Ravens: 28
Patriots: 13
A rematch of last year’s highly emotional AFC Championship game, with the Ravens playing the Patriots in Foxboro with thoughts of revenge on their mind.
Ray Lewis’ last year made the game seem only that much more important for the Ravens, but their initial play in the game didn’t show it. Early the Patriots got off to their dominant start, working down the field as Brady threw to his targets: Hernandez, Welker and Vareen. But a dropped ball down the field by Welker saw the Patriots settle for a field goal, taking the Pats up 3-0.
The Ravens took a quarter and then some to finally get loose and remember that this is a playoff game. Ray Rice ran the ball into the end zone on 2nd and goal early in the 2nd quarter to get the Ravens on the board 7-3.
Patriots countered back, going down the length of the field and connecting with Wes Welker for the touchdown, leading 10-7. The Patriots ended the half with another long drive which ended in a field goal taking them to 13-7.
After the half the Ravens finally got woken up and let Ray Rice run free. Flacco connected with Dennis Pitta for a touchdown giving them a 14-13 lead and putting the Patriots offense on the bench to rest. Come the 4th quarter the Ravens opened up with a touchdown from Anquan Boldin–21-13 Ravens lead.
A huge Patriots fumble gave the Ravens the ball right back, and another Boldin touchdown silenced the crowd. The Pats were down but not out as time remained for them to launch an attack, but poor play by Brady and the Pats offense as a whole stalled their momentum. Another turnover for the Pats at the 6 minute 46 second mark signaled the end as the Ravens proceeded to take time off the clock.
An inspiring Ravens win over the 9 point favorite Patriots on their home field and it will be the Ravens and 49’ers in the Super Bowl down in New Orleans.
Ravens set forth to avenge last year’s Championship game and did just that, by the superb play by Flacco–3 touch downs no picks, and the offense as a whole. Also, the Ravens defense which put a standstill on anything the Patriots tried to run in the second half. Yes, also, two brothers will meet in the Super Bowl Jim and John Harbaugh. The table has been set.