Ravens Miss Late FG, Fall To Vikings

NFL News - October 18th, 2009 - Written by John

Brett Favre put together another game-winning drive in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Vikings survived a late field goal attempt to send the Baltimore Ravens to their third-straight loss, 33-31, on Sunday.

Favre orchestrated the game-winning drive with a key 58-yard bomb to Sidney Rice to set up Ryan Longwell's field goal with 1:56 left on the clock. It was Favre's 41st fourth-quarter comeback of all-time and he has the most wins to start a season of any quarterback with a new team. The Vikings are one of the four teams still unbeaten, 6-0 for the first time since 2003.

The Ravens came a-knocking, however, and nearly stole the game back from the Vikings. Quarterback Joe Flacco was magnificent all day and was especially good on the final drive of the game. With just under two minute to go, he completed four passes for 35 yards, including three for more than 10 yards. But Steve Hauschka missed a 44-yarder that would've given the Ravens the win.

Adrian Peterson broke the century mark for the first time since the season opener, bumbling for 143 yards on 22 carries. Rice's big catch was enough to put him on top of all receivers with a whopping 176 yards. Not far behind him was Baltimore running back Ray Rice, who had 194 total yards on the day, including 117 through the air.

Baltimore was slated to be the Vikings' biggest game to-date after beating five other teams who had a combined 7-17 record. Their best win came on a desparation heave from Favre in the closing seconds to beat the 49ers. But it looked, at least initially, that the Vikings were prepared to blow out the Ravens with two quick touchdowns from Favre to leap to a 14-0 lead and Baltimore could only manage a field goal in the first half. But Flacco blew up in the fourth quarter, leading his team to a furious comeback with two touchdown passes within four minutes. After hitting Mark Clayton for a 32-yard touchdown, he again struck with five minutes left on the clock. His 12-yard touchdown to Derrick Mason made it 30-24.

The Ravens stopped Minnesota on their next possession, and Ray Rice broke off a 33-yard touchdown on the first play of the next drive to make it 31-30.

That's when Favre took over, hitting Rice to lead to the field goal. Favre finished the day with 278 yards and three touchdowns.

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