Ravens vs. Patriots: Final Score, Highlights from 2015 AFC Divisional Game

The New England Patriots got the monkey off their back that was the Baltimore Ravens, overcoming a pair of 14-point deficits to post an incredible 35-31 win and ensure that they will host the AFC Championship Game.

The Ravens didn't come to Gillette Stadium afraid, not after bringing a 2-1 record against Bill Belichick in the playoffs into Saturday's game. That showed when Baltimore raced out to a 14-0 lead, then 28-14 in the third quarter.

But the Patriots battled back both times, marking the first postseason win in which a team overcame 14-point deficits on two separate occasions. Bleacher Report recapped the win, in which Tom Brady had a career-high postseason yardage total:

Brady ended up throwing for 367 yards on the day and three touchdowns, passing a whopping 50 times on the day. It was just barely enough to hold off Joe Flacco, who went for four touchdowns but threw two costly interceptions.

Here's the complete quarter-by-quarter box score and quick-hitting game highlights:

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Baltimore Ravens	14	7	7	3	31
New England Patriots	7	7	14	7	35

For many, the Ravens were No. 1 on the list of teams the Patriots didn't want to face in the divisional round. Flacco showed why in the early stretches, leading Baltimore down the field on a five-play drive capped off by a 19-yard strike to Kamar Aiken.

The Ravens could score quickly and also take their time getting down the field. After a quick Patriots punt, Baltimore got the ball back and went 79 yards on 11 plays to continue its blistering start.

Steve Smith Sr. capped off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown, outmuscling Patriots corner Darrelle Revis for the score, as NFL noted:

It was a nightmarish start for the Patriots, who trailed 14-0 despite only having touched the ball for one short drive. With drives coming at such a premium, Brady and Co. didn't flinch on attempt No. 2.

Brady fired up his partnership with Rob Gronkowski, hitting his big tight end for gains of 16 and 46 yards before the quarterback did it himself for a four-yard touchdown scamper on 3rd-and-goal. He orchestrated another drive in the second quarter of 67 yards, capped off by a 15-yard catch-and-dive for the pylon by Danny Amendola.

The Pats even had a chance to take a lead before the half but got a bit too greedy. Brady was picked off near midfield when he misread Ravens linebacker Daryl Smith, who was covering Gronkowski on a downfield route.

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With only 1:03 to work with, Flacco got Baltimore a 21-14 lead entering the half on an 11-yard strike to Owen Daniels. 

New England had to feel cheated to enter the halftime with a deficit after battling back, but the start of the second half brought even more disbelief for the Gillette Stadium crowd. After a quick Patriots' three-and-out, the Ravens took a 28-14 lead on Justin Forsett's 16-yard catch from Flacco. 

SportsCenter noted the game's pulse as the Ravens looked to be pulling away:

For the second time, the Patriots faced a 14-point deficit. And with the Ravens offense not skipping a beat entering the second half, this time it felt like it was for good.

Brady was having none of that. He led the Patriots on a nine-play drive—all pass attempts—that culminated in Gronkowski lining up wide and catching a five-yard score to bring New England back within a touchdown right when the game was slipping away.

One defensive stop later, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels found the moment he was waiting for.

He called in some trickery, as Brady threw a backward screen pass to Julian Edelman—who stopped in his tracks and fired down the sideline to a wide-open Amendola for a 51-yard touchdown.

"We've had it in for 10 weeks, and the coaches finally got to call it," Edelman told ESPN.com of the play. "I had to loosen up the arm a little bit."

Another furious Patriots comeback had things all squared up for a thrilling final frame, but it was Baltimore who had the ball and took care of it. Grinding down the field, the Ravens stalled just outside of the Pats' end zone after a would-be touchdown whisked off the fingertips of Daniels.

After a Ravens field goal, it became apparent Brady would have his chances to win the game late. Actually, he only needed one chance.

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The Patriots went on a five-minute drive that ended with Brady throwing a pearl of a 23-yard touchdown to Brandon LaFell down the left sideline. 

Flacco got his chance to answer with five minutes to go and threatened to do so, but the Ravens didn't reach New England territory until after the two-minute warning. He forced a throw into the end zone that was picked off by the Patriots, all but ending the Ravens' season.

That made it official—the Patriots were moving on, as their Twitter account proudly proclaimed:

As if the sheer fact of losing wasn't enough to dampen the Ravens' spirits, the way Saturday unfolded will surely leave a bad taste in Baltimore's mouth. The Ravens outgained their opponent and held commanding leads on two separate occasions, only to see them fizzle away before their very eyes.

Flacco and the Ravens have been known for their playoff poise, which was on display throughout stretches of Saturday. But the same defensive dominance just wasn't there, as Brady helped New England surpass 400 yards through the air despite completely abandoning the run (14 attempts).

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For the Patriots, they proved something not just to the millions watching but to themselves. They already prided themselves on being a team that can win in a variety of ways, but Saturday offered the confidence of knowing they also can dig themselves out of big holes—even against teams that have had their number come playoff time.

New England may have to go up against a better team in the AFC title game, but either instance will have the Patriots feeling confident. They toppled both of their prospective opponents—Denver and Indianapolis—by 22 points each during the regular season.

After taking the bull by the horns in an against-the-odds situation against the Ravens, the Patriots won't be short on momentum entering another home contest—this one for a trip to the Super Bowl.