MKRob Sports

The Baltimore Ravens beat the New England Patriots 33-14 in yesterday’s first playoff game after taking a 24-0 first-quarter lead in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice had an 83-yard touchdown run on the first offensive play of the game to spark the Ravens’ early 24-point burst.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had three first-quarter turnovers that led to 17 points for Baltimore.

“We got off to a terrible start and never really could get back in the game,” Brady said during a news conference. “That’s the way it is in the playoffs when you play good teams. We just made too many mistakes.”

Rice rushed for 159 yards, while Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain added rushing scores for Baltimore, which finished with 234 rushing yards.

Brady threw for 154 yards, with two touchdown passes, three interceptions and one fumble as New England suffered its first home playoff loss since Dec. 31, 1978. The AFC East champions, who won Super Bowl titles after the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons, went 8-0 at Gillette Stadium during the regular season.

“We will always remember this win,” Rice said. “It’s hard to win on the road, especially here. They expect the playoffs every year and I am sure they are expecting Super Bowl. That’s the same mentality the Ravens need to have — the ultimate goal is the Super Bowl. Beating them up here really puts us toward that goal.”

The Baltimore Ravens travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts next Saturday at 8:15 EST.