Typical AFC North Matchup

This was a typical AFC North Division match up: pound the ball, tough defense, and a game that came down to the last second. So what was the difference last night?

The Ravens were playing at home, a place where they have now won 13 straight games, and they were playing the Browns, a team they have not lost to in the last 9 games. But around the NFL questions were surrounding the Ravens, this was their fourth game in 18 days, not an easy schedule for any team at any time. Not only were these 4 games close together, but the Ravens were playing just 92 hours after the emotional win over the Patriots. But this Ravens team has faced more than just scheduling adversity, the team has fought through the death of former owner Art Modell, and death of Torrey Smith's younger brother. Let us put it this way, last night was the Raven's first home game this season without a moment of silence. The Ravens could have come out of this stretch 1-3 or 2-2 and many people would have attributed it to the schedule and the adversity, but not the Ravens. The Ravens are 3-1 after what seems like an impossible stretch of games. Harbaugh said it best, "Adversity does one of two things: it either drives a team apart, or in this case, because of the people that we have, it's driving us together."

The Ravens did not simply win due to current streaks, or a desire to defeat adversity, it came down to a couple special performances last night.

Boldin putting the team on his
back in last night's win. 

First lets look at the outstanding play of receiver Anquan Boldin. In the first three games, Boldin had 10 catches, 118 yards and a touchdown, he had been targeted only 16 times. Boldin claims he does not think about any stats other than the win column, and that could be true, but last night he exploded off the field. Boldin notched 9 catches for 131 yards, and was targeted 12 times, the most of any Ravens' receiver last night.


This night for Boldin may not have been possible without the incredible start to the year for Torrey Smith. In the month of September, Smith has 16 receptions for 332 yards and 3 touchdowns. This includes last nights 6 catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Teams have been putting attention on the speedster and taking attention off of Boldin and Rice (exactly how Ozzie planned it).

Flacco celebrating his TD run. 

Now obviously these two receivers were not on the field themselves, Flacco had an outstanding game last night, continuing the red-hot beginning to the season. Last night Flacco completed 28 of 46 passes (61%), for 356 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately Flacco's night was not perfect, he did throw a redzone interception for the first time in almost 3 years. Flacco also had a 5 yard TD run on a planned bootleg style 3rd and Goal play.  Despite the pick, Flacco and the offense were able to do just enough to help the Ravens avoid an embarrassing loss.


The Ravens look forward to a weekend off, while already beginning to prepare for next Sunday's game against the Chiefs.