"To be honest with you, it was just plugging away," Rice said. "We knew they were stout up front, but if we get long drives, that is when it seems to open up. On my first touchdown run, there were seven guys in and out. We did a quick count and just got off the left edge, and they missed tackles."
Said Ravens center Matt Birk: "They have a good defense, and you have to give them credit. We certainly didn't perform how we wanted to in the first half offensively. We have great coaches that made some nice adjustments."
Even Allen seemed frustrated that the Vikings nearly let this one slip away.
"I think they had 17 yards rushing going into the fourth quarter," Allen said. "It wasn't a meltdown because we didn't lose, but it was close."
Missed connection
In the first half, with the Ravens really struggling to move the ball, Flacco and Derrick Mason almost hooked up on a long pass play that might have changed the momentum of the game, but Mason couldn't quite make the catch. On the play, which began at the Ravens' 14-yard line, Flacco ran around to buy time, then got drilled as he let the ball fly down the left sideline, where Mason was behind the Vikings' secondary.
The ball was just beyond Mason's outstretched arms, and he placed the blame on himself for not catching what might have been a touchdown that would have made the score 14-7.
"It was close," Mason said. "It was a developing play, and I'll say that one is probably on me. I have to keep running. It took so long, but I have to run through it. I can't assume that just because my mental clock goes off that Joe is not back there doing something to buy more time."
Webb hits
Lardarius Webb took advantage of his first real opportunity to make an impact this year, returning seven kickoffs for 165 yards (23.6-yard average) and also playing some on defense. The Ravens used him several times on blitzes in the second half, though he didn't record a tackle.
"Lardarius is a good football player," Harbaugh said. "He is a young football player with plenty to learn, special teams-wise and defensively. He is a guy that continues to earn playing time and expanding his role. He did a good job on kickoff returns and on defense."
End zone
Washington suffered a mild concussion, according to the Ravens. He was the only Ravens player listed as injured during the game. ... Despite saying he was certain he would play this week, left tackle Jared Gaither was inactive for the second week in a row. ... Flacco said his ankle was sore after it was stepped on several times but that he didn't think the injury was serious. ... Dwan Edwards started the Ravens' first two drives in place of Trevor Pryce, although Pryce came in on passing downs. Pryce did record his his fourth sack of the year, tying him with Jarret Johnson for the team lead. ... Birk was playing in his hometown for the first time as a member of the visiting team. He was selected for six Pro Bowls as a member of the Vikings.
