Denver Broncos season ends in 38-35 loss to Ravens

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Evan Semon/CBS4 Denver

The Denver Broncos lost to the Baltimore Ravens 38-35 Saturday in Denver.

Mark Harden

New Media Editor- Denver Business Journal

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The Denver Broncos' stellar season came to a heartbreaking end Saturday.

Playing in frigid weather, the favored Broncos suffered a 38-35 double-overtime playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

The Broncos (13-3 in the regular season) led by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but the Ravens tied the game with 31 seconds left in regulation with a 70-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones, sending the contest into overtime.

Neither team could score in the first overtime period, but Baltimore won by a field goal in the second extra period.

The Broncos lost despite Trindon Holliday's playoff-record two touchdowns on kick returns.

But quarterback Peyton Manning, who threw three touchdowns, turned the ball over three times, and the defense did not play up to its regular-season level, with the Ravens' Torrey Smith twice besting Champ Bailey to score touchdowns.

The 13-degree temperature at kickoff made it the coldest NFL playoff game ever played in Denver.

The Ravens advance to play the winner of Sunday's New England Patriots-Houston Texans game Sunday in the AFC championship game Jan. 20.

> Click here for CBS4's report on the game.

> Click here for DBJ coverage of the Broncos season and action photos of star players.

Mark Harden is print and digital content editor for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Broadway & 17th" blog. Email: mharden@bizjournals.com. Phone: 303-803-9227.