Ravens and Seahawks advance

Posted: Jan 6, 2013 5:08 PM by Bill Halter

AP- The Baltimore Ravens did a little bit of everything to make sure Ray Lewis delays his retirement.

Lewis, Anquan Boldin, Joe Flacco and Bernard Pierce had big afternoons as the Ravens beat the visiting Indianapolis Colts 24-9 in the AFC wild-card game.

Lewis led Baltimore with 13 tackles, including nine solos. He stormed out of the tunnel at M&T Bank Stadium for the last time before returning to his middle linebacker position after a 10-week absence caused by a torn right triceps. The 13-time Pro Bowl selectee announced last week that he would retire after the playoffs.

The game was tied 3-3 until Vonta Leach scored on a two-yard run with 50 seconds remaining in the first half. Flacco padded the Ravens' lead by hitting Dennis Pitta and Boldin for second-half touchdowns. Boldin set a franchise record with 145 receiving yards, including catches of 50 and 46 yards.

Flacco was 12 of 23 for 282 yards as the Ravens improved to 11-6.

Pierce had 103 yards on 13 carries, including a 43-yard run. Ray Rice added 70 rushing yards but lost a pair of fumbles.

The Colts failed to reach the end zone despite 25 first downs and 419 total yards. Andrew Luck completed 28 of his 54 passes for 288 yards and one interception.

Indianapolis was without offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who has been hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. The team said he is doing well in a local hospital.

The Ravens next face the Broncos in Denver on Saturday.

The Seattle Seahawks finally won a road playoff game Sunday, taking a 24-14 NFC wild-card victory over the Washington Redskins, who lost Robert Griffin III to another knee injury in the fourth quarter.

Marshawn Lynch ran for 131 yards, and Russell Wilson completed 15 of 26 passes for 187 yards and ran eight times for 67 yards for the Seahawks, who broke an eight-game postseason losing streak away from home.

Seattle will visit the top-seeded Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.

Lynch's 27-yard run with 7:08 remaining gave the Seahawks (12-5) the lead. On Washington's next series, Griffin reinjured the right knee he sprained about a month ago while trying to field a bad shotgun snap.

The knee buckled badly, and the Seahawks recovered the fumble and kicked an insurance field goal.

Kirk Cousins replaced Griffin, but Washington (10-7) was unable to come back.