Lawless
All About Brad!
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Registered: Jun 2003
Local time: 02:07 PM
Location: Freezing in Colorado
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By DAVID GINSBURG, AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE - Ray Lewis returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown to cap a 17-point flurry in the second quarter, and the Baltimore Ravens (news) cruised past the San Francisco 49ers (news) 44-6 Sunday.
One week earlier, the Ravens trailed Seattle by 14 points at halftime and by 17 in the fourth quarter before rallying to win. Baltimore (7-5) took a far easier path against the 49ers, building a 24-6 halftime lead before coasting to the most lopsided victory in franchise history.
That set up next week's showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals (news) for first place in the AFC North. Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh to remain tied with Baltimore atop the division.
The return of quarterback Jeff Garcia did nothing to change the fortune of the 49ers (5-7), who fell to 0-6 on the road. Back from a three-game absence with a sprained ankle, Garcia went 14-for-29 for 112 yards with a career-high four interceptions before being pulled early in the fourth quarter.
It was San Francisco's worst loss since a 41-3 defeat against Jacksonville in September 1999.
The game turned in the second period, when Baltimore converted a precarious 7-6 lead into an 18-point cushion in the span of 1 minute, 25 seconds.
First, Matt Stover kicked a 28-yard field goal following a 75-yard kickoff return by Lamont Brightful. After a San Francisco punt, Anthony Wright threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Robinson — the fifth time in two weeks the duo hooked up for a score.
It took only 14 seconds for Baltimore to add another touchdown. On second down from the San Francisco 20, Garcia threw a pass that deflected off receiver Cedrick Wilson to Lewis. He high-stepped down the right sideline for a score with 32 seconds left in the half.
Lewis' first regular-season interception return for a touchdown was merely one facet of a redemptive performance by the Baltimore defense, which was burned for five touchdown passes and 41 points by Seattle.
Stover added a field goal in the third quarter, and Wright cashed in on an interception by Gary Baxter with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Terry Jones.
The Ravens limited 49ers star receiver Terrell Owens to two catches for 17 yards.
The first time Owens touched the ball, it proved beneficial for the Ravens. A high pass from Garcia deflected off Owens' outstretched hand to Baltimore's Ed Hartwell, whose first career interception led to a 6-yard touchdown run by Jamal Lewis.
The 49ers countered with two field goals by Todd Peterson, but that's all they would get.
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:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<::: |
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11-30-2003 10:52 PM
