Were you concerned too? Admit it, once St. Pierre threw that 88 yard touchdown pass to David Gettis, you shifted toward the edge of your seat.
Rightfully so, it is almost common knowledge that the 2010 Baltimore Ravens don't know how to maintain a lead, especially one held in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons scored with less than a minute left in the game, the Buffalo Bills threw the ball skillfully in the fourth quarter to tie up the game and make the Ravens beat them in overtime and the Patriots were led by Tom Brady to a fourth quarter comeback.
Today, however, the defense finally accepted the call placed upon them to solidify a lead their offense created. Flacco was magnificent in the first half throwing for 213 passing yards, including a 56 yard touchdown pass to TJ Houshmanzadeh. By halftime, the Ravens were ahead 17-3; unfortunately this point spread became 20-13 in the fourth once the Ravens capitalized off David Reed's 84 yard kickoff return by kicking a 33 yard field goal and Brian St. Pierre threw an unexpected touchdown pass.
The game got closer but the offense refused to respond so enters Ed Reed who receives an inaccurate throw into his lap, returns the interception 19 yards then laterals the ball to Dawan Landry who continues the return 23 more yards for a touchdown. Two plays later, St. Pierre throws another interception, this time to linebacker Ray Lewis who returns his interception 24 yards for another touchdown, giving the Ravens two defensive touchdowns in 11 seconds of play.
These remarkable defensive plays have been absent from the majority of the Ravens season. Reed grabbed his fourth interception in four games today but besides him, no other player on the team has consistently forced turnovers.
Today’s victorious outing in Charlotte renewed my confidence in the Ravens defense that has both bent and broken theoretically when competing against offenses of equal or superior talent. Although a Panthers offense without DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and an intuitive quarterback are unevenly matched, every team in the NFL is competitive and this win is still worthy of praise.
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