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Did You See the ‘Flacco Fling’? Ravens Stun Broncos in ‘Win for the Ages’

Jan. 13, 2013 12:59am Scott Baker

DENVER — Welcome to NFL immortality, Joe Flacco.

Somewhere up there in the all-time playoff archives near the “Hail Mary” by Roger Staubach and the “Immaculate Reception” by Franco Harris now lives the “Flacco Fling” by the Baltimore Ravens quarterback.

One big throw down the sideline, 70 make-or-break yards on a wing and a prayer — a high, arcing touchdown pass that soared through the icy air, flew over two defenders, landed in the hands of Jacoby Jones, saved the game for Baltimore and kept Ray Lewis’ 17-year career going at least one more week.

Editor’s note — This essay is by AP National Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg:

Just before the sixth quarter of one of the most fascinating and improbable NFL playoff games you’ll ever see, Justin Tucker trotted out onto the field and did something you hardly ever see.

He practiced making a field goal. And for one of the few times on a frigid afternoon-turned-evening in Denver, something turned out exactly as planned.

The game that seemed like it was destined never to end finally did, much to the dismay of 76,732 shivering fans and a quarterback who had seemed destined to take the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl. It was Peyton Manning’s interception that gave the Baltimore Ravens their golden opportunity in the 38-35 win, though Manning could hardly be blamed for the Broncos being in that position to begin with.

He was still playing deep into overtime for the same reason Ray Lewis will go on to play at least one more game before calling it a career. Lewis was on the sideline probably rehearsing his farewell speech when a shocking collapse by the Denver secondary allowed a game tying touchdown on a 70-yard pass to Jacoby Jones with just 31 seconds left.

Up until then, it was just about how John Elway imagined things going when the Broncos courted Manning during the offseason and let the orange-clad faithful in Denver know that Tebowtime was over.

A frigid weekend in January. A big-time quarterback under center. And a fourth quarter drive engineered by Manning that appeared to wrap up this playoff win with a giant bow.

Except the Broncos aren’t one step closer to the Super Bowl. The Ravens are flying to either Houston or New England, and the way they felt after Saturday’s game they might not even need a plane.

It was tough enough to win it. Trying to describe it all afterward might have been even tougher.

“Thanks for bearing witness to one of the greatest football games you’re ever going to see,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “That football game did the game of football proud.”

Indeed it did, warts and all. Yes, the brilliant plays were all there — how many times have you seen a player start both halves with long kick returns for touchdowns as Denver’s Trindon Holliday did? — but the miscues were almost as memorable and arguably more significant.

That begins with Manning, who was supposed to be the coolest one on a very cool field but had three turnovers that led directly to 17 points. It continues with Ravens punt and kickoff return teams that gave up scores that might have sunk any team that didn’t believe like it was supposed to win no matter what happened.

“We never wavered, we never wavered,” Lewis said. “This will probably go down as one of the greatest wins in Ravens history.”

But the play that will be debated and dissected in Denver for far longer than Tebowmania ever lasted was the biggest gaffe of all. It came after standout cornerback Champ Bailey had already been beaten for two long touchdown passes, and everyone in the stadium was asking the person in the seat next to them what happened to the vaunted Broncos pass defense.

Eight men were playing off the line, knowing the game was theirs unless something freakishly horrible happened. Eight men who all knew a desperation pass was coming but somehow were unable to defend against it.

Eight men who could do nothing but watch as Jacoby strutted into the end zone with the tying score.

“You got to start taking shots at some point and it happened to work out,” Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. “It was pretty incredible.”

There were snow flurries on the field and the wind chill had dipped below zero when Manning and Lewis met again at midfield, this time for the coin flip for overtime. The two were always intertwined in this game and both had their moments, with Lewis getting a team-high 15 tackles and Manning throwing for three scores, the last of which seemingly secured the win for Denver.

Manning had come back from a lost season and a potentially career-ending neck injury to win 11 straight games for his new team. Lewis was calling it a career, and using his pending retirement as one more way to motivate his team to keep playing.

They played nearly 77 minutes before it was finally settled by a rookie kicker who after the end of the first overtime period went out on the field to practice a kick. Tucker made 30 of 33 during the regular season, and this one was perfect, touching off a celebration on the sidelines.

Manning went over and gave Lewis a hug before heading into a somber, stunned locker room. He showered and dressed in suit and tie before coming out to talk about how hard it was for everyone on the team to have their season come to such a shocking end.

“You want it to work and keep going and win, but that’s not always the way it works,” Manning said.

Lewis was just as philosophical in victory, talking about higher powers and things that happen when men come together. He said he was particularly inspired by a visit he made to a Baltimore hospital Thursday night, where he saw sick kids who will never be able to experience the joys he has in playing the game of football.

