Broncos, Ravens tied at 35 heading into OT

By ARNIE STAPLETON - AP Pro Football Writer
    2013-01-12 19:16

DENVER (AP) - The Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens went into overtime in their AFC divisional playoff tied at 35 after Joe Flacco threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones over Tony Carter and Rahim Moore with 31 seconds left in regulation Saturday.

Leading 35-28 with 1:15 left, the Broncos punted to Jones, the Pro Bowl returner who was overshadowed all day by Trindon Holliday, and he made a fair catch at the 23 with 1:09 to go.

On third-and-3 from his own 30, Flacco wound up and found Jones down the right sideline for the stunning score. Carter let Jones go and Moore tried to go up to bat it down, but mistimed his jump.

The Broncos got the ball at their 20 with 30 seconds left, but Peyton Manning took a knee and this game went into overtime. Denver also went into overtime in the playoffs last year, when Tim Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard TD on the first play to beat Pittsburgh.

Manning atoned for a fumble that led to a score by Baltimore by driving Denver 88 yards in 10 plays and hitting Thomas from 17 yards out for the go-ahead score that broke a 28-all tie midway through the fourth quarter.

And Holliday became the first player in NFL playoff history to return both a punt and a kickoff for scores.

The Broncos (13-3) were trying to avoid becoming yet another No. 1 seed to lose in the divisional round. Since 2005, eight of the 14 top-seeded teams lost their first game in the playoffs, four in each conference.

They breezed past the Ravens 34-17 in Baltimore on Dec. 16 after racing to a 31-3 lead but this one was going down to the wire - and beyond - something the Broncos didn't do at all during their 11-game winning streak that they brought into the playoffs.

Holliday, the NFL's shortest - and quite possibly fastest - player, followed an amazing block by Jacob Hester to return the second-half kickoff 104 yards to put Denver ahead 28-21. That was 2 yards longer than the record set in 2010 by Atlanta's Eric Weems.

In the first half, Holliday got the scoring started when he fielded Sam Koch's punt, broke one tackle and raced down the Ravens' sideline for a 90-yard TD return, avoiding the punter as he zipped into the end zone. The previous longest TD on a punt return in a playoff game was Jermaine Lewis' 88-yarder for Baltimore in 2001.

Manning, 0-3 in playoff games below 40 degrees, wore gloves on each hand in the cold. He was sacked and coughed up the ball at his 37 late in the third quarter, Paul Kruger recovering for Baltimore.

Ray Rice carried five times for 37 yards, taking it in from a yard out with 20 seconds left in the quarter to tie it at 28.

The 13-degree temperature at kickoff made this the coldest playoff game ever played in Denver. The wind chill was 2. The only colder game played in Denver was against San Diego on Dec. 10, 1972, when the temperature was 9 degrees.

Holliday also returned a punt and a kickoff for scores in the regular season, and his big day came just an hour after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated his intention to consider this offseason the idea of abolishing kickoffs altogether for safety's sake.

Goodell said he realizes it's an exciting play but worries that players will keep getting head injuries.

The Ravens countered Holliday's speed with Torrey Smith's. The Baltimore receiver breezed past Champ Bailey for two long touchdowns in the first half, including one just before halftime that tied it at 21.

Smith had just two catches in the first half, but they covered 91 yards and both went for scores.

He sped past Bailey for a 59-yard TD in the first quarter and then beat him down the sideline for a 32-yard TD catch 36 seconds left before the break that capped a three-play, 58-yard drive that began after Matt Prater botched a 52-yard field-goal attempt that would have given Denver a double-digit lead.

Running back Knowshon Moreno's first touchdown catch of the season, a 13-yard grab in tight coverage by linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, had given the Broncos a 21-14 lead. Moreno later left with a knee injury.

Manning, the league's only four-time MVP, had lost his three previous playoff games below 40 degrees, all while playing for the Indianapolis Colts, who released him last year after a series of neck operations. Manning had a stellar bounce-back season in Denver, throwing for 4,659 yards and a team-record 37 TDs.

Wearing gloves on both hands for the first time in his career - the one on the right hand as much a concession to the altered feel of his grip following the four neck surgeries as it was for the wintry weather, Manning threw a 15-yard TD toss to Brandon Stokley to tie it at 14.

Baltimore tied it at 7 when Smith got behind Bailey and hauled in Flacco's 59-yard touchdown toss.

Forty-two seconds later, cornerback Corey Graham picked off a Manning pass that deflected off receiver Eric Decker and returned it 39 yards for the score - and the Broncos trailed for the first time since Dec. 2 against Tampa Bay.

---

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

---

Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

Fantasy Football Player Notes RSS FeedPLAYER NOTES

Akeem SpenceMay 21 09:34a

Tampa Bay Buccaneers DL Akeem Spence is possibly on track to win the starting job at nose tackle. Spence got the majority of the snaps with the starters Monday, [ More ]

Robert WoodsMay 21 09:31a

Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone said he could use WR Robert Woods both outside and in the slot position in his rookie season.

