Entering Sunday's AFC Championship Game, the New England Patriots were 72-1 at home when leading at halftime under head coach Bill Belichick and 67-0 in those situations with Tom Brady at quarterback.
Make that 72-2 and 67-1.
The Baltimore Ravens exacted revenge from last year's fourth-quarter collapse by coming back to defeat the Patriots 28-13 and advancing to their first Super Bowl since 2000.
Last season, Baltimore led New England 20-16 entering the fourth quarter, but a dropped pass by Lee Evans and a missed field goal by Billy Cundiff were the former's death knell. This time, things were much different. The Ravens held a one-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter and quickly extended it to eight early on an Anquan Boldin touchdown catch. Less than four minutes later, Boldin hauled in another touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to push the lead to 28-13.
Flacco finished with 240 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-36 passing, outdueling Brady (29-of-54, 320 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions). Ray Lewis, whose career could end with a championship, led Baltimore with a team-high 14 tackles.
In two weeks at the Superdome in New Orleans, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh will face brother Jim's San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Follow Adam on Twitter @AdamVingan and e-mail your story ideas to adamvingan (at) gmail.com.
Photo Credit: Getty Images