It is sometimes so difficult to be a follower of the Baltimore Ravens. It was only one month ago that they literally stunk out their own stadium in losing to the Denver Broncos. The final margin was 17 points but it was not that close. The loss to Denver was their third straight. And then, in a week's time, they rebounded to crush the Giants, clinching the AFC North in the process. While they lost a meaningless game to the Bengals in the last regular season game, they came out yesterday and crushed another good team, the Colts. The final score was 24-9 and so-called analysts can sing the praises of Andrew Luck all they want, the fact is that when it counted the most, he couldn't even lead his team to a touchdown against the playoff-seasoned Ravens.
Now they get another shot at Peyton Manning and the Broncos. And despite the early line - a ridiculous nine points - I believe the Ravens can win. In fact, I think they will win. Joe Flacco has played some of his best football in the playoffs. Last season, in the AFC Championship, he had New England beaten at Foxboro when two thought-to-be dependable teammates let him and the Ravens down. First, Lee Evans, who may well be headed to Canton after a stellar ca dropped a touchdown pass after Flacco had cooly driven the Ravens down the field in the final minute to a first down at the Patriot 11-yard-line. The first down pass to Evans threaded a needle between two overmatched defensive backs and landed right in Evans' hands. He got his feet down and was wheeling around to shield the ball when one of the backs swatted at the ball and knocked it free. An official called it incomplete but tens of thousands of Ravens' fans thought they deserved at least a review. After a second down pass to Dennis Pita fell incomplete (Pita was held and blatantly interfered with but the refs blew that call, also), Flacco was sacked on third down. Still, a short field goal was all the Ravens needed to tie the game but Billy Cundiff missed it.
Now, its one year later and the Ravens will probably have to beat Denver and New England to get to the Super Bowl. Can they do it? Yes. Will they? I might be way off, but I think the answer is also Yes. They have too much talent and too much momentum not to. Ray Lewis, the world's greatest middle linebacker, has announced that this is his "last ride."
The Ravens were superb against Luck and the Colts. Paul Kruger is getting better by leaps and bounds as a pass rusher and Lewis will already have a game under his belt returning from a serious arm injury. He had 13 tackles against the Colts, the most of the Ravens. Meanwhile, Flacco was throwing the long ball against the Colts, who were learning the hard way what it was like to face an NFL quarterback who knew a little bit about playoff football. Flacco completed just 12 passes, but those twelve accounted for 287 yards. Anquan Boldin had five of those catches, most of the spectacular variety.
Flacco has been a starter since he took over the Raven job directly out of University of Delaware. In five NFL seasons - while never missing a start due to injury - he has led the Ravens into the playoffs five times. In each of those five trips to the playoffs he has led the Ravens to at least one victory. The celebrated Mr. Luck will never be able to say that.
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