“I challenged my team this week to not listen to anything outside our building, to buy into everything we are as a team,” Lewis said. “When you get everybody to buy in, it’s just so special to see it.”

Even more special might be to see the Ravens in the Super Bowl.

And after a win for the ages, a lot more people are beginning to believe that’s just where they will end up.

____

Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org

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Comments (55)

s.n.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:42pm
I put the full Donkeys loss blame on the Ravens….if those darned Ravens hadn’t scored more points than the Donks….the Donks would have won. Dang those Ravens

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Bobj_1960
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 4:12pm
Whenever is see the name “Flacco”, I immediately translate it in my head to “FALCO”.
Damn Hollywood.

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WTFurnuts
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 2:15pm
Just as long as they can beat the patriots, I don’t care who wins.

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- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 4:20pm
  Exactly! I’m praying the Texans send overrated TB and the pats home today.
  
  Report this comment
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:40pm
HE didn’t throw that. I saw him using the road to get to the stadium. This could not have taken place without gubment. Give everyone a participation ribbon and call off the bourgeois Super bowl.

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- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:20pm
  That’s not how you spell Gandhi.
  
  Report this comment
BoJacksonFive
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:02pm
OH! Let me add that I think this is all about giving Ray Lewis (O.J. Simpson #2….) a Super Bowl ring. The way those announcers were slobbering over Lewis made the Madden/Favre love affair seem tame!

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- Scothantlas
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 5:17pm
  Before you open your mouth and say something stupid, do some homework Ray lewis already has a superbowl ring, from the first time the ravens won the superbowl against new york
  
  Report this comment
BoJacksonFive
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:00pm
I read a book a number of years ago called; “The Fix is In”; about how sports….from NASCAR to the NFL….are rigged.

I couldn’t help think of that book last night as I watched the Bronco’s game. Blown coverage when rushing ONLY THREE? Right…. Not playing for the win in regulation? Constant running instead of using Manning’s accurate arm? Then because Manning hasn’t used his arm in so long, I guess it “froze up” and he threw a beautiful pass….right to the Ravens! Right….

I then turned over to the Packer game, and watched the most accurate passer in the NFL….throw the stupidest pass….deep….to a 49′er! This was not the Rodger’s I have seen over the years!

And 49′ers option-style “college ball” beating pros? Come on!

I don’t think I’ll even watch to day. I’ll lay carpet instead….

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- Rowgue
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:24pm
  You’re a moron.
  
  There is a lot of “fixing” that goes on in every sport, but it isn’t the players doing it. The officiating crews have the power to determine the outcome of every single game played, and they often do. They can negate any play by making phantom calls or ignoring obvious infractions.
  
  Report this comment
- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:02pm
  I certainly think the refs have/do. I watch some of the Pats games and think they must be trying to make them win. There were many horrible calls throughout the Ravens Denver game.
  
  Report this comment
- hellhavefury
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:08pm
  game fixing was proved to me a few years ago in the Celtics Lakers play offs when the Celtics in game 6 just laid down being outscored by 30 points no way that happened but it did. Now I watched this whole game and the announcers were defiantly in the tank for Denver. It does make me sick the way they cover games now slobbering on the players like their dessert. But i was really happy to see Denver loose I was jumping up and down. Not A big Teabo fan , but he gets no respect from the NFL and all he does is make everybody play better and feel good
  
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GoodStuff
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:52am
Hey Broncos, that’s what ya get for stabbing Tebow in the back!

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- ritonmom
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:44pm
  I feel the very same way!
  
  Report this comment
LukeAppling
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:34am
The defenders, those highly paid, defenders, looked pathetic and should be fired for losing this game.
One “hail Mary” and everyone in the stadium knew to play back and don’t anyone behind them, and they can’t get it right.

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- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:38am
  Yeah. How bad of a job could you do? All he had to do was play back. Was that so hard? I could have done better. I feel bad for Manning. Wish they would have won. They made Flacco look really good.
  
  Report this comment
dado7
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:15am
Nice season with Manning, but Tebow led them deeper into the playoffs. Hey Broncos…I guess you don’t know what you got until it’s gone. It’s all about winning right? Suckers! Go Giants!

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cliKKer
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:41am
Yes… that tied the game but it didn’t “Win” the game it was Peyton doing his typical Playoff Choke. I hope this stops the STUPID idolatry worship of Manning. He as won 1 time which is an achievement. But dilfer won 1 time. Is he a “Great” quarterback? Also mannings numbers come in a DOME. So I hope they SHUT up about him. Also… on Flacco this same idiots who are saying “flacco fling” would have crucified him if they had lost. Did you see the fumble earlier in the game? Lastly, this is PERFECT for the NE patriots….. they can now get home field until Superbowl and after watching their last two games, the Ravens can be beaten

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Mojoron
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:18am
$90 million later and the Bronco’s are no better off than they were with Tim Tebow!

