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Counting down the Top 10 moments at Ravens stadium: No. 7

The Ravens' downtown stadium, which is currently called M&T Bank Stadium, is celebrating its 10th season of existence. We're going to look at the Top 10 moments in its history, listing two each day.

7. Ed Reed’s record-setting return. Nov. 7, 2004

Showing his flair for the dramatic, safety Ed Reed saved the Ravens in a 27-13 win over the Cleveland Browns with an NFL-record 106-yard interception return for a touchdown.

With the Ravens leading 20-13 and less than a minute remaining, a potential game-tying touchdown pass bounced off the hands of Browns tight end Aaron Shea and Reed caught the ball off his shoetops. It was Reed’s sixth touchdown in 40 career games.

“He just seems to always be around it when you need it,” coach Brian Billick said. “He kind of waited until the end to do it. He could have saved my heart a little bit if he would have done it earlier.”

Reed’s record-setting return came with some controversy.

Before the pass bounced off Shea, he got tangled up with linebacker Ray Lewis.

The Browns, though, were thinking the Ravens got away with a penalty. They believe Lewis should have been flagged for pass interference as he got to Shea just as the ball arrived.

“It's hard to win when guys are dragging you down,” Browns coach Butch Davis said.

Said Shea: “I think when you're tackled when the ball gets there, that makes it kind of tough.”

Reed raced down the right sideline and reached the end zone with 26 seconds left to seal the win.

“It's a blessing, definitely a miracle if you knew what happened the whole play, with Ray telling me to be where I got the ball,” Reed said.

“I knew exactly the play they were going to try to run,” Lewis said. “I told Ed it was coming.”

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About the bloggers
Mike Preston has been with The Baltimore Sun since 1983. Prior to becoming a columnist in 2000, he covered the Ravens for four years. Preston will appear every Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio (1370-AM) to answer any questions about the Ravens. Preston is a native of Essex and a graduate of Towson State University, where he played football. E-mail Mike.

Jamison Hensley has been The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens beat reporter since the 2000 Super Bowl season. He is a regular contributor to WBAL radio and ESPN2’s First Take. Hensley is a Baltimore City native and a graduate of the University of Maryland.

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