Ray Lewis will get one more shot at a second Super Bowl ring in his final NFL game. (Photo: David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights - Baltimore's second-half surge gives retiring linebacker one more shot at another ring
- Joe Flacco has another big day, again outdueling Tom Brady
- Patriots' latest bid for elusive fourth title comes up short
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens lived up to their team of destiny image on a field where their 2011 season ended painfully. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is headed to a Super Bowl matchup with his brother. And Lewis can hold his retirement party in New Orleans.
Flacco threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns Sunday as the Ravens, who struggled mightily at the end of the season, beat the New England Patriots 28-13 Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.
BOX SCORE: Ravens 28, Patriots 13
HAR-BOWL: Jim Harbaugh's Ravens take out 49ers
ODDS: 49ers open as early Super Bowl XLVII favorites
The Ravens, Super Bowl champs in their first and only previous trip to the championship in the 2000 season, will play for NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, coached by John Harbaugh's brother, Jim.
Lewis, who has announced he will retire after 17 NFL seasons at age 37, missed the last 10 games of the regular season with a torn triceps in his right arm. But he's returned to the playoffs to inspire a Baltimore defense that held Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady to one touchdown pass with two interceptions. New England had never lost an AFC title game at home.
Last season, the Patriots edged the Ravens 23-20 here in the AFC Championship Game. In the final seconds, a potential winning touchdown pass to Lee Evans was stripped away in the end zone and Billy Cundiff missed a potential game-tying 32-yard field goal for Baltimore.
Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis (right) hugs defensive end Arthur Jones (97) after defeating the New England Patriots 28-13 in the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens guard Bobbie Williams (63) reacts after defeating the New England Patriots 28-13 in the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) celebrates after defeating the New England Patriots 28-13 in the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-126406 ORIG FILE ID: 20130120_jtl_al2_100.JPG
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts after throwing an interception against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (59) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a New England Patriots pass during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) celebrates after his touchdown catch over New England Patriots defensive back Marquice Cole (23) in the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens defensive end Arthur Jones (97) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots during the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) fumbles the ball during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) catches a pass against New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) falls over the back of New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington (24) during the third quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts against the New England Patriots in the second quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) slides before being hit by Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis (52) during the second quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-126406 ORIG FILE ID: 20130120_jla_sv3_132.jpg
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New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker (83) carries the ball after a catch against the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (30) is tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington (24) during the second quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) carries the ball as New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) defends n the first half of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen (34) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens strong safety Bernard Pollard (31) during the first quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) passes against the New England Patriots in the first quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes as tackle Sebastian Vollmer (76) blocks Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) in the first quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) attempts a field goal out of the hold of punter Zoltan Mesko (14) against the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (85) makes a catch in front of Baltimore Ravens free safety Ed Reed (20) in the first quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis (left) and cornerback Corey Graham (bottom) in the first quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) screams before the AFC championship game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium.
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A New England Patriots fan holds up a sign referencing Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis (not pictured) before the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium.
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Baltimore Ravens fans call out to Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh before the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
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Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Fullscreen Last Slide Next Slide Flacco, now 8-4 as a starting quarterback in the playoffs in five season, outplayed Patriots star Tom Brady a year ago.
After the Ravens trailed 13-7 at the half, Flacco led three consecutive touchdown drives in the second half to break the game open..Flacco's 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dennis Pitta put Baltimore ahead 14-13 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Flacco connected with wide receiver Anquan Boldin on touchdown passes of 3 and 11 yards.
Flacco took criticism on the radio talk shows in Baltimore during the team's second-half skid, and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was fired and replaced from the staff by assistant Jim Caldwell, former coach of the Indianapolis Colts. But the Baltimore offense came to life in the playoffs.
Running back Ray Rice and rookie backup Bernard Pierce led the Ravens running game against Patriots. Flacco spread out his big throws between Pitta, Boldin and wide receiver Torrey Smith.
The Patriots forged their 13-7 halftime lead on the strength of a 1-yard touchdown pass from Brady to wide receiver Wes Welker and a pair of field goals by Stephen Gostkowski. Baltimore got a 2-yard touchdown run by Rice early in the second quarter.
But the second half was all Baltimore. Flacco, who led the Ravens to an overtime win over the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs, finished 21-for-36 with no interceptions.
Brady, a three-time Super Bowl winner, was 29-for-54 or 320 yards. But his final pass was intercepted in the end zone by cornerback Cary Williams.
In defeat, Brady became the NFL's all-time leader in postseason passing yards with 5,949.
