SportsDirect Inc. staff
Jan 6, 2013
Ravens 24, Colts 9: Joe Flacco tossed two touchdowns to become the first quarterback in NFL history to win a postseason game in each of his first five seasons as host Baltimore toppled Indianapolis in their AFC wild card contest.
Anquan Boldin had all five catches for 145 yards and a score in the second half as the fourth-seeded Ravens (11-6) overcame a pair of fumbles by Ray Rice to advance to the divisional round. Baltimore will look to exact revenge on Saturday against top-seeded Denver, which cruised to a 34-17 victory over the Ravens in Baltimore on Dec. 16.
Rookie Andrew Luck threw for 288 yards - with Reggie Wayne recording 114 of those on nine receptions. The pair couldn't connect in the end zone, however, as Adam Vinatieri went 3-for-4 on his field-goal opportunities for the Colts (11-6).
After Vinatieri's postseason-best 52-yard field goal brought Indianapolis to within 10-6 at halftime, Boldin's 46-yard reception set up Baltimore's next score. Tight end Dennis Pitta reeled in a pass from Flacco before banging into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown with just under 8 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
Vinatieri answered with a 26-yarder before pushing his 40-yard attempt wide right. Flacco and Boldin hooked up again, this time for an 18-yard strike as the veteran wideout outjumped cornerback Darius Butler with 9:14 to play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Baltimore veteran LB Ray Lewis played in his first game since tearing his triceps on Oct. 14 and registered 13 tackles. Lewis announced last week that he will retire at the end of the season. ... Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was admitted to a nearby hospital with an undisclosed illness earlier on Sunday. Quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen took over the play-calling for Arians, who is said to be doing well by the team. ... Wayne moved into second place all-time with 92 postseason receptions. He has a ways to go to catch Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who had 151.