Bills 23, Ravens 20
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Kiko Alonso made a diving interception of a Joe Flacco pass with 57 seconds to go to preserve the Buffalo Bills' 23-20 upset of the Baltimore Ravens at Ralph Wilson Stadium Sunday.
It was Alonso's second interception of the game and the fifth against Flacco, who was the most valuable player in February's Super Bowl. Cornerback Aaron Williams also had two picks, while safety Jim Leonhard had the other for the Bills, who like the Ravens, are 2-2.
The Bills were playing without three starters in the secondary against Flacco, who finished 25-for-50 for 347 yards and two scores. Buffalo limited the Ravens to just 24 rushing yards on nine carries. Ray Rice, who returned to action after missing last week's game with a hip injury, managed just 17 yards on five carries.
Fred Jackson rushed for 87 yards on 16 carries, C.J. Spiller ran 23 times for 77 yards and rookie receiver Robert Woods had 80 yards on four receptions to lead the Bills. Buffalo quarterback EJ Manuel was 10-for-22 for 167 yards and one touchdown. He also was intercepted twice and lost a fumble.
Alonso, a second-round pick from Oregon, has four interceptions in four games.
The Bills took a 3-0 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Dan Carpenter with 6:11 left in the first quarter. EJ Manuel completed passes of 14 yards to Scott Chandler and 26 yards to T.J. Graham during the scoring drive.
On Baltimore's next possession, cornerback Williams intercepted a pass intended for Tandon Doss and returned it six yards to the Ravens 25. The pick set up another 27-yard field goal by Carpenter with 3:03 remaining in the first to put the Bills up by six.
The Ravens capitalized on a Bills turnover to take a 7-6 lead 65 seconds into the second quarter. Defensive end Chris Canty stripped Manuel of the ball and tackle Brandon Williams recovered at the Bills 27. Three snaps later, Flacco hits Marlon Brown with a 10-yard touchdown pass.
The Bills regained the lead with 8:40 left in the half as Manuel threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Woods. It was the first touchdown Baltimore has given up in nine quarters.
Leonhard then intercepted a ball that went off tight end Ed Dickson's hands at the Ravens 28. Manuel hit a 14-yard pass on a third-and-12, then handed off to Jackson, who scored from 16 yards to put the Bills up 20-7 with 6:52 to go in the second.
The Bills dominated the first half, out-rushing the Ravens 116-15 yards, and limiting them to just one third-down conversion in eight attempts. Buffalo's average drive started at its own 44-yard line.
Baltimore cut the deficit to 20-14 on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Torrey Smith. The key play before the score was a 22-yard connection to Smith, who drew 15-yard horse collar penalty against Williams.
Buffalo extended its lead to 23-14 on Carpenter's 22-yard field goal with 1:56 left in the third. The kick came after officials overturned a 4-yard touchdown pass from Manuel to Woods.
Justin Tucker's 35-yard field goal with 7:12 left in the game cut the gap to 23-17. The big play in the drive was a 74-yard pass from Flacco to Smith.
Tucker's 24-yard field goal with 4:04 to go pulled the Ravens to within three points.
NOTES: The Ravens entered the game with a 14-5 September record under coach John Harbaugh. ... Brown started in place of injured wide receiver Jacoby Jones. Backup wideout Brandon Stokley also was inactive. ... Buffalo had four lineup changes: Williams at left cornerback for Leodis McKelvin; Rogers for Stephon Gilmore at right corner; Da'Norris Searcy for Jairus Byrd at free safety and Leonhard for (Williams). ... Jackson passed Joe Cribbs to move into third place on the Bills all-time rushing list. Thurman Thomas is first and O.J. Simpson second.
