New England Patriots Survive Baltimore Ravens: What Last Night Meant [Video]

FOXBOROUGH, MA — A dominant first half and an error-ridden second half was just enough for the Patriots Monday night in a 30-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough. Here's the skinny on what last night meant:

• Tom Brady threw for over 400 yards and Chris Hogan caught five balls for 129 yards and a huge touchdown. Despite a killer interception in the end zone near the end of the first half, Brady was stellar and his depleted group of pass-catchers (no Rob Gronkowski or Danny Amendola) proved up to the task.
• The win cements New England at the top of the AFC for now and in position to clinch the AFC East title and a first-round bye next week with a win at rival Denver.
• Rookie Cyrus Jones fumbled his fourth return of the season, letting a punt get a piece of him in the third quarter that the Ravens recovered and followed with a quick score. Matthew Slater then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Baltimore scored again.
• If you ask us, the play of the game wasn't Brady's 79-yard touchdown to Hogan that gave the Patriots a 30-20 lead and acted as a counterpunch to Baltimore's late charge. The biggest play happened earlier, when linebacker Shea McLellin leaped over the snapper to block Justin Tucker's field goal attempt and preserve what was a 2-0 lead. It was Tucker's first miss of the season.
• LeGarrette Blount tied the franchise record with his 14th rushing touchdown and cleared 1,000 yards for the first time as a Patriot. His bruising running was key, especially late when the Patriots bled out the clock.

Here are some of the key plays:

It was the defense which led the way early on, picking up a safety to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead.

The first big play on offense came from Baltimore, a 40-yard catch and run to Patriots 36, with the ball moving to the 21 following an unnecessary roughness penalty.

The play would be all for naught thanks to the leaping abilities of McClellin.

On the other side of the ball, a 61-yard reception by James White set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Blount, tying the team record for most rushing touchdowns in a season.

The Patriots continued to pitch a shutout into the second quarter with a Malcolm Mitchell touchdown reception, but Baltimore ended the shutout late in the a half with a 50-yard field goal.

The third quarter took an odd turn for the Patriots as back to back turnovers on special teams turned a 23-3 game into a 23-17 content.

The Ravens were able to get within three in fourth quarter, but it took only one play for the Patriots to regain a double-digit lead.

Tucker made it a one possession game cutting the lead to 30-23 with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter, but the Patriots were able to run out the clock and escape with their 11th win of the year.