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Stafford throws two TD's, as Lions beat Ravens

Aug 18, 2012 - 4:10 AM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Matthew Stafford tossed a pair of touchdown passes and the Lions defeated the Ravens, 27-12, in their preseason matchup Friday at M&T Bank Stadium.

Stafford completed 12-of-17 passes for 184 yards and two scores, while Calvin Johnson, last season's leader in receiving yards (1,681), hauled in five passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco finished 7-of-12 for 79 yards, while Ray Rice carried the ball five times for 12 yards and caught two passes for 11 yards.

Baltimore's sixth-round pick in 2011, Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech, saw extended minutes as a backup and finished 8-of-22 for 65 yards and also carried the ball seven times for 60 yards.

After Baltimore faltered on its first drive, Flacco led the Ravens down the field on their second series, but the drive stalled in the red zone, forcing the home team to settle for a 33-yard field goal from Billy Cundiff.

The Ravens made it 6-0 early in the second quarter when rookie Justin Tucker from Texas drilled a 50-yard field, as Baltimore looked to create some competition between he and Cundiff, who missed a potential game-tying, 32- yard field goal with 15 seconds left in Baltimore's 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots in last season's AFC Championship Game.

Detroit responded on its next drive as Stafford went to Johnson three different times on a five-play, 93-yard drive, including an 18-yard touchdown strike to give Detroit a 7-6 edge.

The Lions' first-team offense trotted back out for their next possession and Stafford led them on a 70-yard touchdown drive, finding Titus Young for a 24- yard score to extend the margin to 14-6.

Cundiff added a 44-yarder later in the second before Jason Hanson answered with a 50-yard field goal to send the Lions into the locker room with a 17-9 advantage.

Neither team scored in the second half until Derek Dimke nailed a 31-yard field goal in the fourth, but Tucker responded with a 45-yard field goal of his own late in the fourth to bring the Ravens within eight.

Baltimore made things interesting by recovering an onside kick, but former Colts backup Curtis Painter was picked off by Carmen Messina and Detroit then put the game away as rookie Stephfon Green broke through the line and scampered 76 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory.