Denver, CO (Sports Network) - While Peyton Manning's first season in Denver
came to a swift and bitter end, Ray Lewis' career will continue on for at
least one more week.
Justin Tucker knocked home a 47-yard field goal 1:42 into the second overtime
to give Lewis' Baltimore Ravens a dramatic 38-35 victory over Manning's
Broncos in an AFC Divisional Playoff from a frigid Sports Authority Field at
Mile High, with the kick capping a remarkable comeback that propelled the
Ravens into the conference title game for a second straight year.
Tucker's deciding field goal came four plays after Corey Graham intercepted
Manning in Denver territory for the second time of the game, while the Ravens
forced extra time on a thrilling 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to
Jacoby Jones with just 31 seconds remaining in regulation.
Flacco also hooked up with Torrey Smith for a pair of touchdowns earlier on
while amassing 331 yards on 18-of-34 passing, with Ray Rice contributing 131
rushing yards and a touchdown on 30 carries to the improbable win.
The fourth-seeded Ravens will visit the winner of Sunday's clash between New
England and Houston in next weekend's AFC Championship. Baltimore advanced to
the Divisional Round with last week's 24-9 home decision over Indianapolis,
which came days after team leader Lewis announced he would be retiring at the
end of his 17th NFL season.
Manning, who entered the matchup having bested the Ravens nine consecutive
times -- including a pair of playoff bouts during his long and storied tenure
with the Colts -- also threw for three touchdowns while accumulating 290 yards
and completing 28-of-43 attempts along with the two picks.
Denver, which earned the AFC's No. 1 overall seed by winning its final 11
regular-season tests, suffered its first postseason loss at home since a 30-27
ousting by Jacksonville in a 1996 Divisional Playoff.
The Sports Network