Ravens, Jackson put an end to Patriots' perfect record
CGTN
Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in front of J.C. Jackson #27 of the New England Patriots in the game at M & T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in front of J.C. Jackson #27 of the New England Patriots in the game at M & T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

The New England Patriots' unbeaten season crashed to an end under the weight of their own mistakes and inability to contain Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Jackson ripped apart the NFL's stingiest defense with his arm and legs, accounting for three touchdowns and directing a dominant running game in a 37-20 victory Sunday night.

Baltimore (6-2) zipped to an early 17-0 lead and let the Patriots (8-1) creep within striking distance before quelling the comeback with a 70-yard fumble return by Marlon Humphrey and a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Nick Boyle early in the fourth quarter.

Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots kneels on the fround after getting sacked in the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M & T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots kneels on the fround after getting sacked in the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M & T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

That made it 30-20, and not even six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady could bring New England out of the hole. Brady, who went 30 for 46 for 285 yards, threw an interception with 12:47 left.

Jackson then led a methodical nine-and-a-half minute drive that ended with his thrust into the end zone from the 1, with no small assist to right tackle Orlando Brown Jr.

"I was hoping I was in. Orlando pulled me," Jackson said. "I didn't even know it was him until I got up. He was like, 'I pulled you in. I need half of that touchdown.' It was cool."

Mark Ingram II #21 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes past linebacker Elandon Roberts #52 of the New England Patriots in the game at M&T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

Mark Ingram II #21 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes past linebacker Elandon Roberts #52 of the New England Patriots in the game at M&T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

Jackson, the slick second-year quarterback, ran for 61 yards and two touchdowns and went 17 for 23 for 163 yards and a score. Mark Ingram rushed for 115 yards, and the NFL's leading ground attack amassed 210 yards.

"We played tonight like it was a championship game," Jackson said after Baltimore's fourth straight victory. "We've just got to keep going."

New England mixed up its coverages and blitz packages, and the Ravens responded accordingly.

"Nobody does it better than they do, and I thought our guys handled it really well, starting with the quarterback," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

Players of the New England Patriots sit on the bench as the game against the Baltimore Ravens comes to an end at M&T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

Players of the New England Patriots sit on the bench as the game against the Baltimore Ravens comes to an end at M&T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

The Patriots came in with a defense that had allowed only 7.6 points per game and forced 25 turnovers for a plus-17 differential. The defending Super Bowl champions picked up two fumbles, but they had two turnovers themselves and committed a costly penalty that contributed to Baltimore's first touchdown.

New England was penalized seven times for 48 yards.

"We didn't do anything well enough to deserve to win," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We've all just got to do a better job."

Baltimore's defense played a role, too. Patrick Onwuasor stripped the ball from Julian Edelman in the third quarter and Humphrey took it the other way for a score. Although Brady answered with a touchdown of his own to make it 24-20, the Patriots would not get closer.

And so ended New England's 13-game winning streak, dating to last season and including the playoffs.

Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, in the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, in the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

"We did a lot of things (wrong) we need to do better," Belichick said, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

The Ravens opened with a crisp 75-yard drive in which Jackson went 4 for 4 for 41 yards and New England extended the march with an uncharacteristic mistake. As Baltimore lined up for a field goal try, Shilique Calhoun jumped into the neutral zone to give the Ravens a first down.

On the next play, Jackson skirted around left end for an easy 3-yard score .

After Brady went three-and-out on his first series, Baltimore rattled off another 11-play drive and added a field goal.

Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens runs for a 12 yard touchdown in the game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens runs for a 12 yard touchdown in the game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

The third time the Ravens got the ball, a 53-yard run by Ingram set up a 12-yard touchdown burst by Gus Edwards to make the score a stunning 17-0.

New England punted again, and what followed for Baltimore was a deflating miscue let the Patriots back into it. Cyrus Jones muffed the kick, former Raven Justin Bethel recovered at the Baltimore 20 and Brady tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Sanu.

New England added two field goals in the final four minutes of the half, the first of them after Ingram lost a fumble at the Baltimore 19.

"Here they come roaring back and we make a couple mistakes," Harbaugh noted. "They made some mistakes, too. It was that kind of a football game."

Other games on Sunday included (home teams in bold):

Houston Texans 26-3 Jacksonville Jaguars

Chicago Bears 14-22 Philadelphia Eagles

Indianapolis Colts 24-26 Pittsburgh Steelers

New York Jets 18-26 Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings 23-26 Kansas City Chiefs

Tennessee Titans 20-30 Carolina Panthers

Washington Redskins 9-24 Buffalo Bills

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-40 Seattle Seahawks

Detroit Lions 24-31 Oakland Raiders

Green Bay Packers 11-26 Los Angeles Chargers

Cleveland Browns 19-24 Denver Broncos

Source(s): AP