Second Time Around

This Saturday the Indianapolis Colts will host the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs. Earlier this season the Colts were able to fend off the Ravens 17-15 in Baltimore, and this weekend should prove to be yet another close battle. The Colts were able to stop the Ravens from reaching the end zone, which allowed Matt Stover to kick the go-ahead field goal for the Colts victory. This weekend the Colts will look to use the same blueprint that worked earlier this season, and limit the Ravens potent rushing attack.

Led by breakout running back Ray Rice the Ravens have a three headed monster at in the backfield with Rice, Willis McGahee, and Leron McClain. In the first matchup the Colts were able to limit Rice to only 71 rushing yards, which put more pressure on second year quarterback Joe Flacco. Although Flacco is clearly developing as one of the better quarterbacks in the league, he is still not ready to carry a team to victory. In the last matchup Flacco did not have any touchdowns, but he did throw one interception, and turnovers will once again play a big role in this matchup. 

Along with Flacco’s struggles in the first matchup, Peyton Manning had trouble against this tenacious Ravens defense. Manning threw two picks which allowed the Ravens to remain in the game despite their lack of an offensive attack. This Saturday the Colts will once again have to stop Ray Rice, and force Joe Flacco to win the game with his arm. However, more importantly they will have to win the turnover battle, especially in a playoff game atmosphere. Momentum will be a key to this game, and the Colts must get going early or else the Ravens will be able to hang around until the end of the game. Even though Manning is a master at orchestrating game winning drives, this Ravens defense is playing at a very high level and the playoffs have rejuvenated many of their key veterans. 

A key note to add from the first game is that the Ravens were without Terrell Suggs, who is a crucial piece for this defense. If he plays Saturday he can have just as much of an impact on a game as Ray Lewis or Ed Reed.