BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens' playoff hopes were about to take a huge hit in the final minutes against the struggling Indianapolis Colts.

Colts linebacker Anthony Walker blocked a punt with 2:36 left in the game, giving his team the ball on Baltimore's 27-yard line. From there, though, the Ravens' defense rediscovered its swagger.

Linebacker Za'Darius Smith had a key sack on Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett on third down. Then, cornerback Maurice Canady knocked down a potential completion from Brissett to T.Y. Hilton to seal the 23-16 victory on Saturday.

The Ravens (9-6) overtook Buffalo (8-6) in the postseason race, and Baltimore currently has a better record against common opponents, which would be a tiebreaker. The Bills play at New England on Sunday.

"There are going to be games like this," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "This is the National Football League. This is how these games are played. If you look at their team, this is how it's gone for them. They lost a number of really close games. They have a good football team."

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was 29 of 38 for 237 yards with two touchdowns. He has played a key role in Baltimore' resurgence and has just one turnover in his past give games.

"I wish we had gotten into the end zone one more time," Flacco said. "It's not always pretty. We're a very excited, a very confident football team."

Baltimore was able to move the ball against the Colts' 30th-ranked defense, but struggled to find the end zone. Justin Tucker's third field goal of the game increased their lead to 16-7 to open the second half.

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri kept his team in the game with 48- and 38-yard field goals and Indianapolis trailed just 16-13 with 1:34 left in the third quarter.

Two penalties -- a hold and pass interference -- proved to be costly for the Colts (3-12) on the Ravens' next drive. Flacco made them pay with a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Maxx Williams -- his first score of the season. That put Baltimore ahead 23-13.

Vinatieri's 30-yard field goal pulled the Colts to within 23-16 with 4:33 left in the game. That gave Indianapolis just enough life to put itself in position to win the game.

"It's frustrating," Vinatieri said. "We seem to be playing well enough to stay in games. We've played some good teams very tough, but we haven't been able to win. This may sound off, but this might be the best 3-12 team I've even known of."

Brissett did a solid job managing the game. He completed 16 of 33 for 215 yards with a touchdown. Brissett did not have a turnover and was sacked twice.

"I stayed within the game and kept living in the moment," Brissett said. "For me, this is enjoyable out there competing with my brothers."

Hilton created matchup problems for much of the game and finished with six receptions for 100 yards.

"We played good, we're just not finishing," Hilton said. "Today, we had our chances to make a play and we didn't. They just made more plays than us."

The Ravens' opening drive stalled at the Colts' 12 after 14 plays, and they settled for a 30-yard field goal by Tucker.

Tony Jefferson blocked an attempted 38-yard field goal by Vinatieri on the ensuing drive.

That led to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Michael Campanaro and Baltimore led 10-0 with 12:16 left in the half.

The Colts responded when Frank Gore took a short pass from Brissett and ran it in for a 14-yard score.

Another 39-yard kick by Tucker with two minutes left made it 13-7 -- the score at the half when Vinatieri missed a 60-yard attempt in the final seconds.

"We didn't play the perfect game, but that is not us," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "We would have liked to have played the perfect game, but it didn't happen. We played good enough to win. That's all that counts in December football - wins and losses."

NOTES: Baltimore WR Jeremy Maclin (knee) was inactive after being unable to practice this past week. Maclin, who has missed three games this season, is fourth on the team with 40 receptions for 440 yards with three touchdowns. ... Colts S Clayton Geathers was inactive despite not appearing on the injury report. Geathers had worked his way into more playing time in the secondary. ... Baltimore RB Terrance West was active for the first time since Oct. 8, a span of nine consecutive weeks. That Ravens had four running backs active for the wet and windy conditions.