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- JeffMT
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:08pm
  Exactly!
  
  Last year, with Tim Tebow, the Broncos won the AFC West division and qualified for the playoffs. This year, with Peyton Manning, the Broncos won the AFC West division and qualified for the playoffs. Last year, in the wildcard round of the playoffs, Tebow led the Broncos to an overtime victory and into the second round, the divisional playoff game. This year, the Broncos had a bye in the wildcard round and automatically advanced to the divisional playoff round.
  
  Last year, the Broncos lost in the divisional playoff round. This year, the Broncos lost in the divisional playoff round in overtime.
  
  Recap: Last year, the Tebow-led Broncos were 1-1 in the playoffs, including an overtime victory in Denver. This year, the Manning-led Broncos were 0-1 in the playoffs, including an overtime loss in Denver. Net result: Last year, with the much-maligned Tim Tebow at quarterback, Denver lost in the divisional playoff game. This year, with the much-ballyhooed Peyton Manning at quarterback, Denver lost in the divisional playoff game.
  
  Conclusion: it didn’t matter who the quarterback was, Denver lost in the same round of the playoffs both years. Where are the Tebow haters now? Just askin’ …
  
  Report this comment
PA PATRIOT
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:26am
Yep.
And it keeps the legend of #52 Ray Lewis alive.
What a hero… Indicted and convicted of withholding evidence in a doble murder trial ..,.
But alas, the justice System prevaliled and he was let go.
Once a felon… always a felon

June 2000
“A judge Monday approved a deal allowing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to avoid murder charges and jail time by pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and testifying against two co-defendants.

Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and Superior Court Judge Alice D. Bonner sentenced Lewis to 12 months’ probation, the maximum sentence for a first-time offender. Under the terms of the sentence, Lewis can not use drugs or alcohol during the duration of the probation.

Someone is doing time for Ray Lewis. Sad

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:12am
  With that resume he’ll be an ESPN celebrity. The Ebony Sports Promoting Network.
  
  Report this comment
- gac1218
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:42am
  @ PA
  Typical stone throwing, bitter, sour grapes, finger pointing, biased, blind, know it all judgemental perspective, which is just the opposite of everything I have ever seen from Ray Lewis.
  
  Report this comment
- malbro
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:07am
  Corrupttion in America reaches everywhere..The upper class wins and the lower class looses………
  
  Report this comment
- JeffMT
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:16pm
  http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/10/ray-lewis-baltimore-ravens-atlanta-murder-2000/1566198/
  Slayings not forgotten, Ray Lewis not forgiven
  Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY Sports
  4:38p.m. EST January 12, 2013
  
  Report this comment
- PA PATRIOT
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:24pm
  @gac1218
  
  truth HURTS…Doesn”t it!
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:17pm
  Lewis will be enshrined into the Football Hall of Fame, right next to OJ Simpson.
  
  Report this comment
- gac1218
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:33pm
  Why would I be hurt by telling you the truth about yourself?
  
  Report this comment
- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 2:18pm
  @THE_JERK
  
  As he should be. He’s a great player. What he does outside of football shouldn’t have anything to do with getting into the HOF.
  
  Report this comment
- PA PATRIOT
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 2:47pm
  GAC12
  
  Truth is… he is a felon. I agree with JeffMT. He is not forgiven.
  Wrong place, wrong time,, tell that to the thousands of other inmates that were not NFL standouts.
  The truth is he should have done time, I am not bitter, sour or blind.
  I speak for millions. I speak the truth.
  Do the crime.. do the time.
  You said…
  “He may have been to close to a shady event 16 years ago, wrong place wrong time. But his life since then has been nothing but the utmost in integrity, dedication, community service, and devotion to his faith.”
  How do you know… were you there or is it what you read in the sports column.
  You are off point here.
  Two men are dead and he still plays football.
  
  Report this comment
SPOT_OF_TEA
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:24am
Denver playoff wins……..Tebow 1

Manning 0

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cloudsofwar
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 7:59am
the flacco fling? who ever wrote the headline doesn’t know flacco. that my friends was a beautiful pass. he saw the reciever running down the sideline and the rest is football history. what a game with double OT. the ravens are going to the AFC Championship. i always felt that the NFC and AFC championship games are better than the super bowl. my redskins fell short this year but my second favorite team (the ravens) are going all the way. i’m from Baltimore and became a redskins fan after the colts sneaked out of baltimore in the middle of the night. congrats to the ravens, one for the record books.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:21am
  If not Pittsburgh, then Baltimore.
  
  Report this comment
rickroland
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 5:40am
If you watched the play, the so-called “Flacco Fling” wasn’t what caused the score. The safety completely blew his coverage, that and only that is what caused the touch down to occur.

