Recap: Broncos 34, Ravens 17
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 16, 2012
Broncos 34, Ravens 17: Knowshon Moreno rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown and Peyton Manning added 204 passing yards and a score as visiting Denver trounced stumbling Baltimore, which still clinched a playoff spot when Pittsburgh lost later in the day.
Eric Decker caught eight passes for 133 yards and a TD and Chris Harris ran an interception back 98 yards for a score for the Broncos (11-3), who won their ninth straight game and moved a half-game in front of the New England Patriots for a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Patriots, who play later Sunday, hold the tiebreaker between the teams.
Joe Flacco went 20-of-40 for 254 yards, two touchdowns and interception while Ray Rice was held to 38 rushing yards for the Ravens (9-5), who wrapped up their fifth consecutive postseason berth despite dropping their third straight game and failing to clinch the AFC North title.
The turning point came late in the second quarter, when Baltimore was driving for a score that would have cut it to 10-7 before the half. But Harris jumped in front of wide receiver Anquan Boldin at the 2-yard line and beat Flacco down the sideline for a touchdown and a 17-0 Denver lead 15 seconds before the half.
The Ravens got on the board with a field goal out of the break but the Broncos responded immediately, when Manning found Decker for a 51-yard touchdown. Denver forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and needed only four plays to turn it into a 31-3 edge, with Moreno busting in for a 6-yard score.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Moreno provided one of the highlights of the first half, when he broke through the first line of the Baltimore defense and then hurdled safety Ed Reed for a 20-yard gain. … Tight end Dennis Pitta caught a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes for the Ravens and finished with seven receptions for 125 yards. … Rice went over 1,000 yards for the season on a carry in the second quarter, giving him four straight years over 1,000.
Dec 16, 2012
Broncos 34, Ravens 17: Knowshon Moreno rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown and Peyton Manning added 204 passing yards and a score as visiting Denver trounced stumbling Baltimore, which still clinched a playoff spot when Pittsburgh lost later in the day.
Eric Decker caught eight passes for 133 yards and a TD and Chris Harris ran an interception back 98 yards for a score for the Broncos (11-3), who won their ninth straight game and moved a half-game in front of the New England Patriots for a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Patriots, who play later Sunday, hold the tiebreaker between the teams.
Joe Flacco went 20-of-40 for 254 yards, two touchdowns and interception while Ray Rice was held to 38 rushing yards for the Ravens (9-5), who wrapped up their fifth consecutive postseason berth despite dropping their third straight game and failing to clinch the AFC North title.
The turning point came late in the second quarter, when Baltimore was driving for a score that would have cut it to 10-7 before the half. But Harris jumped in front of wide receiver Anquan Boldin at the 2-yard line and beat Flacco down the sideline for a touchdown and a 17-0 Denver lead 15 seconds before the half.
The Ravens got on the board with a field goal out of the break but the Broncos responded immediately, when Manning found Decker for a 51-yard touchdown. Denver forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and needed only four plays to turn it into a 31-3 edge, with Moreno busting in for a 6-yard score.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Moreno provided one of the highlights of the first half, when he broke through the first line of the Baltimore defense and then hurdled safety Ed Reed for a 20-yard gain. … Tight end Dennis Pitta caught a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes for the Ravens and finished with seven receptions for 125 yards. … Rice went over 1,000 yards for the season on a carry in the second quarter, giving him four straight years over 1,000.
