The Baltimore Ravens overcame a lot of problems yesterday to beat back the Broncos in Denver.  Joe Flacco hit Jacoby Jones with a 70-yard TD pass with only 31 seconds left in the game to send it to O.T.  The first O.T. was a defensive battle.  Last in the first O.T., Ravens’ CB Corey Graham picked off a Peyton Manning pass.  A few players later, rookie kicker Justin Tucker connected on the game winning 47-yard field goal.

Joe Flacco was a master in this game as he completed 18 of 34 passes for 331 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Ray Rice led the way on the ground for the Ravens with 131 yards rushing on 30 carries (4.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  WRs Torrey Smith (3 rec, 98 yards, 2 TD grabs), Jacoby Jones (2 rec, 77 yards, TD) and Anquan Boldin (6 rec, 71 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Ravens.  TEs Dennis Pitta (3 rec, 55 yards) and Ed Dickson (3 rec, 29 yards) also pitched in for the Ravens in the passing game.  The Ravens finished up with 155 yards rushing on 39 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 34 passes (52.9%) for 324 yards as they had possession of the ball for 36:36.

The defense made big plays when they had to, but they had big time issues on special teams.  Broncos’ return man Trindon Holliday returned a kickoff 104 yards for a TD and a punt 90 yards for a TD!  The Ravens got a pretty good pass rush on Peyton Manning last night as they sacked him three times.  LB Ray Lewis led the way for the defense with 17 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.  OLB/DE Terrell Suggs (10 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit), LB Dannell Ellerbe (9 tackles and 1 pass defensed) and CB Corey Graham (8 tackles, 3 passes defensed, 1 QB hit and 2 interceptions…one of which he returned 39 yards for a TD) also had big games for the Ravens.  OLB Paul Kruger pitched in with 3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits and 1 fumble recovery.  The Ravens will travel to either Houston or New England for a AFC Championship Game next weekend.