NFL Game Summary - Baltimore at New England
(Sunday, October 17th)
Final Score: New England 23, Baltimore 20 (OT)
Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - Stephen Gostkowski's 35-yard field goal, on the
first play after the two-minute warning in overtime, lifted New England past
Baltimore, 23-20, at Gillette Stadium.
Tom Brady threw for 292 yards and one touchdown -- to new acquisition Deion
Branch -- on 27-of-44 throws with two interceptions for the Patriots (4-1),
who rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win for the third
straight time.
"We've known each other for a long time, so I think the chemistry's there,"
Brady said of Branch, who was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX after posting 11
receptions for 133 yards.
Danny Woodhead gained 63 yards on 11 carries and BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed
for a score, while Branch posted 98 yards on nine receptions in his first game
back with New England since coming over from Seattle earlier in the week.
Joe Flacco completed 27-of-35 passes for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns
for the Ravens (4-2), whose three-game win streak was snapped.
Derrick Mason caught eight balls for 100 yards, Anquan Boldin had four
receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown and Todd Heap added a 16-yard TD
reception in the setback.
New England's third series of overtime began on its own 38, and Brady hit
Branch for 23 yards on first down, then connected for 10 yards and a first
down on 3rd-and-2 from the Ravens' 21. Two rushes from Green-Ellis placed the
ball on the 17 before Gostkowski's winning kick.
"If we get to see them in the playoffs we will be ready again," said Baltimore
linebacker Ray Lewis.
Billy Cundiff hit from 26 yards out to cap an 81-yard drive on Baltimore's
initial series, then the Patriots worked a 66-yard drive on their second
possession and took a 7-3 lead on a two-yard TD run by Green-Ellis.
The Ravens took a 10-7 edge on a 16-yard scoring reception by Heap on their
initial drive of the second quarter and guarded the advantage until halftime.
Chris Carr picked off Brady on New England's first drive of the second half
and the Ravens took over on the Pats' 36. Three plays later Flacco hit Boldin
for a 25-yard touchdown and 17-7 lead.
Gostkowski booted a 38-yarder on the following series and the home team got
within seven.
Cundiff's 25-yard boot on the second play of the fourth quarter provided
Baltimore with a 20-10 advantage.
Brady then found Branch on 3rd-and-goal to make it 20-17 with 11:02 to play.
For the nine-year veteran, it was his first regular-season touchdown reception
with the Patriots since January 1, 2006.
"Tom and I have been away for four years and I honestly don't think we missed
a beat," Branch admitted. "I'm used to being in that situation in this type of
game. I haven't felt like this in four years."
New England reached the Baltimore six prior to the two-minute warning, but
Brady's try for Branch was incomplete on 3rd-and-3. Gostkowski then was
good from 24 yards out for a 20-20 deadlock with 1:51 to go.
"It's tough when you think you have the game won," Flacco admitted.
The Pats defense produced a three-and-out, then Wes Welker returned the punt
22 yards to the home team's 47. New England reached the 44 with one play left,
and instead of a long field-goal try, Brady's heave for the end zone was
picked off.
The Ravens won the toss and received to start the extra session, but went
three-and-out, as did the Patriots on their first drive. Baltimore failed two
more times and New England once before the home team's successful drive.
Game Notes
New England has won all six regular-season meetings with Baltimore since the
Ravens arrived there in 1996...Flacco's 285 yards passing vaulted him into
first place on Baltimore's all-time list with 7,985, surpassing Kyle Boller's
original mark of 7,846...The Patriots defense held the Ravens to 99 yards
rushing but allowed 377 total yards...The Pats had running back Fred Taylor
inactive...Baltimore listed defensive tackle Haloti Ngata as active despite
suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee last Sunday against Denver...Ravens
cornerback Josh Wilson was also inactive with a hamstring injury.
10/17 19:33:05 ET

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