s with plows and workers with shovels tried

BALTIMORE -- At first, it appeared the unrelenting snow would be the main topic of conversation. Then came an incredible flurry of touchdowns -- five over the final 125 seconds -- that truly made this a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable football game. After Joe Flacco threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to rookie Marlon Brown with 4 seconds left to give the Baltimore Ravens a 29-26 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the Ravens couldnt contain their excitement. "Do you believe in miracles?" cornerback Jimmy Smith shouted as he ran off the field. "What just happened?" Ravens kicker Justin Tucker exclaimed. The game featured six different lead changes in the fourth quarter. That is the most fourth-quarter lead changes in a single game in NFL history. And Jacoby Jones, who took a kickoff back 77 yards for a touchdown during the back-and-forth excitement, said: "You couldnt even get emotional. It was too confusing." Browns catch concluded a five-play, 80-yard drive that took only 41 seconds. Before that: --Dennis Pitta, in his season debut following a hip injury, caught a 1-yard, fourth-down pass from Flacco for a 15-12 lead with 2:05 remaining. --Toby Gerhart, subbing for an injured Adrian Peterson, ran 41 yards to put Minnesota up 19-15 with 1:27 to go. -- Jones went the distance with the ensuing kickoff to give Baltimore a 22-19 edge with 1:16 left. -- Matt Cassel threw a 79-yard touchdown pass to Cordarrelle Patterson with 45 seconds to play. Then the Ravens (7-6) answered with one final salvo. "Ive never seen a game like that before," Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "Besides the Super Bowl, thats probably the most special win Ive been a part of. Crazy game." Baltimore (7-6) has its first three-game winning streak of the season and the inside track for the second AFC wild card. Minnesota (3-9-1) lost Peterson in the second quarter with an ankle injury, then dropped a game it appeared to have won. Twice. It also was officially eliminated from playoff contention. "There were so many momentum shifts in the last couple of minutes, it seemed like the game would never end," Cassel said. Peterson, the NFLs leading rusher and 2012 MVP, hurt his right foot in the second quarter after catching a short pass and being tackled near the sideline by linebacker Arthur Brown. "We did X-rays, and it came back pretty clear," said Peterson, who finished with 13 yards on seven carries. "The next step is to get an MRI done (Monday) and find out more." Gerhart gained 89 yards on 15 attempts. Cassel went 17 for 28 yards for 265 yards. Flacco completed 28 of 50 passes for 245 yards and three interceptions. "It was unlikely that we win this game today," he said, "but we did." The Vikings took their first lead, 12-7, when Cassel threw an 8-yard pass to Jerome Simpson after an interception by safety Andrew Sendejo. Baltimore then moved to the Minnesota 21 before Vonta Leach was stuffed on a fourth-and-1. That appeared huge, but the teams had plenty of time left to run up and down the sloppy field. "You think youve seen everything and then a game like this happens," Tucker said. "To sum it up in one word, it was pandemonium." Minnesota went to overtime in each of its previous two games. And then this. "These losses, you dont practice this hard to come up short," coach Leslie Frazier said. "Its tough for our guys, its tough for our staff, its very disappointing. You practice and work as hard as we do to get wins, and youve got to be able to make those plays to get those wins." Before the game and in the first quarter, small tractors with plows and workers with shovels tried to clear the snow, to no avail. After the snow let up, tractors moved it from between the hash marks and shovels cleared the yard lines. The wet football and messy field had an immediate impact. Flacco underthrew his receiver and was intercepted by Chad Greenway to end the opening possession, and the Vikings second drive ended when Gerhart fumbled. The ball was recovered by safety Matt Elam at the Minnesota 25, and Flacco slipped and skidded for 22 yards before passing to Ed Dickson for a 1-yard touchdown. It became apparent early that scoring would be difficult, and more so for the Vikings after Peterson left. So Frazier kept his offence on the field on a fourth-and-3 at the Baltimore 38. The Vikings converted to set up a 39-yard field goal by Blair Walsh -- a kick that followed a good deal of preparation by holder Jeff Locke, who used a towel to clear the placement spot. Walsh added a 40-yarder in the third quarter after Cassel completed a 19-yard pass to Greg Jennings. NOTES: Ravens LB Elvis Dumervil was inactive (ankle). ... Vikings TE John Carlson left with a concussion. ... Baltimore moved over .500 for the first time since being 3-2. Minnesota went to overtime in each of its previous two games. And then this. "These losses, you dont practice this hard to come up short," coach Leslie Frazier said. "Its tough for our guys, its tough for our staff, its very disappointing. You practice and work as hard as we do to get wins, and youve got to be able to make those plays to get those wins." Before the game and in the first quarter, small tractors with plows and workers with shovels tried to clear the snow, to no avail. After the snow let up, tractors moved it from between the hash marks and