Christine MichaelMay 21 09:25a

Seattle Seahawks RB Christine Michael is expected to battle with RB Robert Turbin for the backup duties to RB Marshawn Lynch this year. Michael is expected to see plenty [ More ]

EJ ManuelMay 21 09:16a

Buffalo Bills QB EJ Manuel said it has been easy to pick up the team's offense, which he said is less complicated than the system he learned at Florida [ More ]

Charles WoodsonMay 21 09:14a

Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning praised free-agent CB Charles Woodson, saying he would like to have him join the team. "We're always looking to add great players," Manning said. [ More ]

Anthony McCoyMay 21 08:43a

Seattle Seahawks TE Anthony McCoy (ankle) was carted off the field Monday, May 20, with an ankle injury.

Tony RomoMay 21 08:33a

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo (back) had surgery to remove a cyst from his back just before the NFL Draft and will miss some OTA action. He's expected to [ More ]

Leon HallMay 21 08:33a

Cincinnati Bengals CB Leon Hall (thumb) will miss some OTA action due to a torn thumb ligament. He suffered the injury while lifting weights, but should be back sometime during OTAs.

Deonte ThompsonMay 21 08:23a

Baltimore Ravens WR Deonte Thompson has the inside track to be the No. 2 receiver.

Josh PortisMay 20 10:03p

Updating a previous report, Seattle Seahawks QB Josh Portis was not arrested for anything at all, according to a tweet from his agent.

Troy PolamaluMay 20 08:43p

Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu will attend the team's organized team activities that start Tuesday, May 21. Polamalu is in the best shape of his NFL career.

Ed ReedMay 20 08:23p

Updating a previous report, Houston Texans FS Ed Reed (hip) is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, or midway through it.

Davin JosephMay 20 08:23p

Tampa Bay Buccaneers OG's Davin Joseph (knee) and Carl Nicks (foot) are not back for organized team activities, but could be cleared in the coming weeks. Head coach Greg [ More ]

Robbie GouldMay 20 07:33p

Chicago Bears PK Robbie Gould (leg) is on-track to be medically cleared to resume kicking duties Thursday, May 23.

Joshua CribbsMay 20 07:13p

Oakland Raiders TE Nick Kasa (hamstring), CB Tracy Porter (calf), WR Joshua Cribbs (knee) and LB Miles Burris (knee) were either unable to participate in organized team activities Monday, [ More ]

Brandon StokleyMay 20 07:13p

Denver Broncos WR Wes Welker is already making an impression on the Denver Broncos as he is trying to get on the same page with QB Peyton Manning. [ More ]

Ronnie HillmanMay 20 07:03p

Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning said RB Ronnie Hillman will be counted on to have an increased role in the offense this year, and offensive coordinator Adam Gase is [ More ]

S. JanikowskiMay 20 07:03p

Oakland Raiders PK Sebastian Janikowski was present for organized team activities Monday, May 20, and appeared to be 15 pounds lighter than last season. Janikowski had skipped offseason workouts in previous years.

Tim HightowerMay 20 06:53p

Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen did not rule out the possibility of the team re-signing free-agent RB Tim Hightower (Redskins) but said any signing of Hightower will not happen any time soon.

Rob GronkowskiMay 20 06:53p

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm, back) plans to meet with a doctor in California in about three to four weeks to decide whether he will need to undergo back surgery.

Vincent BrownMay 20 06:43p

The San Diego Chargers are taking things slowly with WR Vincent Brown (ankle) during organized team activities because he is working his way back from a serious ankle injury. [ More ]

R. Griffin IIIMay 20 06:33p

Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen said he is not sure if QB Robert Griffin III (knee) will be ready to participate once training camp begins. 'It's too early [ More ]

Zach PotterMay 20 06:23p

The St. Louis Rams have signed free-agent TE Zach Potter (Jaguars). Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Brandon WeedenMay 20 06:13p

Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner said the team is working on making QB Brandon Weeden to play faster and making quicker decisions this season. Turner said Weeden has [ More ]

Rob GronkowskiMay 20 05:53p

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm, back) underwent surgery Monday, May 20, to replace the plate in his forearm. The doctors believe the infection in his forearm has cleared.

Ed ReedMay 20 05:33p

Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said FS Ed Reed (hip) is doing very well in his recovery from offseason hip surgery.

Cliff AvrilMay 20 05:23p

Seattle Seahawks DE Cliff Avril (foot) did not participate in organized team activities Monday, May 20, because of a plantar fascia issue. Head coach Pete Carroll said the team [ More ]

Marshawn LynchMay 20 05:23p

Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch was not present during organized team activities Monday, May 20.

Brian CushingMay 20 05:13p

Houston Texans LB Brian Cushing (knee) said he will definitely be ready for the start of the regular season and is pretty sure he will be ready for the start of training camp.

Darrelle RevisMay 20 04:53p

Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Darrelle Revis (knee) is on schedule in his rehab and has been able to cut and change direction in drills. The Buccaneers will continue to [ More ]

Darrelle RevisMay 20 04:53p

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano said the team is expecting CB Darrelle Revis (knee) to be 100 percent for the start of the season but will be [ More ]

Charles WoodsonMay 20 04:53p

Free-agent DB Charles Woodson is interested in signing with the Oakland Raiders.

RSS Feeds

NFL News:
 
Player Notes:
 
Forum Posts:
 

© 2013 RealTime Fantasy Sports, Inc.
Email Us  ·  Call Us 636.447.1170  ·  Lost Password
Advertising represented by USA Today Sports Media Group