No, they weren't perfect but they played well enough to pitch the lone dominant performance of the Wild Card weekend.
Joe Flacco and the offense started off the game with a substantial drive and a three point lead. On the first drive, Flacco threw short passes to receivers who dashed across the field for first downs. Upon their arrival in redzone their momentum stopped and had to settle for a field goal after being repeatedly stopped on the one yard line.
After Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali sacked Flacco and forced a fumble, Chiefs' explosive running back Jamaal Charles dashed through a gigantic whole created by the left guard, ran through a few arm tackles from safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry and scored the Chiefs only touchdown. The play was pretty embarrassing for the Ravens defense, whose leader Ray Lewis called run defense "personal" in an interview earlier in the week.
At the end of the first quarter, the Chiefs were ahead 7-3 but would held to the number of points come the game’s end.
After allowing the big run, the Ravens defense settled down. They started forcing turnovers and shutting down Jamaal Charles. One of Baltimore's most important defensive plays of the game was Jamaal Charles' second quarter fumbled, forced by colossal rookie defensive tackle Terrance Cody. This play marked the point when Baltimore began shutting Charles down and eliminating him from the Chiefs' offensive scheme.
The offense played pretty well the entire game and benefited greatly from the turnovers the defense was creating despite having to deal with safety Eric Berry who made tackles all over the field yesterday. The Ravens regained the lead at the very end of the first half when Ray Rice ran nine yards into the endzone. At halftime the score was 10-7.
The second half was all Ravens and it with the first drive of the half as the Ravens didn't let the Chiefs offense sustain the drive. Haruki Nakamura grabbed an interception, then fumbled it virtually making it a ten yard completion for the Chiefs. Eight plays later, on a fourth and one the Chiefs go for it by running none other than Jamaal Charles to the outside. The Ravens sniffed it out and knocked Charles back for a 4 yard loss.
Toward the end of the game the tension became visible and the losing team resorted to cheap shots and gripping helmets. Willis McGahee’s 25 yard touchdown was the ice on the cake, putting the Ravens up 30-7.
The Ravens passing attack displayed what the fans have been yearning for... a complete performance. Even though Flacco was under constant pressure from the Chiefs' defensive line, he persevered and threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns. His main target, Todd Heap, lit up the Chiefs with ten catches, most of which in the middle of the field. Once the Chiefs started covering him with safeties and corners, things opened things up for Anquan Boldin. The pass distribution yesterday was very impressive so I have to give Flacco compliments for that.
With an efficient Flacco and two running backs as good as Ray Rice and Willis Mcgahee in the back field, this offense can be a problem for any of the remaining teams in the playoffs. As long as the offense is keeping their defensive teammates on the sidelines and rested, teams won't be able to score many points against them. Next week is the Pittsburgh Steelers, division rivals who will meet the Ravens for the third time this season.
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