National Football League

Patriots knock Ravens from ranks of unbeaten

Published Oct. 5, 2009 12:57 a.m. ET

foxsports

Mark Clayton got open and waited for the fourth-down pass that could keep the Ravens' chances alive.

Joe Flacco reached his target inside the Patriots 10-yard line and beyond the first-down marker, but Clayton didn't hold on with 28 seconds left. New England did - eking out a 27-21 win over Baltimore on Sunday.

"Flat out drop," Clayton said. "It was a perfect ball. Joe put it on the money. To not come up with it is tough. It cost us the game."

The Ravens lost left tackle Jared Gaither after a collision that put him on his back for about 10 minutes before he was taken off the field on a stretcher midway through the second quarter. X-rays at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he had tests on his neck and shoulder, were negative.