Patriots pound Ravens, win East

BALTIMORE - Logan Ryan had two interceptions; LeGarrette Blount scored twice; and the playoff-bound New England Patriots breezed past Baltimore, 41-7, on Sunday, ending the Ravens' four-game winning streak and diminishing the postseason hopes of the defending Super Bowl champs.

New England took a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter and never let up behind a defense that forced four turnovers and had four sacks.

Things went so bad for the Ravens that Justin Tucker's run of 33 straight field goals ended when he went wide left on a 37-yarder with 14 minutes, 19 seconds remaining.

The Patriots (11-4) were assured their fifth straight AFC East title before the game started when Miami lost at Buffalo. It's the 11th division crown for New England coach Bill Belichick, tied with Don Shula for most since the 1970 merger.

The loss eliminated the Ravens (8-7) from contention in the AFC North and dropped them into a tie with Miami and San Diego for the final AFC wild-card slot. Baltimore closes the regular season at Cincinnati.

Wearing a brace on his left knee after being injured last week in Detroit, Joe Flacco went 22 for 38 for 260 yards and two interceptions for the Ravens.

Patriots 41, Ravens 7

New England 14 3 3 21 - 41

Baltimore 0 0 0 7 - 7

First quarter

NE-Blount 1 run (Gostkowski kick), 9:39.

NE-Vereen 4 pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick), 4:51.

Second quarter

NE-FG Gostkowski 45, 14:55.

Third quarter

NE-FG Gostkowski 42, 7:15.

Fourth quarter

Bal-Flacco 1 run (Tucker kick), 9:21.

NE-Blount 7 run (Gostkowski kick), 2:05.

NE-Cha.Jones fumble recovery in end zone (Gostkowski kick), 1:59.

NE-T.Wilson 74 interception return (Gostkowski kick), :40.

A: 71,433.

NE   Bal

First downs 21   19

Total Net Yards 300   358

Rushes-yards 34-142   28-121

Passing 158   237

Punt Returns 1-11   4-36

Kickoff Returns 1-22   2-61

Interceptions Ret. 3-75   0-0

Comp-Att-Int 14-26-0   23-42-3

Sacked-Yards Lost 2-14   4-25

Punts 7-47.7   4-53.0

Fumbles-Lost 0-0   1-1

Penalties-Yards 7-58   9-83

Time of Possession 31:58   28:02

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: NE, Blount 16-76, Ridley 15-54, Vereen 2-6, Bolden 1-6. Bal Rice 11-40, Taylor 3-39, Pierce 10-31, Scott 2-11, Flacco 2-0.

Passing: NE, Brady 14-26-0-172. Bal, Flacco 22-38-2-260, Taylor 1-4-1-2.

Receiving: NE, Edelman 7-77, Amendola 2-45, Bolden 2-16, Dobson 1-21, Hoomanawanui 1-9, Vereen 1-4. Bal, M.Brown 4-51, Dickson 4-44, Pitta 4-34, T.Smith 3-69, Pierce 3-27, Rice 2-23, J.Jones 1-11, Scott 1-2, Leach 1-1.

Missed Field Goals: Baltimore, Tucker 37 (WL).