Drew Bledsoe passed for 310 yards and 4 touchdowns as the New England Patriots held off a fourth quarter comeback by the Baltimore Ravens to post their third straight victory, 46-38. The 46 points by the Patriots was the highest point production of the season in the NFL and the most by a Patriots team since 1984 when they posted 50 in a win over Indianapolis (11/18/84). Bledsoe turned in his best performance of the season, connecting on 25 of 39 attempts for 310 yards and four touchdowns. He was not sacked, nor was he intercepted in the game for just the ninth time in his career.
Shawn Jefferson caught four passes for 88 yards and had his first multiple touchdown game of his career with scores from 7 and 35 yards out. Ben Coates led all Patriots receivers with seven receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a pass for a two-point conversion. The Patriots scored on seven of their first nine possessions, including six straight, to establish a 38-14 lead early in the forth quarter. But, the Ravens responded with 24 fourth quarter points to pull to within eight with just under two minutes remaining in the game. Vinny Testaverde completed 29 of 45 passes for 353 yards and three and three touchdowns.
Michael Jackson led all receivers wit eight catches for 128 yards and scored two touchdowns. Derrick Alexander also eclipsed the 100-yard plateau with 123 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. It was the second consecutive game that the Patriots defense surrendered over 100 receiving two different receivers.
