Ravens' Powers, Mosley Solidify Win Over Eagles
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens defense came up with their biggest play with the season on the line.
After Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz scored on a 4-yard run, Baltimore's C.J. Mosley and Jerraud Powers stopped a 2-point conversion with four seconds left, helping the Ravens escape with a 27-26 victory on Sunday.
Baltimore (8-6) can now win the AFC North if it beats the Steelers on Christmas Day and the Bengals in the finale. Philadelphia (5-9) has lost five consecutive games.
"I'm sure it's what everyone wants," Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said about the showdown with the Steelers. "We're up for the challenge. It's going to be a fun day, going in there on Christmas, into Pittsburgh, into that environment."
A 53-yard pass from Flacco to Mike Wallace put the Ravens on the Eagles' 11 in the fourth quarter. However, Flacco was intercepted by Jordan Hicks on the next play.
That led to a 29-yard kick by Caleb Sturgis and pulled Philadelphia within 27-20 with 2:22 left in the game.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Eagles got the ball back with 1:39 remaining. A pass interference penalty on Tavon Young gave Philadelphia the ball on the 4-yard line and Wentz scored two plays later.
Mosley then tipped a pass by Wentz at the line and Powers prevented Jordan Matthews from grabbing the ball on the 2-point conversion attempt to preserve the win.
"I want to congratulate our guys -- Jerraud Powers and C.J. Mosley -- for making the game-winning play at the end of the game," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "It was a great play. Ultimately, they won us a football game. I would say, for our guys, we have a lot of heart."
The Eagles' Ryan Mathews barreled over Baltimore's vaunted defense, running for 128 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown.
"Our receivers were blocking downfield. Our line played great today," Mathews said. "You have to give all the credit to them."
A 27-yard field goal by Sturgis early in the fourth quarter pulled the Eagles within 20-17. The Ravens responded on the ensuing drive on a 16-yard touchdown run by rookie Kenneth Dixon.
Philadelphia, however, fought back and was a play from winning the game.
"Everybody is disappointed," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. "Everybody is dejected. Obviously, we need to finish these games. That's been the feeling the last couple of weeks."
Flacco was 16 of 30 for 206 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while Ravens running back Terrance West had 122 total yards (77 rushing, 45 receiving).
After Wentz was intercepted by Zachary Orr on the Philadelphia 36, Flacco capped a five-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kamar Aiken for an early 7-0 lead. The Ravens are tied for the league lead with 16 interceptions.
A 53 field-goal by Justin Tucker later gave Baltimore a 10-3 lead. Tucker tied the Vikings' Blair Walsh (2012) for the NFL record with 10 field goals of 50 yards or more in a season.
A fumble by Flacco on his own 8-yard line allowed the Eagles to take a 11-10 lead on a 4-yard touchdown run and 2-point conversion by Mathews.
A 45-yard field by Sturgis gave Philadelphia a 14-13 with 1:43 remaining in the half, but Flacco threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith with nine seconds left to give Baltimore a 20-14 lead at the break.
The Ravens held on for an emotional win with another huge game in Week 15.
"We know what's at stake next week," Powers said. "So, it will be another fun Ravens-Steelers matchup."
