Joe Flacco(notes) needed one more possession to try to rally theBaltimore Ravens with another memorable comeback.
The Ravens defense couldnt give Flacco that chance.
And for the third time this season, Baltimore was left explaining anotherflop against a losing team.
Despite everything that happened early, late we still had an opportunityto come back and win the game and we didnt get it done, Baltimore linebackerTerrell Suggs(notes) said. I take a lot of responsibility, me, myself and the rest ofthe defense. Im just disgusted to lose like this.
Flacco completed 29 of 52 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown, but theRavens couldnt overcome three turnovers, two missed field goals and a big dayfrom Seattles Marshawn Lynch(notes) in the Seahawks 22-17 win on Sunday.
A week after staking claim to the lead of the AFC North with a thrillinglast-minute win at Pittsburgh, the Ravens lost in the Pacific Northwest in anall-too-similar fashion this season.
After routing Pittsburgh in their opener, the Ravens (6-3) were dominated ina loss at Tennessee. Just a few weeks ago, after an impressive win over AFCSouth-leading Houston, the Ravens were beaten by Jacksonville.
Go ahead and add Seattle (3-6) to the list.
The magic Flacco had in last weeks win over the Steelers was gone.
He was rarely able to challenge the Seahawks secondary downfield due tostrong coverage that forced him to throw underneath. When he did haveopportunities to pick up big yards, Flacco missed open receivers.
Ray Rice(notes) had only 27 yards rushing and David Reed(notes) fumbled twice on kickoffreturns leading to six points for Seattle.
We understand that we are going to be a target of a lot of criticism rightnow. We understand that, we understand that its going to be local, its goingto be national, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
We understand the fans are very disappointed in the game, were verydisappointed in the game. We had an opportunity here to do something to separateourselves a little bit in our division and we didnt finish.
These types of losses by the Ravens are rare occurrences since Harbaugh tookover in 2008. Sundays defeat was the fourth loss by the Ravens against asub-.500 team since Harbaugh took over, and two of them have been after Week 2Sundays loss to Seattle and three weeks ago against the Jaguars.
And some of the Ravens offensive decisions may be questioned after thisloss.
Rice, who was visibly upset after the Ravens had to settle for a 35-yardfield goal from Billy Cundiff(notes) late in the third quarter, had just five carriesfor 27 yards. The Ravens had eight total carries by their running backs. Ricedid catch eight passes for 54 yards, but receivers Torrey Smith(notes) and AnquanBoldin(notes) had five combined catches.
They are big guys, their corners, and they were pressed on us most of theday. They kind of went into a two shell a lot of the second half and forced usto do some of those things, Flacco said. But I felt like we moved the ballpretty well on offense when we had the ball, obviously we didnt take advantageof some things and we did make some mistakes
Steven Hauschka(notes) matched a franchise record with five field goals, but it wasthose five kicks that gave Baltimore hope late. After Lynchs 1-yard TD run onSeattles second possession, the Seahawks got inside the Baltimore 25 on fiveother occasions, settling for field goals each time.
Baltimore had a chance with a 10-play, 65-yard drive, helped along by twodefensive penalties and capped by Flaccos 11-yard TD pass to tight end EdDickson(notes) with 5:52 remaining, cutting the lead to 22-17.
Flacco set a career high in attempts, while Dickson had a career high with10 catches and two touchdowns, including a second-quarter TD catch from Rice.
But Flacco and the Ravens never got the ball back. Following the score,Seattle immediately got a pair of penalties and started with a first-and-20 atits 10. They got back to a manageable third-and-5 at its 25 and Tarvaris Jackson(notes)found Golden Tate(notes) for 24 yards with 4:37 left.
Then Seattle got a highlight reel moment from Lynch. He caught a short pass3 yards short of a first down and faked out both Ray Lewis(notes) and Jarret Johnson(notes) toget the needed yards. Seattle ran out the clock, finally taking a knee at theRavens 17 as the final seconds ticked away.
Coaches love nothing more than to get that situation in the fourth quarterand run the clock out, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. And think about whoyou did it against. Thats really cool that happens.
Along with Reeds two fumbles, Cundiff missed field goal attempts of 52 and50 yards in the first half.
Seattle also forced a turnover when rookie K.J. Wright(notes) dropped off the line,batted Flaccos pass for Boldin into the air and into the arms of DavidHawthorne(notes), who returned the interception inside the Ravens 10 to lead to anotherHauschka field goal in the third quarter.
Baltimore goes home to face Cincinnati (6-3) with a chance to move back ontop of the AFC North.
Its pretty high, we had a long trip out here, feeling confident and tocome in here and not be able to get that game separation from everyone else inyour division when you really had a good shot to do that, it doesnt feelgood, Flacco said.
But we know that we have to improve, and we have a couple of good gamescoming up in a short time and we have to be able to rebound and comeback strong,and it starts with Cincinnati.
Notes: Seattle lost G John Moffitt(notes) (knee), WRs Sidney Rice(notes) (concussion),Doug Baldwin(notes) (concussion), DB Atari Bigby(notes) (hamstring), DE Anthony Hargrove(notes)(hamstring) and SS Kam Chancellor(notes) (concussion) during the game. None returned. Baltimore gave up just one sack of Flacco despite 52 pass attempts. Baltimores offense didnt have a play for longer than 19 yards.
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