NFL: Late Brady TD pass helps Patriots hold off Ravens 30-23

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots needed a big play, and Tom Brady delivered — again.

Brady connected with Chris Hogan for a 79-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to help the Patriots to a 30-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night.

Brady threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the fourth NFL quarterback with at least 450 career touchdown passes. He also threw just his second interception of the season.

LeGarrette Blount rushed for 72 yards on 18 carries, passing 1,000 yards for the first time since his rookie season with Tampa Bay in 2010.

The Patriots (11-2) have won four straight games and eight of their last nine as they continue to inch toward their eighth straight AFC East title.

“It was a big game for us,” Brady said. “You play at home in December on Monday night against a great defense, it was important for us to come out and play well. We knew it was gonna be a 60-minute game.”

The Ravens (7-6) had won two in a row. They now face a challenging route to the playoffs with two of their last three on the road.

Joe Flacco did his best to keep Baltimore in the game, finishing 37 of 52 for 324 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The 37 completions set a franchise record.

The Patriots led 23-3 before the Ravens turned back-to-back New England fumbles on special teams into touchdowns.

New England still had a 23-17 lead in the fourth quarter when the Ravens drove to the Patriots 12 before Flacco was sacked by Rob Ninkovich, forcing Baltimore to settle for a field goal.

The Ravens entered the week with the NFL’s top-ranked defense, giving up just 296.1 yards per game. But the Patriots defense shined early on, limiting the Ravens to just three points and 142 yards in the first half.

The Ravens rushed only four times for 7 yards in the opening 30 minutes, and were just 3 for 8 on third downs.