Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Joe Flacco completed 8-of-12 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown to lead the Baltimore Ravens to a 17-12 win over the Carolina Panthers in the exhibition opener for both teams at rainy M&T Bank Stadium.
Flacco Throws For 120 Yards And TD In Four Possessions In Ravens Preseason Win Over Panthers
LeRon McClain posted 21 rushing yards on four carries for the Ravens, who lost to the Colts in the divisional playoff round last season and will once again look to their strong defense to anchor the 2010 campaign. Mark Clayton had a 30-yard touchdown reception in the victory. Marc Bulger, Baltimore's backup quarterback, ended 5-of-12 for 67 passing yards. Willis McGahee only had one carry but added four catches for 37 yards for Baltimore.
Baltimore's big offseason acquisition from Arizona, wide receiver Anquan Boldin, caught one pass for 12 yards.
The quarterback situation for Carolina began to take shape, as rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen, a Notre Dame product, completed 8-of-15 passes for 80 yards with an interception. Matt Moore started the game and went 4-of-7 for 32 yards through the air..
DeAngelo Williams carried five times for 33 yards, and Josh Vaughan added 48 yards on 11 rushing attempts for Carolina, which finished 8-8 in 2009.
Baltimore opened the scoring with a Shayne Graham 32-yard field goal in the first quarter and added to its lead in the second.
Just over three minutes into the second quarter, Flacco connected with Clayton for the 30-yard score. Clayton lined up on the right side and ran a simple fly pattern before he leaped and hauled in the pass in the back right corner of the end zone for a 10-0 Ravens lead.
Carolina drew within one early in the third quarter. Trailing 10-3, Panthers cornerback C.J. Wilson picked up a Baltimore fumble as the rain poured down and returned it 31 yards to the end zone, but the extra point was no good.
In the latter stages of the third quarter, a 57-yard punt return by the Ravens set up a quick scoring drive, which ended on Troy Smith’s eight-yard TD rush up the middle for a 17-9 lead.
John Kasay’s 45-yard field goal in the final period capped the scoring.
Carolina's Tyler Brayton, who had a pair of sacks, left the game with an ankle injury.
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