Tom Brady threw for two touchdowns and the New England Patriots scored 21 straight points in a span of nine minutes in the fourth quarter to keep their Super Bowl title hopes alive with a come from behind win over the Baltimore Ravens 38-34 in the AFC Championship game on Sunday.
The game matched two of the NFL's all-time best, New England's Brady and the Ravens' middle linebacker Ray Lewis. The two teams went back and forth with the Patriots scoring the game's first 17 unanswered points to take a 17-0 lead late in the second quarter. The Patriots would not score again until the game's final quarter.
The Ravens' offense led by Joe Flacco would respond with 13 unanswered points of their own to cut into the lead and make the game 17-13 going into the locker room for halftime.
Baltimore would take the lead with an 11-play, 82-yard touchdown drive to open the game's third quarter. Ravens' running back Ray Rice took a the ball over the goal line on a three yard run right up and through the middle of the Patriots' defense.
Rice finished with 103 yards rushing and wide receiver Torrey Smith caught six passes for 97 yards with one touchdown. Flacco completed 26 of 38 passes for 275 yards and two touchdown passes for the Ravens.
The Ravens defense shutdown New England's offense throughout the third quarter and picked off Brady twice with each interception leading to Baltimore touchdowns. The Ravens took a 34-17 lead going into the final 15 minutes of the game.
Brady bounced back from his mistakes in the fourth quarter as he led the Patriots to a miraculous comeback. He opened the quarter with a 45-yard touchdown bomb to tight end Aaron Hernandez.
Rice would fumble the ball on Baltimore's ensuing possession giving the Patriots excellent field position and New England capitalized on the opportunity. Brady connected with Wes Welker on 16-yard touchdown pass to bring the Patriots to with in three points of the led.
Welker had seven catches for 92 yards and Brandon Lloyd added 85 yards on five receptions for the Patriots. Brady was 32 of 44 for 345 yards and a four touchdown passes.
The Patriots defense held the Ravens' offense to a field goal attempt on its next drive and Justin Tucker's kick went wide right mimicking Billy Cundiff's missed 32-yard field goal in the closing seconds of last year's AFC Championship game between these two teams.
Brady then led the Patriots down the field for the game winning touchdown, a 12 yard strike to Lloyd.
Do you think Madden NFL '13 got tonight's game right? In the regular season madden was 27-15 and for the playoffs the simulations are 4-4.
Here is a list of Madden NFL 13's simulations for the year...
Week 1
Cowboys Vs. Giants
Week 2
Packers Vs. Bears
49ers Vs. Lions
Broncos Vs. Falcons
Week 3
Giants Vs. Panthers
Patriots Vs. Ravens
Packers Vs. Seahawks
Week 4
Browns Vs. Ravens
Giants Vs. Eagles
Bears Vs. Cowboys
Week 5
Cardinal Vs. Rams
Chargers Vs. Saints
Texans Vs. Jets
Week 6
Steelers Vs. Titans
Packers Vs. Texans
Broncos Vs. Chargers
Week 7
Seahawks Vs. 49ers
Steelers Vs. Bengals
Week 8
Buccaneers Vs. Vikings
49ers Vs. Cardinals
Week 9
Chiefs Vs. Chargers
Cowboys Vs. Falcons
Eagles Vs. Saints
Week 10
Colts Vs. Jaguars
Texans Vs Bears
Chiefs Vs Steelers
Week 11
Miami Vs. Buffalo
49ers Vs. Bears
Week 12
Redskins Vs. Cowboys
Patriots Vs. Jets
Packers Vs. Giants
Panthers Vs. Eagles
Week 13
Saints Vs. Falcons
Eagles Vs. Cowboys
Giants Vs. Redskins
Week 14
Broncos Vs. Raiders
Texans Vs. Patriots
Week 15
Bengals Vs. Eagles
49ers Vs. Patriots
Titans Vs. Jets
Week 16
N/A
Week 17
Cowboys Vs Redskins
Playoffs Wildcard Round
Bengals Vs. Texans
Vikings Vs. Packers
Colts Vs. Ravens
Seahawks Vs. Redskins
Playoffs Divisional Round
Ravens Vs. Broncos
Packers Vs. 49ers
Seahawks Vs. Falcons
Texans Vs. Patriots
Championship Round
49ers Vs. Falcons
Ravens Vs. Patriots