NFL Playoffs 2012: In Ravens vs. Texans, Reed and Ravens Assured Another Week

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was in the right place at the right time near the end zone. He intercepted a pass by Houston Texans rookie quarterback T.J. Yates with one hand, and the Baltimore defense held late in the divisional round for a 20-13 win over Houston.

Watching the Ravens play is gut wrecking. Foster applied the heartache as he ran through and around the great Baltimore defense.

Texans wide receiver Jacoby Jones fumbled a punt midway through the first quarter. It was recovered by rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith at the Houston two to give them a 3-0 lead.

The Ravens put on a clinic and scored 17 unanswered points in the period.

Texans rookie quarterback T.J. Yates was under constant pressure from the Ravens defense. Houston adjusted by relying on Foster, who finished with 132 rushing yards on 27 carries and a touchdown. 

Yates settled into finding his receivers to put pressure on the Ravens’ defense. Ultimately, there was more pressure on the Baltimore offense.   

The Texans managed to post 10 unanswered points of their own in the second quarter, as they came within four with a score of 17-13.

The Ravens offense disappeared for the second and third quarter.  Their last score was with 1:13 left in the first quarter. That was when quarterback Joe Flacco hooked up with wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a 10-yard touchdown.

In their next seven possessions, the Ravens punted six times and had a turnover on downs.

Baltimore was within one yard of scoring a touchdown in the third quarter with 1:59 remaining. Then running back Ray Rice ran into the great wall of Houston on 4th-and-1.

With 2:52 remaining in the contest, the Ravens scored three points—thanks to a 44-yard field goal by kicker Billy Cundiff. 

The anticipation of a victory among the Ravens faithful was high and the comfort level in M&T Bank Stadium increased as the game went on.

Yates and the Texans were moving the ball down the field. That was, until the Raven veteran safety - Reed - leap for a one-handed interception with 2:00 remaining in the game. 

After the Ravens offense failed to produce a first down to run out the clock, the Ravens defense held off a Texans comeback.

The Ravens head to New England for the AFC Championship game against terrific Tom Brady and the Patriots. There are now tons of questions surrounding the Baltimore offense.