NFL Week 6, Patriots Vs. Ravens: Baltimore Leads 10-7 At Halftime

The Baltimore Ravens lead the New England Patriots 10-7 at halftime in Gillette Stadium.

Playing their first game in the post-Randy Moss era, New England has struggled to find a rhythm offensively. Tom Brady has completed just 7 of 13 passes (for 90 yards) and has been sacked once, while the Patriots have struggled to run the ball, gaining just 38 yards on the ground in the first half. A BenJarvus Green-Ellis two-yard plunge, set up by big plays from Aaron Hernandez and Brandon Tate, accounts for New England’s only score, which gave them a 7-3 lead at the time.

Baltimore has had slightly more success offensively, but only have 10 points to show for it. Joe Flacco has completed 14 of 17 passes for 136 yards, with a 16-yard touchdown toss to Todd Heap securing Baltimore’s 10-7 lead in the second quarter. Ray Rice, however, has been bottled up relatively well, gaining 40 yards on 14 carries in the half, and the Patriots have put some pressure on Flacco, as well, with rookie Jermaine Cunningham blowing by Michael Oher for a sack-strip in the first half. (Flacco recovered the fumble.) Baltimore is essentially playing keep-away, controlling the ball for over 20 minutes in the first half.

The half also featured three challenges - two from Bill Belichick, the other from John Harbaugh - that overturned calls in each case.

Brady has spread the ball out amongst his re-structured receiving corps, with Hernandez, Deion Branch and Danny Woodhead each recording two receptions. Wes Welker has one reception for five yards, and Tate has been shut out. New England will have the first possession of the second half.

Heap, meanwhile, laid on the field for several moments after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather. After getting checked out on the sidelines, Heap returned to the field and finished the first half.