Rise of the Ravens
I’ve been singing the praises of the Baltimore Ravens all year, and after their impressive 23-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have gone a long way to justifying my praise, and swept their bitter AFC North rivals for the first time in five years.
With less five minutes left on the clock, the Ravens had to rely on something that had previously come up short, Joe Flacco’s clutch ability.
But this time, Flacco had the poise and nerve to throw a series of vital completions to Anquan Boldin and eventually, to rookie Torrey Smith in the endzone for the game-winning score.
This is all the more impressive when you consider what had gone on in the few minutes previous to the 92-yard drive.
A fumble from the Ravens’ QB due to pressure from the awesome James Harrison, freshly back from a fractured orbital bone in his eye socket, set up the Steelers’ touchdown to Mike Wallace, making the game 20-16.
Harrison was a beast all evening and Flacco looked like he was flagging under the constant pressure he had been put under for almost an hour, and would never be able to win the game.
But Flacco’s control of the ball and clock in Baltimore’s final drive was impeccable, and despite Smith dropping a catch that could have been a touchdown earlier in the drive, Flacco targeted the rookie again in the endzone for the all-important score with eight seconds left on the clock.
The confidence shown in Smith has been a huge plus point for Baltimore, and with veteran receiver Lee Evans still to return to the side, the Ravens now have a receiving corps that can finally compliment the excellent work of running back Ray Rice.
But there has always been a lingering doubt that their triggerman was not up to the job, a doubt that, I believe, Flacco put to bed on Sunday night.
The notorious Baltimore defense will always be just that, but with Ray Lewis in his 16th season, Terrell Suggs in his 9th season and Ed Reed in his 10th season, you have to look at how many more opportunities that defense will have to win a Superbowl as a unit.
They may have been a little inconsistent so far this season, but this victory shows exactly how tough the Ravens can and will play when they focus on a game.
I fully expect Baltimore to power on from here, and apart from a trip to San Diego and two games against divisional rivals Cincinnati (6-2?!?!), they should win all of their remaining games, leaving them with at least a 12-4 record and the tie breaker against the Steelers.
Looking further ahead, Baltimore are the only team that I feel match up well against the all-conquering Pack. Rodgers, Jennings and Finley vs Suggs, Reed and Lewis. Flacco, Rice and Boldin vs Matthews, Raji and Woodson. Would make a nice Superbowl wouldn’t it?
