Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco throws to a receiver in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
December 23, 2012 - 4:42 PM
BALTIMORE - Joe Flacco threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns, and the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants 33-14 Sunday to capture the AFC North title.
The Ravens (10-5) led 24-7 at halftime and cruised to the finish behind a short-handed defence that harassed quarterback Eli Manning and limited New York (8-7) to 186 yards.
Playing its second game with Jim Caldwell as offensive co-ordinator, Baltimore scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and amassed a season-high 533 yards — including 289 in the first half alone.
The victory ended a three-game skid for the Ravens and assured them of a home playoff game in the first weekend of January.
The defeat eliminated the defending Super Bowl champion Giants (8-7) from contention in the NFC East and severely damaged their chances of qualifying for a playoff berth.
New York has lost five of seven and was coming off a 34-0 defeat at Atlanta.
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News from © The Associated Press, 2012