Ravens Top 20 #3: The Miracle

Continuing our look at the Ravens best moments

By Chuck Mills Jul 30, 2015, 5:00pm EDT

The Ravens were not favored heading into the 2012 AFC Divisional Game against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos were the #1 seed in the AFC and had a top five offense and defense,plus they had already defeated the Ravens comfortably. Analysts were saying that it would take a miracle for the Ravens to win.

The Ravens started the game off in a hole after Trindon Holliday returned a Ravens punt 90 yards for a touchdown. Jacoby Jones would fumble and recover a punt at the Ravens six. Joe Flacco would lead a drive that ended with a 59 yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith. Corey Graham would intercept a Peyton Manning pass and take it back for a touchdown on the next possession. Peyton Manning would connect with Brandon Stokley to finish out the first quarter in a close, back-and-forth game game.

Peyton Manning took the lead back for the Broncos in the second quarter when he connected with Knowshon Moreno for a touchdown. Matt Prater would miss a 52 yard field goal with 1:16 remaining, which gave Joe Flacco the opportunity to throw the game-tying touchdown to Torrey Smith to end the half.

Trindon Holliday would yet again score another touchdown, this time he took back the opening kickoff 104 yards for the touchdown. Pernell McPhee would force a fumble of Peyton Manning and Paul Kruger would recover it at the Broncos 37. Ray Rice would score a one-yard touchdown five plays later.

The Broncos would take the lead again in the fourth quarter through a Peyton Manning to Demaryius Thomas touchdown pass. The Ravens would drive to the Denver 31 but turned the ball over after Jacoby Jones dropped the ball on fourth down with 3:16 left. The Ravens would stop the Broncos with 1:09 seconds left, at the cost of all three of their timeouts. The Ravens would take the ball at their own 23 and two plays later they faced third and three with 44 seconds left.

Joe Flacco evaded the Broncos pass rush and threw a 70 yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones to tie the game and force overtime.

The Ravens and Broncos traded punts in overtime, until Corey Graham intercepted a Peyton Manning pass at the Broncos 45 yard line. Ray Rice would run for 11 yards on the very next play and Justin Tucker would kick a 47 yard field goal in double overtime to win the game for the Ravens.

People said that it would take a miracle for the Ravens to beat the Broncos in Denver. And they got one.

Previous Entries:

#4: Jonathan Ogden Becomes Immortal

#5: Ray's Last Home Game

#6: Ravens Rally To Defeat Patriots

#7: Ed Reed Makes History Part 2

#8: The Comeback

#9: Ravens End Jaguar Dominance

#10: Ravens Exorcise Demons In Pittsburgh

#11: Jamal Lewis Runs To History

#12: Ravens Pummel Ben Roethlisberger

#13: Joe Flacco Explodes In Tampa Bay