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Ravens Come Close to a Perfect Ending
Linebacker Ray Lewis is emotionally and physically drained after coming oh so close to knocking off the NFL's last undefeated team Monday night in Baltimore.
(Gail Burton - Associated Press)
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"I felt like this was the first time all year that we got bullied," New England safety Rodney Harrison said. "We can't allow teams to run the ball like that."
[an error occurred while processing this directive]The Ravens got off to a good start, stonewalling the Patriots on first and goal from the 1. New England came away with a 21-yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski, but that was a victory for the Ravens; the last 21 times the Patriots faced a first-and-goal situation, they eventually scored a touchdown.
Then it was time for Baltimore's offense to step up, something that it hasn't done often this season. But the Ravens put together an impressive 70-yard touchdown drive.
Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller converted a key third down, avoiding onrushing former Raven Adalius Thomas and firing a pass to Devard Darling along the right sideline. The 53-yard play -- Baltimore's longest of the season from scrimmage -- put the Ravens on the New England 18, and six plays later, Boller connected with wide receiver Derrick Mason on a four-yard touchdown pass. The Ravens led 7-3.
Baltimore scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the second half, with the Ravens relying heavily on McGahee to move the ball. But after they took a 24-17 lead on a one-yard touchdown catch by tight end Daniel Wilcox early in the fourth quarter, the offense stalled. The Ravens failed to pick up a first down on their final four possessions, and Boller was intercepted once deep in New England territory. The game ended with Mark Clayton catching Boller's Hail Mary pass on the 3-yard line.
Ravens Note: Baltimore placed quarterback Steve McNair on injured reserve on Monday, ending a frustrating season for the 13-year veteran. He will undergo surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder on Tuesday to repair a partially torn rotator cuff.
Various injuries limited McNair to just six games this season, his lowest total since his rookie season (four games). He has not played since Nov. 11, when he partially dislocated his shoulder in a 21-7 loss to Cincinnati. The Ravens currently have just two quarterbacks on their roster, Boller and rookie Troy Smith.
