Rice runs for 3 TDs, Cundiff boots game-winning FG as time expires in 30-27 win
APRavens running back Ray Rice celebrates one os his three touchdowns in a win against the Cardinals.
By DAVID GINSBURG
updated 6:02 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2011
BALTIMORE - Before launching the biggest comeback victory in the history of the Baltimore Ravens, Joe Flacco first had to withstand the indignity of being booed by his usually supportive hometown fans.
Flacco didn't care for the treatment, although he could appreciate the sentiment. And it didn't prevent him from carrying the Ravens past the Arizona Cardinals 30-27 Sunday.
Billy Cundiff kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired, Ray Rice scored a career-high three touchdowns, and Flacco fueled the comeback with a gritty display of leadership and precise passing.
"You can take a few boos every now and then," Flacco said, "especially when you come back and win the game."Using a fumble by Flacco and an 82-yard punt return by Patrick Peterson, Arizona scored three touchdowns during a five-minute span of the second quarter to take a 24-3 lead.
That's when many in the sellout crowd of 71,022 voiced their displeasure.
"I don't go to a lot of football games, but I probably would have wanted to boo if I was in the stands, too," Flacco said. "We weren't looking too good. We weren't playing too well."
Baltimore (5-2) answered with a 24-point run and moved in front 27-24 when Rice scored his third touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
Arizona (1-6) pulled even with a 45-yard field goal by Jay Feely with 8:55 left, but the Ravens won it with a 37-yard, beat-the-clock drive in the final minute.
After the Cardinals were forced to punt from deep in their own territory, Baltimore took over at the Arizona 44 with 52 seconds left. A 36-yard completion from Flacco to rookie Torrey Smith moved the ball to the 5, setting the stage for Cundiff's game-winner.
The Ravens' previous biggest comeback was from 19 points down against Tennessee in 2006.
"We woke up, plain and simple," said former Arizona star Anquan Boldin, who caught seven passes for 145 yards and was a key contributor in the rally.
Flacco went 31 for 51 for 336 yards, and Rice ran for 63 yards on 18 carries. In a 12-7 loss to Jacksonville on Monday night, the 5-foot-8 running back was limited to 28 yards on eight carries.
Arizona has lost six straight. Four of those defeats have been by four points or fewer.
"It's hard right now. Our guys are very disappointed after today's game because it was an opportunity to do something nobody thought we could do," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "But our guys believe in what we're doing. If you look at what we did the first half, it shows that if we do it the right way, we can be a good football team."Kevin Kolb threw for 153 yards and a touchdown, and Peterson became the eighth player in Cardinals history to have at least two punt returns for touchdowns in a single season. The last one to do it was Vai Sikahema in 1986.
The Ravens began the second half with an 80-yard drive in which Flacco went 5 for 5, including a 37-yarder to Boldin that set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Rice to make it 24-13.
"I felt like the way we came out at halftime is what turned it around," Baltimore linebacker Jameel McClain.
Late in the third quarter, Boldin caught passes 21, 23, 27 and 9 yards during an 88-yard march that ended with another 1-yard TD run by Rice.
advertisement
More newsGetty ImagesEagles right back in NFC East mix
PFT: This was the Philly team NFL onlookers expected to see before the season began. A nearly flawless half and a complete game? Impressive.
Eagles shrug off Cowboys ? |? ??Highlights
Michael Vick threw two touchdown passes, LeSean McCoy had a career-best 185 yards rushing and two scores and the Philadelphia Eagles routed the Dallas Cowboys 34-7 Sunday night.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45096538/ns/sports-nfl/
new beavis and butthead game 7 anya ayoung chee big east j.r. martinez peru earthquake peru earthquake
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.