Baltimore Ravens Stun Denver Broncos in Double OT, 38-35

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Associated Press

DENVER — Baltimore’s Justin Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal 1:42 into the second overtime Saturday to lift the Ravens to a 38-35 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC playoffs.

The Ravens (12-6) forced overtime on a 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds left in regulation, after Jones slipped behind a pair of Broncos defenders along the sideline.

Late in the first overtime, Peyton Manning threw across his body on second down and Corey Graham picked off the ball to give the Ravens the ball on the Denver 45. Two plays later, the first overtime ended and the teams switched directions, and after three Ray Rice runs up the middle, Tucker sailed his game-winner through the uprights with room to spare.

Baltimore will travel to either New England or Houston for the AFC title game next Sunday, as linebacker Ray Lewis’ career extends at least one more game.

Scott Boyter’s Take

Dan Dierdorf called it when it said it felt like this game would end due to a mistake, but nobody would have predicted the type of mistake that actually occurred. If anyone should realize that you never try and throw across your body, it should be Peyton Manning. Yet he did it anyway, and it ended up costing his team its season. Wow. Even the very best can make the most elementary of mistakes at times. But by any stretch of the imagination, you have to say it was still a successful season for the Broncos.

As for the Ravens, Ray Lewis’ “Last Ride” miraculously continues. It will be pretty tasty if the Ravens once again get to face the Patriots. Remember, when Baltimore faced New England in last season’s AFC Championship Game, it was a Lee Evans dropped pass that cost Baltimore a shot at the Super Bowl.