Colts vs Ravens – A look at the Divisional Round Playoff battle

By Contributing Author
Michelle Jarvis

The Indianapolis Colts are no stranger to the pursuit of perfection. Closing out the 2009 regular season with a 14-2 record was the second time in recent franchise history it had been done, most recently in 2005. Their AFC South crown was their 6th in 7 years. The Peyton Manning lead Colts haven’t had a losing season since 2001, when they finished 6-10. Since then the team holds an impressive 73-29 regular season record. Following their recent impressive season, Manning found himself celebrating his 4th MVP award. Aside from Manning, Indy’s prized team’s roster is sprinkled with Pro Bowlers. Reggie Wayne (WR) and Dallas Clark (TE) continue to be frequently mentioned as one of the best at their positions offensively. Opposing offenses spend a good amount of time studying film and preparing for Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis (both DE). Freeney is coming off a statically impressive year; recording 13.5 sacks.

The Colts and Coach Jim Caldwell have found themselves under attack the past few weeks. After putting together an impressive 14-0 record, the Coach pulled his starters against the New York Jets; leading to a Jets victory. Players were shown visibly (most noticeably Manning) upset on the sidelines watching their perfect season go down the drain. Always the professional Manning did not speak out about his disappointment, but rather said that the team does what they are told by the coach. While the players did not, many media outlets questioned Caldwell’s decision to bench his starters, who were clicking on all cylinders going into week 16 against the Jets. Many believed that by resting the starters “momentum” would slow down for the team, as has happened in the past and some fans are worried. When coming off a First Round Bye, the Colts are winless in the Playoffs. Coach Caldwell ignored skeptics and told the media this week, “We are right where we want to be. Every single week we’ve prepared for an opponent, our team has been excited about the opportunity and performed well.”

Their divisional round opponent this week finds themselves in a completely different situation. The Ravens flip flopping throughout the 2009 campaign left fans wondering if they would even make the post season. After closing out with a 9-7 record, they once again found themselves holding the 6th seed in the AFC. In the wild card weekend of 2008 the Ravens traveled to Miami to face the AFC East division winner Dolphins. Baltimore defeated them with a 27-9 victory. Following up a convincing win in Miami, they headed to the Divisional round against the top seeded (and best overall regular season record holder) Tennessee Titans. Following a defensive battle, the Ravens upset the Titans 13-10 with a game winning Matt Stover field goal.

Fast forward a year and Baltimore once again will be following up with a convincing defeat of the AFC East division winner; although this time it was the New England Patriots, winning 33-14. The Ravens will travel to Indianapolis (the top seed, like Tennessee) this coming Saturday for the divisional round.

This time it may be the Colts who will be relying on Matt Stover’s leg if it comes down to a game winning field goal. Stover, who spent 18 years in the Ravens organization (5 of which in Cleveland), joined the Colts after an injury to kicker Adam Vinatieri.

Saturday will also be a rematch of the Week 11 meeting between the two teams, where the Colts escaped with a 17-15 victory off a Stover game winning field goal. Notably it was the debut of the Ravens second kicker of the season, Billy Cundiff who kicked five field goals, including two from 46 and 44 yards. A 30-yard miss in the third quarter by Cundiff came back to haunt the Ravens. Glaringly absent from the first meeting was Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs, the team’s best pass rusher.

Against the Colts second year quarterback Joe Flacco had one of his better outings yardage wise, but did not throw any touchdowns. He was 23 of 35 for 257 yards and threw one damaging interception in the red zone. However, his numbers were not far off from the MVP winning Peyton Manning who went 22 of 31 for 299 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. This time around a beat up Flacco is expected to be more of a game manager against the Colts high powered passing offense. He threw for only 34 yards and 4 competitions in New England, letting the offense do damage with their high powered running game. All three of Baltimore’s running backs (Ray Rice, Le’Ron McClain, and Willis McGahee) scored a touchdown in last week’s wild card round against the Patriots. Baltimore is expected to go with a similar game plan going into Indy this weekend. Meanwhile Manning is expected to once again challenge Baltimore’s questionable secondary with deep balls to his favorite target Reggie Wayne while mixing in Joseph Addai in the ground game.

Following the last meeting the Colts have now won the last seven straight games against the Ravens; most memorable being the 2006 playoff divisional round in Baltimore. Saturday night will be an opportunity for Baltimore to have their revenge or for the Colts to break the hearts of those in Baltimore all over again.