his second miss on the day after an earlier shorter attempt clanged off the crossbars (these were his first misses in
two years). Halftime was reached with the score knotted 14-14.
The Ravens received the second half kick, but the Pats D came out fired up and forced a 3 and out to get the ball back. After a great return by Darius Holmes, the Pats converted the short field into a TD, a 4-yard scamper by Ross.
The Patriots D continued to dominate, with Asante Samuel getting a pick, which the Pats converted into a make by Gostkowski to give them a 10 point edge. The Pats D held again but were unable to run out the clock on their next possession (needing only one first) and punted it back. However, the D-line sacked Flacco three straight plays (two by Johnson the last by Cunningham) culminating in a safety which ended the game 26-14.
McCoy was solid other than the one mistake, going 10 of 14 for 135 yards, a TD and an INT.
Flacco threw more but was much more inaccurate, going 13 of 29 for 198 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs.
Cobie Ross was only so-so, carrying 17 times for 77 yards and the TD.
Shakim Simmons carried 8 times for 49 yards, though more than half of that came on one 27 yard carry.
Julius Thomas was the leading receiver with 2 catches for 59 yards and a score. Nick Schexnayder continues to be great in his slot role, catching 4 balls for 50 yards. Gronk (1 catch) and White (0) were mostly silent in this one.
Dextrell Wallace was the leader for the Ravens with 3 catches for 65 yards (including one
ridiculous diving catch on a deflected ball to convert a 3rd-and-forever), though Brooks and Smith had the TDs.
The Patriots sacked Flacco 7 times: 4 by Michael Johnson (who has 6 in 3 games since I moved him to LE and Cunningham to the other side), and one each by Cunningham, Wilfork, and Carswell (the rookie's third straight game with at least one sack). They also had the picks by Samuel and Patrick.
The Ravens got 1 pick (Earl Thomas beating Demaryius Thomas for a jump ball) and 1 sack by Ngata.
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gg MA! Other than the dumb pick (Even as I threw it I was like "NEVER THROW DEEP WITH MCCOY!") I felt pretty good about how I played against your D. And even that one wasn't too bad since Thomas
was open when I threw it, and he had a 50/50 shot to be the one coming down with it.
You did a great job of containing White (who I never targeted) and Gronk (who I did several times).
I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again. I look forward to it, we always have fun games.
ER. I DARE YOU, I DOUBLE DARE YOU"
