Since this is my 1st ever blog entry, I figure I start it off with a review of yesterday's AFC Championship game. Yesterday's conference title games included: the New England Patriots vs. the Baltimore Ravens in the 1st game, while the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers in the night cap. Here's a quick run down on why the Patriots & the Giants will face off in Indianapolis Feb. 5th in Super Bowl XLVI.
AFC Championship Game:
1. Special Teams was the major factor: Since I was a young kid playing park & rec football for the Indian Head Braves & all the way to Lackey High School, I was always told that special teams is always the determining factor in a closely fought game. New England made their mistake when Danny Woodhead fumbled on the kickoff after the Ravens went ahead 17-16 going into the 4th quarter. However, the New England defense was able to hold off the Ravens best opportunity to put the game away by stopping them on 4th down. Then, on the game winning drive, Baltimore decided to not go for the win after Lee Evans dropped the ball. Kicker Billy Cundiff quickly rushed on the field to try to tie the game in the last seconds. Bill Belichick decided to not call a time out to freeze Cundiff. The kick went wide left, similar to what Florida State had to endure during the height of their rivalry with The U. New England moves on, Baltimore goes home.
2. Tom Brady didn't have a great day, but he got the job done: At times, Brady was rushing his passes, sometimes it was due to the great Ravens defense, and sometimes it was due to trying to force the ball to his main targets. Earlier in the game, Brady's throws were dropped by Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, the two tight ends who are now considered the best at their position. After the 2nd pick by Jimmy Smith, Brady rallied the offense to the go ahead score (see picture above) on a classic goal line stand.
3. Flacco played the game of his young career: Regardless what the arm-chair, Monday morning quarterbacks say, Joe Flacco had a great performance considering he has made the playoffs in each season of his career. In past years, Flacco would've folded his hands and crumbled under the pressure, but he stepped up in ways that could mean the Ravens could be back to being a legit contender in the AFC next season. After throwing a potential devastating pick to Patriots Linebacker Brandon Spikes (a great one-handed pick), he didn't get fluttered, he rallied his team for one last drive. The type of performance that Flacco had is something that the league needs to take notice of and he is ready to join the elite class of quarterbacks in the NFL.
4. The play that saved New England's season: Little used Sterling Moore was one on one with Ravens Wide Receiver Lee Evans on the potential game winning drive in the final seconds of the 4th quarter. It seemed that Lee Evans made the game winning catch, but Moore who never gave up on the play, slapped the ball loose out of Lee Evans' hands in the end zone. What was crazy was that the play was never reviewed by the booth upstairs. The non-review could be the true reason why the Ravens aren't playing for their 2nd Super Bowl title.
5. Boldin steps up huge in the final drive: Anquan Boldin, 4 years removed from a Super Bowl appearance with the Arizona Cardinals, showed why he is considered one of the most under appreciated receivers in the league. On the final drive, Boldin was Flacco's main target, making catch after chain-moving catch; putting the Ravens offense on his back. In the 2008 NFC Championship Game, Boldin was on the sidelines as he argued with then offensive coordinator Todd Haley about not being used on the Cardinals' game winning drive. Its safe to say that he redeemed himself in the biggest way & showed that he shouldn't be taken lightly by the AFC going into the 2012-2013 season.
In all, this had to be one of the classic AFC Championship Games in a long time. It can be argued that it could be the Cleveland Curse followed the Ravens since they moved to Baltimore in 1996 or just a rushed kick. With a game like this, it should be held in high regard with the controversial no touchdown call in the 1979 title game with Pittsburgh & Houston, "The Drive" in 1986, The Fumble in 1987 (Denver vs.Cleveland) and the Hail Mary in 1995.
No comments:
Post a Comment