SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 23, 2012
Ravens 33, Giants 14: Joe Flacco threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another as host Baltimore dominated New York to clinch the AFC North title.
Ray Rice rushed for 107 yards and added his first touchdown reception of the season for the Ravens (10-5). Baltimore rolled up a season-high 533 total yards and converted 11 of 18 third-down opportunities to snap a three-game losing skid.
Eli Manning threw for just 150 yards and a late touchdown for the Giants (8-7), who have been outscored 67-14 over their last two games to fall out of the running for the NFC East title. Washington (9-6) will host Dallas (8-7) next week with the winner taking the division crown. New York still has an outside shot at a wild card with a win over Philadelphia and losses by the Cowboys, Chicago and Minnesota
Flacco threw for 202 of his 309 yards in the first half to stake the Ravens to a 24-7 advantage at intermission. After tossing a 6-yard touchdown to Torrey Smith, Flacco rushed in from one yard out before finding Rice over the middle for a 27-yard score just 70 seconds before halftime.
The Ravens worked the clock in the second half, stringing together a season-high 16-play drive which ate up 7:57 of the third quarter. Baltimore also had a 13-play drive which lasted 6:57 - with both ending as rookie Justin Tucker converted field-goal attempts.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Giants mustered 186 total yards, just surpassing their season low of 182 against Pittsburgh in Week 9. ... Baltimore rushed for a season-high 224 yards, topping its previous best of 186 against Washington. ... New York recorded its first third-down conversion when TE Martellus Bennett had a 6-yard reception late in the third quarter.