Ravens top Colts, close in on playoff berth.
Baltimore hangs on to beat Indy 23-16, solidifies position.
The Ravens’ failure to make the playoffs in three of the past four seasons has been rooted in Week 16 disappointments.
In 2013, the Ravens faced the New England Patriots in Week 16, armed with a fourgame winning streak and in prime playoff position. They were blown out by the Patriots, 41-7, and lost the following week to the Cincinnati Bengals to miss the playoffs for the first time in John Harbaugh’s six seasons.
The Ravens made the playoffs in 2014 despite a Week 16 loss to the Houston Texans leaving them needing to beat the Cleveland Browns in the regular-season finale and get help, which the Kansas City Chiefs provided with a victory over the San Diego Chargers. Last year, the Ravens went on the road to face the Pittsburgh Steelers with the AFC North on the line. They lost in the final seconds and were eliminated from playoff contention.
In position to return to the playoffs with victories in their final two regular-season games, the Ravens couldn’t afford a misstep Saturday against an Indianapolis Colts team that had lost five straight games. They avoided one, but just barely.
“We didn’t play our best game,” coach John Harbaugh readily acknowledged.
The Colts drove the ball down to the 10-yard line with less than two minutes to go, but cornerback Maurice Canady broke up a fourthdown pass, preserving the Ravens’ 23-16 victory at wet and windy M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
With the Ravens’ fifth victory in their past six games, they improved to 9-6 to move ahead of the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills into wild-card position. They’ll remain there no matter how the Bills fare against the New England Patriots today.
Regardless of today’s results, the Ravens would clinch a wild-card berth by beating the Bengals in their regular-season finale.
“We found a way to win it. That’s the thing, it’s a win,” Harbaugh said. “It doesn’t matter. You have to find a way to win in this league.”
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco completed 29 of 38 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, and Justin Tucker kicked three field goals as the Ravens survived a major upset bid from the banged-up Colts (3-12).
“I wish we had gotten into the end zone one more time,” Flacco said. “It’s not always pretty.”
The Ravens seemingly took control of the game with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ate up nearly eight minutes and ended with Flacco hitting tight end Maxx Williams for a 4-yard touchdown. That gave the home team a 23-13 lead with 8:40 remaining, but the Colts got the ball back and answered with points.
C.J. Mosley and Eric Weddle both dropped potential interceptions that would’ve all but put the game away. Indianapolis got a 30-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri with 4:33 remaining to make the score 23-16.
After one first down, the Ravens went to punt the ball away with under three minutes remaining, but their normally stout special teams group let them down. Sam Koch’s punt was blocked by Anthony Walker, giving the Colts the ball at the Ravens’ 27-yard line.
Indianapolis reached the 10-yard line at the two-minute warning. However, the Ravens stopped Frank Gore for a loss on second down and Za’Darius Smith sacked Jacoby Brissett on third down. On fourth-and-10 on the 17, Brissett targeted his best player, T.Y. Hilton, but Canady stepped in front of the pass and broke it up, setting off a celebration on the home sideline.
“We had a great chance to win this game,” Brissett said. “We just didn’t get it done down there.”
The Colts have lost six in a row for the first time since 2011, when they opened 0-13. That was the year before they drafted quarterback Andrew Luck, whose absence this season with a shoulder injury contributed heavily to the team’s slide into the AFC South cellar.
Brissett completed 16 of 33 passes for 215 yards and Gore had 68 yards rushing and a touchdown catch for Indianapolis. More importantly, the Colts did not commit a turnover against a team that leads the NFL with 33 takeaways.
Packers LB Matthews misses game vs. Vikes
Outside linebackers Clay Matthews and Nick Perry were among five starters inactive for host Green Bay’s game Saturday night against the Vikings. Matthews (hamstring) and Perry (ankle/ shoulder) each missed practice this week.
Leading receiver Davante Adams (concussion) was declared out earlier this week for the Packers, who were playing their first game since being eliminated from playoff contention.
The NFC North champion Vikings were relatively healthy as they jockeyed for playoff seeding. Left tackle Riley Reiff and safety Andrew Sendejo were active after being listed as questionable.
Friday’s Games Saturday’s Games
(At) Raptors 102, 76ers 86: DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and Serge Ibaka had 17 in Toronto’s 10th straight home victory. Philadelphia star Joel Embiid returned after missing three games because of a sore lower back. Embiid had 14 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes.
(At) Hornets 111, Bucks 106: Dwight Howard had 21 points and 16 rebounds and Kemba Walker had 19 points as Charlotte overcame an 18-point deficit. Bucks All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) did not play.
(At) Wizards 130, Magic 103: Mike Scott scored 18 points as Washington handed Orlando its eighth straight loss. John Wall had 13 assists. Magic center Nikola Vucevic broke his left index finger and will be out indefinitely.
(At) Pacers 123, Nets 119 (OT): Victor Oladipo scored 38 points for Indiana, which rallied from a 19-point deficit.
(At) Celtics 117, Bulls 92: Kyrie Irving scored 25 points and Jaylen Brown had 20 for Boston. Chicago lost its second straight after a seven-game winning streak.
(At) Hawks 112, Mavericks 107: Dennis Schroder had 33 points and seven assists in Atlanta’s victory.
Thunder 103, (at) Jazz 89: Russell Westbrook had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Oklahoma City’s fourth straight win. Westbrook had his 11th triple-double.
Pelicans 109, (at) Heat 94: Ian Clark scored 19 points and Anthony Davis added 17 as New Orleans took command with a 17-2 third-quarter run.
(At) Grizzlies 115, Clippers 112: Tyreke Evans scored 30 points and Marc Gasol had 17 points and a season-high 15 rebounds for Memphis.
Nuggets 96, (at) Warriors 81: Gary Harris scored 19 points and Nikola Jokic had 18 as Denver stopped Golden State’s 11-game winning streak.
Timberwolves at Suns: Late
Trail Blazers at Lakers: Late
Spurs at Kings: Late
Today’s Games