Smith had a chance at a potential game-winning touchdown catch on Baltimore’s final drive, but it bounced off his hands and hit the turf.
Quarterback
“I make that play in the corner of the end zone and we’re talking about something totally different,” Smith said.
It would have been a tough play for Smith to make, as Flacco’s lofted pass just squeaked over the outstretched arm of Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby. On cameras, it looked like Roby got a piece of the ball, but Smith said the pass wasn’t tipped.
“I’m a No. 1 receiver and that’s a No. 1 play, and I’ve got to make that,” Smith said. “Ultimately, the way I feel is that’s on me. That falls on my hands. I have to be better.”
The Ravens never got much going in the passing game until their final drive, and that included Smith. He caught just two passes for 13 yards despite seven targets, which was tied for the most on the team with running back
Smith was also the target on Flacco’s game-turning pick-six in the third quarter.
Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, the same player Smith told to “Ice up, son” after a Monday Night Football win as a member of the Panthers, was covering Smith. Talib cut off the inside of the route in front of Smith. Flacco still threw inside and it was easily picked off.
“It was an 8-yard route,” Smith said. “He undercut it, played it inside. He made a good play.”
Flacco said he knew he would have a one-on-one opportunity with Smith on the outside as he scanned inside. There also wasn’t any underneath linebacker coverage, so he wasn’t worried about throwing to Smith on an intended underneath route.
“I was taking a leap of faith and really Aqib did a good job of cutting off the inside,” Flacco said. “I like Steve in a one-on-one matchup. It’s just one of those ones that doesn’t work out.”
Outside of Smith, and with rookie first-round pick
