Joe Flacco's throw boosts Ravens to double-overtime win over Broncos

DENVER - No matter where his season or his career might end, Joe Flacco will always have The Fling.

And Peyton Manning will always have to live with that throw he made, too.

Flacco's desperation, 70-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds left in regulation saved the game for Baltimore in regulation, and Manning's throw across his body in overtime all but lost it for Denver.

On a frostbitten day in Denver (the temperature was 13 degrees at kickoff), the Ravens got a 47-yard field goal from Justin Tucker 1 minute, 42 seconds into the second overtime Saturday to pull off a 38-35 upset over Manning and the Broncos, extending linebacker Ray Lewis' career by at least one game.

Lewis, who led the Ravens with 17 tackles over this nearly 77-minute game, knelt down to the ground and put his helmet on the rock-solid turf when it was over.

The Ravens (12-6) will get ready for a game at either New England or Houston, who meet Sunday for the other spot in the AFC title game.

"Our team is so confident, and everything went against us," Lewis said, "but we found a way to come here together, and we're leaving together. It's just awesome."

On third and 3 from his 30 with 41 seconds and no timeouts left, Flacco, an Audubon High product, bought time in the pocket and saw Jones sprinting down the right sideline into double coverage. Defensive back Tony Carter slowed up and let Jones streak by him. Instead of staying step for step with Jones, safety Rahim Moore tried to leap and knock down the ball. Flacco got it over Moore's head and into Jones' hands.

Jones caught it and pranced into the end zone, blowing kisses to the crowd.

The Broncos chose to kneel on the ball to end regulation.

The teams punted three times to start overtime, setting up Denver (13-4) on its 7-yard line. On second and 6 from the 38, Manning rolled to his right, stopped, and threw across the field to Brandon Stokley. Corey Graham stepped in front of the receiver for the interception, bookending the pick he made in the first quarter, which he returned 39 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead.

Manning finished 28 for 43 for 290 yards and accounted for all three Denver turnovers.

Those mistakes nullified a record-setting day for returner Trindon Holliday, who returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown and a kickoff 104 yards for another score. Both were playoff records for longest returns, as was the 248 total return yards he had.

Ravens 38, Broncos 35

Baltimore 14 7 7 7 0 3 – 38

Denver 14 7 7 7 0 0 – 35

First quarter

Den–Holliday 90 punt return (Prater kick), 12:14.

Bal–T.Smith 59 pass from Flacco (Tucker kick), 10:31.

Bal–Graham 39 interception return (Tucker kick), 9:49.

Den–Stokley 15 pass from Manning (Prater kick), 4:02.

Second quarter

Den–Moreno 14 pass from Manning (Prater kick), 7:26.

Bal–T.Smith 32 pass from Flacco (Tucker kick), :36.

Third quarter

Den–Holliday 104 kickoff return (Prater kick), 14:47.

Bal–Rice 1 run (Tucker kick), :20.

Fourth quarter

Den–D.Thomas 17 pass from Manning (Prater kick), 7:11.

Bal–J.Jones 70 pass from Flacco (Tucker kick), :31.

Second Overtime

Bal–FG Tucker 47, 13:18.

A: 76,732.

Bal   Den

First downs 21   30

Total Net Yards 479   398

Rushes-yards 39-155   41-125

Passing 324   273

Punt Returns 3-22   3-90

Kickoff Returns 4-64   4-171

Interceptions Ret. 2-39   0-0

Comp-Att-Int 18-34-0   28-43-2

Sacked-Yards Lost 1-7   3-17

Punts 8-48.3   5-48.8

Fumbles-Lost 1-1   2-1

Penalties-Yards 8-58   10-87

Time of Possession 36:36   40:06

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Baltimore, Rice 30-131, Pierce 5-14, Flacco 2-7, Leach 1-3, T.Smith 1-0. Denver, Hillman 22-83, Moreno 10-32, Hester 8-11, Manning 1-(minus 1).

Passing: Baltimore, Flacco 18-34-0-331. Denver, Manning 28-43-2-290.

Receiving: Baltimore, Boldin 6-71, T.Smith 3-98, Pitta 3-55, Dickson 3-29, J.Jones 2-77, Leach 1-1. Denver, Decker 6-84, Dreessen 6-46, Tamme 3-44, D.Thomas 3-37, Stokley 3-27, Hillman 3-20, Moreno 2-21, Hester 1-7, Willis 1-4.

Missed Field Goals: Denver, Prater 52 (SH).

In his fifth year in the NFL, Ravens quarterback

Joe Flacco continues to show he can win in the playoffs. Though he has not led Baltimore to a Super Bowl (yet), the Audubon High product is 7-4 in the postseason. Here is his playoff record (home team in CAPS):

2008

Result   Flacco's Stats

Ravens 27, DOLPHINS 9   9-23, 135 yd, 0 TD, 0 INT

Ravens 13, TITANS 10   11-22, 161 yd, 1 TD, 0 Int

STEELERS 23, Ravens 14   13-30, 141 yd, 0 TD, 3 Int

2009

Ravens 33, PATRIOTS 14   4-10, 34 yd, 0 TD, 1 Int

COLTS 20, Ravens 3   20-35, 189 yd, 0 TD, 2 Int

2010

Ravens 30, CHIEFS 7   25-34, 265 yd, 2 TD, 0 Int

STEELERS 31, Ravens 24   16-30, 125 yd, 1 TD, 1 Int

2011

RAVENS 20, Texans 13   14-27, 176 yd, 2 TD, 0 Int

PATRIOTS 23, Ravens 20   22-36, 306 yd, 2 TD, 1 Int

2012

RAVENS 24, Colts 9   12-23, 282 yd, 2 TD, 0 Int

Ravens 38, BRONCOS 35   18-34, 331 yd, 3 TD, 0 Int

2 OT

- Gary PotoskyEndText