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Reed, opportunistic Ravens take care of Redskins

Dec 8, 2008 - 6:40 AM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- For the Baltimore Ravens, it's bring on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ed Reed had a fumble return for a touchdown and two interceptions and Le'Ron McClain ran for 61 yards and a score as the Ravens posted a methodical 24-10 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday night before the largest crowd in history at M&T Bank Stadium.

The win helped Baltimore (9-4) keep pace with Pittsburgh (10-3), which pulled out an exciting 20-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys about an hour before kickoff. The Ravens, who lost to the Steelers in overtime on September 29 in Pittsburgh, host their rivals next Sunday.

"I love where we're at and not just because of our record," Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason said.

Mason, who caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from rookie Joe Flacco, was impressed by Reed's game.

"That guy is Superman," Mason said. "He is truly one of a kind at that position. The guy roams the field like a hawk. Nothing gets past him. I think he has four or five arms."

Reed kept the game, which was hyped as the "Beltway Battle", one-sided until the Redskins attempted to rally in the fourth quarter.

Washington (7-6), which has lost four of its last five, fell behind, 14-0, just 5:17 into the game - thanks to a pair of turnovers.

"It took a little bit out of them," Reed said.

Meanwhile, Redskins coach Jim Zorn is watching his team's season slip away. After racing out to a 6-2 record, they'll have to win their last three games to realistically have a chance at an NFC wild card spot.

"It is sudden death," Zorn said. "Losing four of the last five games does not help confidence."

The normally positive Zorn had a hard time after the game.

"This was very difficult for me," he said. "There is no faking what's going on in there. Nobody is stomping around and throwing a fit. It's just real disappointment."

McClain scored on an 8-yard run with three minutes gone to give the Ravens a 7-0 lead after Reed intercepted Jason Campbell on the game's third play. Mason's 26-yard reception and rookie Ray Rice's 21-yard run to the Washington 8 also set up the score.

Just over two minutes later, Reed scooped up Clinton Portis' fumble and raced 22 yards for a score -- his third touchdown of the season - for a 14-0 Baltimore lead with 9:43 left in the opening quarter.

"I was trying to rip it loose," Reed said. "I was going for it a little bit, and it came out."

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh believes his safety is one of the most valuable players in the league.

"I don't see how you can not put him in there," the first-year coach said. "If he's not an MVP candidate, I don't know who is. He's got great game-changing impact."

Flacco was just 2-for-9 in the first half, but in the second half, he engineered a 6:33 drive that led to a 32-yard field goal by Matt Stover with 4:15 left in the third. He finished 10-for-21 for 134 yards.

The Redskins cut the deficit to 17-10 on a 42-yard field goal by Scott Suisham and a 5-yard pass from Campbell to Antawn Randle El with 11:22 to play in the fourth quarter.

"Some way, some how, we just have to play better," Campbell said. "We have to rip off three (games) in a row."

But the Ravens answered to make it 24-10 when Flacco hit Mason for a 28-yard score with 3:35 remaining. Baltimore used nearly eight minutes on the 12-play drive, using a running play on the first 11 of those plays.

"That whole drive was our offensive line, Le'Ron and (fullback Lorenzo Neal)," Flacco said. "We hit them over the head with Derrick at the end of it."

Campbell was 21-for-37 for 218 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.

He had no help from Portis, who came into the game second in the league in rushing with 1,228 yards. Portis, who didn't practice last week due to a neck injury, had just 32 yards on 11 carries before being pulled early in the third quarter.

"We just felt like we wanted to give Clinton a bit of a rest, and then get him back in," Zorn said.

Portis wasn't too pleased about his benching.

"He's the head coach and I'm the player," he said. "I've never said, 'This is the second time that I've been benched.' I said, 'This is supposed to be my second time.'"