Late Brady TD pass helps Patriots hold off Ravens 30-23

Overall, he’s at 22 touchdowns and two interceptions in the nine games he has played since his four-game suspension ended.

By dropping a 30-23 decision to the New England Patriots, the Ravens fell a game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

But the defense, with some help from punter Ryan Allen’s aptitude in pinning the Ravens deep and then a 79-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Chris Hogan to provide more margin for error, held Baltimore to two field goals the rest of the way.

It wasn’t all good from the Ravens’ special teams, though.

Brady just might be the MVP, especially considering those special teams turnovers Monday night, along with the absence of Gronkowski and fellow top pass-catcher Danny Amendola. The Ravens also lost centre Jeremy Zuttah in the first half with a concussion. Chris Hogan led all receivers with 5 receptions for 129 yards and 1 touchdown.

The Patriots have three games remaining in the regular season.

The Patriots led 23-3 before the Ravens turned back-to-back New England fumbles on special teams into touchdowns.

When Patriots rookie cornerback Cyrus Jones pulled the inexplicable moth-to-a-flame routine with a punt that had yet to be touched by the Ravens, many assumed Jones would be yanked from punt returns, permanently. Kansas City may be in a better position to compete this season as they have an explosive player in rookie receiver Tyreek Hill, along with Jeremy Maclin who will return from injury. Flacco then threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to a wide, wide, wide-open Kenneth Dixon and it was suddenly 23-17, and the Patriots were shaken.

Baltimore rallied behind Joe Flacco’s 324 passing yards and got within 23-20 in the fourth quarter before Brady struck again.

Baltimore waived kick returner Devin Hester on Tuesday, one day after the team’s loss to the Patriots. However, it was a breakdown in the Ravens’ secondary that was the difference in the game. Malcom Brown had a safety in the first quarter for the game’s first points when he tackled Dixon in the end zone.

The Patriots had a 2-0 lead after the second safety the Ravens have allowed this year; they haven’t scored one themselves in the past two seasons. New England defended the passing attack, and the Ravens were forced to settle for a 34-yard field goal opportunity.

While the players and coaches said they want to have a more balanced attack, the Ravens ran the ball just 14 times for 42 yards. LeGarrette Blount dominated the ground game with 18 carries for 72 yards and 1 touchdown.

Flacco set a franchise record with 37 completions, but 20 of them were for six yards or less.

Baltimore is now one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North.

As the opening half wore on, Smith and Zuttah went down with their injuries, prompting Wright and backup center John Urschel to be inserted in their places. But the effectiveness of their running game this season will at least keep him from having to throw 50 times while defenses try to reconfigure his vertebrae. He always does. It’s why it’s hard to doubt the Patriots with a three-or-more point lead in the fourth quarter.