Ravens Hold On At End To Squeeze Past Eagles 27-26
DAVID GINSBURG, AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Ravens survived a desperate comeback bid by the Philadelphia Eagles, stopping a 2-point conversion with 4 seconds left in a 27-26 victory Sunday that kept Baltimore in the thick of the playoff hunt.
On a wet and windy day, the Ravens maintained control of their playoff fate.
If Baltimore defeats Pittsburgh on Christmas Day and Cincinnati in the regular-season finale, the Ravens will enter the postseason as AFC North champions.
Baltimore (8-6) led 27-17 with just over six minutes left when Joe Flacco threw an interception inside the Philadelphia 10 to give the Eagles (5-9) another chance.
Rookie Carson Wentz directed a drive that produced a field goal with 2:22 remaining.
The Eagles got the ball back at their 41 with 1:39 to go. A 24-yard completion to tight end Zach Ertz and a pass interference call against rookie Tavon Young set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Wentz that got Philadelphia within a point.
First-year coach Doug Pederson went for the win, declining the conversion kick for a 2-point try. Wentz threw over the middle to tight Jordan Matthews, who couldn't get his hands on a ball that appeared to be tipped.
Philadelphia has lost five straight and seven of eight.
Wentz went 22 for 42 for 170 yards and an interception. He was coming off successive 300-yard games, but in this one had only 93 yards passing after the third quarter.
Ryan Mathews pierced the NFL's best rush defense for 128 yards.
Flacco went 16 for 30 for 206 yards, but lost a fumble in addition to being picked off once.
Flacco's second touchdown pass, a 34-yarder to Steve Smith with 9 seconds left, helped Baltimore take a 20-14 halftime lead.
Wentz threw an interception on the third play of the game, and the Ravens cashed in with a 5-yard touchdown catch by Kamar Aiken.
Late in the quarter, Justin Tucker kicked a 53-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead. It was his 10th this season of at least 50 yards, tying the NFL record set by Blair Walsh in 2012.
Minutes later, Flacco lost a fumble on the Baltimore 8, and Mathews capitalized by scoring on a 4-yard run and leaping in for a 2-point conversion.
NOTEWORTHY
Smith passed Marvin Harrison to move into seventh place on the yards receiving list. ... Terrance West's 41-yard run in the third quarter for Baltimore was a career best. ... Wentz has thrown eight interceptions in his past five games. ... Mathews was limited to 60 yards rushing or fewer in eight of his previous nine games.
INJURIES
Eagles: RB Kenjon Barner left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Ravens: LB Zachary Orr left briefly with a neck injury. He returned after passing concussion protocol.
UP NEXT
Eagles: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in a rematch of an Oct. 30 game the Eagles lost 28-23.
Ravens: A clash with the Steelers for first place in the division on Christmas Day. Baltimore has won the past four games of the series.
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