shovels cleared the yard lines. The wet football and messy field had an immediate impact. Flacco underthrew his receiver and was intercepted by Chad Greenway to end the opening possession, and the Vikings second drive ended when Gerhart fumbled. The ball was recovered by safety Matt Elam at the Minnesota 25, and Flacco slipped and skidded for 22 yards before passing to Ed Dickson for a 1-yard touchdown. It became apparent early that scoring would be difficult, and more so for the Vikings after Peterson left. So Frazier kept his offence on the field on a fourth-and-3 at the Baltimore 38. The Vikings converted to set up a 39-yard field goal by Blair Walsh -- a kick that followed a good deal of preparation by holder Jeff Locke, who used a towel to clear the placement spot. Walsh added a 40-yarder in the third quarter after Cassel completed a 19-yard pass to Greg Jennings. Notes: Ravens LB Elvis Dumervil was inactive (ankle). ... Vikings TE John Carlson left with a concussion. ... Baltimore moved over .500 for the first time since being 3-2. Jason Kidd Suns Jersey . For Bergevin, the best pick is the 30th — which traditionally goes to the Stanley Cup winner. "Thats our goal. Steve Nash Jersey .ca. 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The thought of going 5-0 with the correct choice is quite intoxicating, I dont think I have ever gone perfect in my CFL futuristic playoff speculations and would take great pride in guessing - I mean analyzing - correctly.OAKLAND, Calif. - One after another, the starting pitchers for the Oakland Athletics are shutting down opponents and making up for most of the clubs shortcomings. Especially the back of the bullpen. Jesse Chavez struck out seven and came up an inning short of his first complete game, and the As held on to beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Monday night for their season-high fifth straight win. "We all feed off of each other," Chavez said. "And I think thats what makes a good staff." Chavez (3-1) gave up five hits and walked two for the AL-West leading As, who have outscored opponents 28-8 during the winning streak. The former reliever allowed only solo home runs to Dayan Viciedo and Jose Abreu, whose major-league leading 14th long ball in the ninth chased the right-hander. Josh Donaldson hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth, and Josh Reddick hit a tying triple in the second off John Danks (3-3) during Oaklands win. Jed Lowrie added a two-run double in the seventh that proved pivotal after the White Sox scored three runs in the ninth and nearly forced extra innings. Left-hander Sean Doolittle recorded the final three outs, striking out pinch-hitter Tyler Flowers and Leury Garcia to strand the tying runner on second. "Didnt want it to get to that point, but thats how it got there," As manager Bob Melvin said. Danks gave up six hits and three runs in six innings, striking out five and walking two. Chicago, which has lost four of five, came up just short and too late. "It wasnt a lack of trying. Sometimes you hit it and its right at people," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura, who was agitated after a 5-1 home loss to Arizona on Sunday, calling it "uninspired" effort. After Abreus homer, Fernando Abad walked Adam Dunn. Then struggling Jim Johnson gave up a double to Viciedo and an RBI single to Alexei Ramirez, setting off another shower of boos. Pinch-hitter Paul Konerkos sacrifice fly sliced Oaklands leead to 5-4 before Doolittle struck out the final two batters for his second save this season.dddddddddddd "I think it was important for me tonight not getting caught up in the moment of trying to get the save and stop the bleeding," Doolittle said. The AL-West leading As, coming off a home sweep of Washington, added another layer of frustration for a Chicago team beginning a nine-game road trip that also stops in Houston and Kansas City. The White Sox spent about eight hours on a plane Sunday night because of storms in Chicago that delayed their flight to the Bay Area, then they played a late game on the West Coast. They still started strong but wasted an opportunity to retake the lead when they advanced runners to second and third on Chavezs wild pitch in the fifth. Conor Gillaspie hit a hard line drive with two outs — but right into centre fielder Craig Gentrys glove. Then came Donaldsons drive in the fifth, lining a 2-0 fastball into the seats in left for his eighth home run. Lowrie added a two-run double off reliever Daniel Webb in the seventh to stretch Oaklands lead to 5-1. Chavez kept inducing quick outs and nearly finished the game himself. He had never completed more than seven innings, which he has done three times this year. Chavez has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his eight starts this season. The As are a 7-1 when he pitches. "We faced him in the spring. Hes good," Dunn said. :Hes going to be around the strike zone. When a guy has that many pitches, you try to get him early. It didnt work out." NOTES Athletics CF Coco Crisp took swings in batting practice before sitting out for the fifth straight game with a strained neck. He is day to day. ... White Sox LHP Chris Sale, out since April 17 because of a strained muscle near his left elbow, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday. ... LHP Drew Pomeranz (2-1, 1.45 ERA) makes his second start for the As opposite Chicagos Scott Carroll on Tuesday. ' ' '