Colts up on Ravens 9-3 in 2nd quarter

Adam Vinatieri, hero of three Super Bowls for the New England Patriots, put the Indianapolis Colts ahead of the Baltimore Ravens 9-3 in the second quarter of Saturday's AFC divisional playoff game.

After field goals of 23 and 42 yards in the first quarter, Vinatieri extended the Colts' lead to six with a 51-yarder in the second.

The Ravens threatened to go ahead in the middle of the second quarter, driving to the Indianapolis 4 after picking off a pass by Peyton Manning. But Steve McNair was intercepted at the 1 on third and goal, and the Colts kept the lead.

After the Ravens went three-and-out in their first series, the Colts' drive stalled at the Baltimore 5. Vinatieri then split the uprights from 23 yards out.

The Ravens' second series was even worse, with a fumble by tight end Todd Heap at their own 31. But the Colts failed to gain a first down, leaving the reliable Vinatieri with a field goal try from 42 yards out.

Baltimore finally got on the board with a 40-yard field goal by Matt Stover as the second quarter began.

The winner plays either the San Diego Chargers or the New England Patriots next weekend.

Cal Ripken, the Baltimore Orioles legend recently elected to the Hall of Fame, participated in the opening coin toss.

The game held added significance for Baltimore fans because it was nearly 23 years ago when owner Robert Irsay packed the team's equipment into a convoy of Mayflower vans and whisked the Colts out of town to Indianapolis.

Baltimore went 12 years without an NFL team until the Ravens were born from the transplanted Cleveland Browns. Even though the city has its own team now, the sense of betrayal felt by the departure of the Colts has not waned.