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INDIANAPOLIS –It was another Sunday filled with twists, turns, and "next men up" but at the end of the afternoon, the Colts' 2012 season came to an end.
Chunk plays by the Baltimore offense and Indianapolis' inability to convert drives in Ravens territory added up to a 24-9 defeat in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.
Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead a Ravens offense that had four plays of exceeding 40 yards and eight of at least 20 yards.
Late in the first half, a 47-yard screen pass from Flacco to running back Ray Rice set up a two-yard touchdown run by fullback Vonta Leach to give Baltimore a 10-3 lead.
A 10-6 halftime lead grew to two possessions midway through the third quarter when tight end Dennis Pitta scored on a 20-yard touchdown reception. The Pitta touchdown was set up after wide receiver Anquan Boldin hauled in a 46-yard sideline catch earlier in the drive.
The Colts cut the lead to 17-9 late in the third quarter when kicker Adam Vinatieri booted his third field goal.
However, the one-possession deficit did last long as Boldin scored on an 18-yard touchdown reception with 9:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, and a potential Colts comeback attempt was halted.
Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was not in attendance at M&T Bank Stadium after heading to a local hospital on Sunday morning with an illness. Quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen filled in for Arians.
Indianapolis was able to grind out 419 yards of total offense and 25 first downs, but could not find the end zone. The Colts also possessed the ball for 15 more minutes more than the Ravens.
Vinatieri's 52-yard field at the halftime gun was his career-long in the postseason.
Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne had nine catches, moving him into second all-time on the NFL postseason reception list. Wayne's 114 reception yards on Sunday marked the third time in his 12-year career he has had a 100-yard game in the playoffs.
Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck was 28-of-54 for 288 yards and became the first signal- caller in NFL history to be selected first overall and start a playoff game later that season.
SCORING RECAP
SECOND QUARTER (11:18 remaining)
After a scoreless first quarter with turnovers by each team, the Ravens got on the board with a 23-yard field goal by kicker Justin Tucker early in the second stanza. The field goal completed a 10-play, 66-yard drive by the Ravens on which they got a 22-yard reception by wide receiver Torrey Smith and rookie running back Bernard Pierce chewed up 37 yards on five carries.
Ravens 3, Colts 0
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SECOND QUARTER (2:25 remaining)
Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri connected on a 47-yard field goal to end a 10-play, 51-yard drive for the Colts. Indianapolis' first scoring drive on the afternoon came behind rookie tight end Dwayne Allen hauling in a pair of catches for 35 yards. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne made a critical third-down catch early in the drive,Ravens 3, Colts 3
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SECOND QUARTER (0:50 remaining)
The dual-threat ability of Ray Rice showed on this Baltimore touchdown drive. Rice took a screen pass in traffic for 47 yards down to the Colts two-yard line and fullback Vonta Leach punched it in from there on the next play. Tucker hit the extra point. Ravens 10, Colts 3
SECOND QUARTER (0:00 remaining)
A final-minute drive by the Colts ended with Vinatieri making a career-long 52-yard field goal in the postseason. With 12 seconds remaining, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton caught a 25-yard pass and was able to get out of bounds to set up the field goal at the gun. Wayne had two catches for 33 yards on the drive. Ravens 10, Colts 6
THIRD QUARTER (8:26 remaining)
The Ravens pushed the lead to two possessions for the first time all afternoon when tight end Dennis Pitta scored on a 20-yard pass from quarterback Joe Flacco. The touchdown was set up by wide receiver Anquan Boldin making a terrific 46-yard catch near the sideline. Tucker added the extra point. Ravens 17, Colts 6
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THIRD QUARTER (0:40 remaining)
The Colts' finest drive on the afternoon stalled inside the 10-yard line and ended with a 26-yard field goal by Vinatieri. The drive included a 17-yard, third-down reception by rookie receiver LaVon Brazill. The Colts converted three third downs on the drive but a third-and-four incompletion forced the field goal. Ravens 17, Colts 9
FOURTH QUARTER (9:14 remaining)
The big plays continue for the Ravens with Boldin making a spectacular 18-yard touchdown catch. The touchdown was set up by Pierce ripping off a 43-yard gain on a third-and-one. Boldin now has five catches for 145 yards in the second half. Ravens 24, Colts 9
