The Ravens struck first, winning the first quarter 7-0.
In the second, Joe Flacco threw an interception at his own 24. On the very next play, Peyton Manning found 6’5″ 250 lb. tight end Julius Thomas for a 7-7 tie.
The Broncos sustained the momentum, forcing a Baltimore punt. Unfortunately, it was muffed at the one, and the Ravens punched it in to re-take the lead 14-7.
Manning responded on the next drive, finding J. Thomas again for 44 yards and for a 23-yard touchdown on consecutive plays.
To end the half, Denver withstood a 1st and 6 at the 6 for the Ravens, holding them to a field goal, 17-14.
Peyton had won the coin flip and defferred, so it was his ball to start the second half. He marched down the field for another strike, setting up the first of 28 unanswered points.
28-17: Wes Welker sneaks in for his first hook up with Manning
35-17: Welker and Manning continue to dance
42-17: Manning hits Demaryius Thomas for a 26-yard score
The wheels came off after the Broncos intercepted Flacco again on third down, taking it to the house – wait, not quite.
The snarf who picked Flacco let the ball go before the goal line,
LIVE BALL
prematurely celebrating into the endzone, and the ball ended up going through the back of the endzone when a Bronco with a brain tried to recover it and was tackled (http://cjzero.com/gifs/TrevathanDropsBallB4GoalLineCries.gif).
It’s a shame – the momentum swung like the power went out, this time a reverse-Raven. Flacco took them down the field for the 80-yard drive, making what was a 49-17 blowout a 42-24 actual game.
IT COULD ONLY MEAN ONE THING: SEVEN TDs
After a 3-and-out punt put the Ravens in position to score again, they made the mistake of a lifetime. They kicked the field goal on 4th and 4 at the Denver 12 with less than six minutes remaining.
Realize: Manning has 6 TDs, 0 INTs, and he’s at home. Seriously, Harbaugh. You have to keep that scare going into Bronco-World now that we fumbled away a guaranteed win. Instead, you puss out, trailing 42-27.
Manning took three plays to score another touchdown, passing to D. Thomas for 78 yards, tying the NFL record with his 7th touchdown.
On the final Ravens possession, Flacco was sacked and his lineman had to fall on his fumble, forcing a Ravens punt to end the game.
Manning completed 27 of 42 passes for 462 yards, 7 TDs, and 0 INTs. The Thomas wide receivers both reached over 100 yards.