If the safety hadn’t blown his coverage, sure the pass might have still been caught, but there would have been a better chance of the defense knocking the pass down or intercepting it.

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The-Monk
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 5:38am
Testing…..

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The-Monk
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 5:30am
Test…

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texasoysterman
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 4:20am
So I guess congratulations are due to ray lewis.

Not from me, you murderous thug.

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- gac1218
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:53am
  O.K. inspector Valdare. You obviously have never watched Ray Lewis play the game. I have never seen him argue with an official, never been in an on field fight, never even gets in the face of an opponent and even when taunted or pushed he just walks away. He may have been to close to a shady event 16 years ago, wrong place wrong time. But his life since then has been nothing but the utmost in integrity, dedication, community service, and devotion to his faith. Go see the Les Miserable movie for some perspective.
  
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- texasoysterman
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 6:30am
  @gag. Why don’t you do a little research on the subject of what Lewis was involved in 13 years ago?
  He was involved in a double murder. A double murder, not a “shady event.” He went to jail. He pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. But that was only to get the murder charges dropped IF he testified against his homies. Which he did.
  Now that’s some real loyalty.
  
  Report this comment
DEFCON4
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 4:08am
“How-a-Bet-Them”.!
“Harbaugh-Brothers…!

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Daddymac10
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 3:43am
What was the Broncos thinking?? You allow the obvious, then you deserve to lose..

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 3:41am
Not even close. He didn’t even catch that, if not for the roads to the stadium. –Thanks you gay muslim in the whitehouse..

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 7:56am
  Had to re-read the post to “get it”, but I did. FUNNY!!!
  
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- GatorSlayer
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:45am
  I had to read it twice too,now that’s funny right there I don’t care who you are.
  
  Report this comment
- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:23pm
  That’s still not how you spell Gandhi.
  
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DEFCON4
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:59am
Amen, ‘Blue Hen’ !

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Marnin
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:53am
Go Figure, all the grief, all the melodrama, and Manning couldn’t get them any further into the playoffs this year than Tebow did last year…

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waspanglosaxon
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:48am
J’you see ol’ Billy Joe catch dat pass? I thought he’s gonna drop it, but no, no, he caught it…Why is this nonsense even on a political website? Marx was very wrong: Religion is not “the opiate of the masses”, sports are. And, may I say, very boring sports at that (a.k.a. the Big 3 – foot/base/basketball). What about tiddlywinks?

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- Marnin
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:55am
  maybe secause this isn’t a political website? Haven’t beea vere long have you? It has news that covers all topics, that they deem newsworthy or interesting
  
  Report this comment
- waspanglosaxon
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 2:02am
  If this isn’t a political website, what is it? I think you’ve sat too close to home plate and caught a few too many balls in the noggin.
  
  Report this comment
- 13th Imam
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:45am
  Soccer Fan??
  
  Report this comment
- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:43am
  Are you kidding? Football is the best sport to play and watch. You could make that argument for basketball, possibly baseball, but not football. If you want boring try NASCAR, golf, tennis.
  
  Report this comment
- mbean
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 5:06pm
  It’s not a political website, it’s a Conservative website run by Glann Beck reflecting his world view.
  
  Big 3, yup NHL is the little brother too and not a Major League.
  
  Report this comment
DoomsdayProphet
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:46am
it was rigged.

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- YAHSHUARULES
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 6:49am
  No not that game – but what is happening in our Country:
  
  Do you know who the Fabians (with logo of wolf in sheep’s clothing); SDS, Frankfurt School and Willi Munzenberg, Herbert Markusa and Franz Noima; John Dewey, Antonio Gramsci, Mattechine Society, Saul Alinski (who dedicated his book which Obama taught for years in Chicago “Rules for Radicals” to Lucifer) was a disciple of Gramsci used to train at the rifle range with Leon Despres preparing for the revolution to take down America, later became a mentor to Obama and.Committees of Correspondence are? Connect all the dots that allowed Obama to waltz into the White House..
  https://vimeo.com/52009124
  
  Agenda to create an America so corrupt it stinks; use public policy to subvert America from inside, infiltrate and influence our culture to break down basic rules of morality driving us in a direction designed to destroy us. . No conspiracy – just verifiable facts! If you don’t know all this you need to find out!
  
  This is the most comprehensive, best movie I have seen pulling all this together. I have watched it 12X to absorb all that is in it…give it 5 minutes and you won’t be able to walk away
  Watch it. Share it. Arrange a showing in church, groups, clubs, with friends or family. Everyone who loves America needs to see this movie,
  It is free on line
  https://vimeo.com/52009124
  If America goes down, the free world will go down with it and it will be finished for a very, very long time…
  
  Report this comment

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