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Baltimore Ravens Comeback Thwarted By Brady Bomb

By Chris Schisler

Dec 12, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) catches a pass from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (not seen) and runs for a touchdown agains the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) catches a pass from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (not seen) and runs for a touchdown agains the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Ravens almost came back to beat the New England Patriots. In the end the Patriots won 30-23

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear, the Ravens are the reason the Ravens lost. Dropping behind of the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium is never a good idea. The purple and black only had a chance because of Patriots miscues. However this game came down to the fourth quarter. One play sealed the deal for the Patriots.

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Chris Hogan caught a 79 yard bomb that put the Patriots up 30-20 with just over six minutes left in the game. This one play halted the Ravens comeback. Now the Ravens are faced with a daunting reality. To get to the playoffs they must win every game, including a Christmas Day showdown in Pittsburgh. The Ravens did more than enough to deserve a loss, however this one play was the dagger. How did it happen?

Matt Elam, who was playing because Jerraud Powers was hurt earlier in the game, messed up. Elam was playing over the slot, it looked like man coverage as there was nobody deep in the middle of the field. Elam was out of position to begin with and he slipped to make it look even worse. The former first round pick seems like the culprit here.

When the Ravens look back at this game, this play will be the one that haunts them. Devin Hester’s incompetent punt returning set up a safety. Justin Tucker had a field goal blocked. Flacco had an interception. With all that went wrong, the Ravens had a chance to win the game. This one play ruined the comeback attempt.

The Ravens had no idea how to handle it. They threw short passes on the subsequent drive and took their time. To be fair, New England was playing off so the Ravens would eat clock; however these dunks were futile play calls at best. Then the Ravens decided an onside kick was the way to go. That didn’t work.

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The Bottom Line:

A coverage mistake cost the Ravens this game. They came out flat. They should have been blown out. However Baltimore took advantage of Patriots mistakes. When they climbed back in the game they got our hopes up. It was all for nothing because of the play that broke the Ravens’ back.

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