Ravens use strong defense to beat Texans, 20-13

Reporting from Baltimore -- Unable to move the ball for nearly three quarters, the Baltimore Ravens turned to a familiar formula to prolong their season and book their trip to the AFC title game.

The Ravens forced four turnovers and shut out the Houston Texans in the second half, securing a 20-13 victory Sunday in front of 71,547, the biggest football crowd in M&T Bank Stadium history.

Baltimore intercepted three passes by rookie T.J. Yates, including Ed Reed’s pick just outside the end zone with 1 minute 51 seconds to play as the Texans were trying to score the tying touchdown.

Houston got the ball back with under a minute to play but couldn’t get a first down as Reed knocked down a pass in the end zone.

The victory puts the Ravens in the AFC championship game for the third time and first since the 2008 season. They will play the New England Patriots on Sunday at Foxborough, Mass.

Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens must play better offensively against the Patriots.

“I think you have to do whatever you have to do to win a football game,” Harbaugh said. “I would anticipate, against the team we’re about to play, you have to do a better job offensively, in terms of numbers and stats and points, of course, than we did today.”

A victory over the Patriots would put the Ravens in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 at Indianapolis.

“The only reason you play this game is for the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl,” said linebacker Ray Lewis, the only player left from the Ravens’ 34-7 victory over the New York Giants in the 2001 Super Bowl. “We have that opportunity right now. Whatever anybody wants to say about us, we are in position. There are two teams left in the AFC, just us and the Patriots. Next week, that’s going to take care of itself.”

The Ravens had a chance to take a two-score lead late in the third quarter. They drove deep into Texans territory, taking advantage of Lee Evans’ gorgeous 30-yard catch down the right sideline. Left guard Ben Grubbs recovered a Ray Rice fumble on second down, putting the ball on the Houston two.

Rice got one yard on third down and Harbaugh opted to go for it on fourth and goal rather than try for a field goal that would have given the Ravens a seven-point lead. Rice was stuffed by linebacker Tim Dobbins.

The Ravens scored on Billy Cundiff’s 44-yard field goal with 2:52 to play for a 20-13 lead. They drove 45 yards in 10 plays before Cundiff’s kick. That ended a scoring drought of nearly 45 minutes.

Houston fired the first salvo when Daniel Manning returned Cundiff’s opening kickoff 60 yards to the Baltimore 41.

The Texans got one first down before Reed stopped Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster on third and one, forcing Houston to settle for Neil Rackers’ 40-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

The Ravens failed to get a yard on their first three plays but got a reprieve when Jacoby Jones tried to field Sam Koch’s 71-yard punt on a bounce, but let the ball go through his hands and Jimmy Smith recovered at the Houston three.

Three plays later, on third and goal from the one, tight end Kris Wilson caught a pass from Joe Flacco. It was the first reception for Wilson, who goes in usually to block, as a Raven and his first touchdown since 2009 while with the San Diego Chargers.

After a three-and-out series by Houston, the Ravens got the ball at their 40, and a 21-yard completion to Anquan Boldin advanced the ball into Houston territory. Flacco was sacked on third and four from the Texans’ 27, but Cundiff kicked a 48-yard field goal to give the Ravens a 10-3 lead.

The Ravens increased the lead to 17-3 thanks to another Houston mistake. Yates had a pass intercepted by Lardarius Webb, who stepped in front of Andre Johnson to give the Ravens the ball at Houston’s 34.

A 20-yard completion to Rice on third and nine set up Flacco’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Boldin.

The Texans had given up an NFL-low 39 points in the first quarter this season.

However, as much as the Ravens dominated the first quarter, the Texans controlled the second, largely because of Foster. He touched the ball on five of 10 plays, including runs of seven and 19 yards, and had a 16-yard catch on third and three, as the Texans advanced into the red zone. But after two consecutive incompletions by Yates, Rackers kicked a 33-yard field goal that cut the Ravens’ lead to 17-6.

Houston got the ball right back and, on its first play, Foster rushed 28 yards down the left sideline. Yates then hit Johnson for 12 and 13 yards, and Foster had runs of 14 and six yards to get inside the red zone. Yates hit Foster for 12 yards on third and nine for a first-and-goal situation.

On third and goal from the one, Foster plunged into the end zone to cut the Ravens’ lead to 17-13. On the drive, Foster carried six times for 50 yards and caught one pass for 12 yards. He finished with 27 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown.

jeff.zrebiec@tribune.com