Anquan Boldin knew he had a big day in store for him.
He was so confident about it that he went to quarterback Joe Flacco before Sunday's game against the Colts and let him know he was feeling it.
"I went up to him before the game and told him I felt like 200 yards today," Boldin said. "I don't know if he thought I was joking, but he gave me a shot in the second half."
Boldin didn't get quite 200 yards, but he did rack up 145 receiving yards, the most ever for a Ravens receiver in the playoffs. The receiver also hauled in one touchdown grab in the Ravens' 24-9 victory over Indianapolis.
All of Boldin's receiving yards came in the second half, as he caught every pass that Flacco threw his direction.
He was too much for the Colts to handle, and he beat defenders with crisp routes and simple physical play. Boldin was one of four people, along with Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Jim Caldwell, to receive a game ball from Head Coach John Harbaugh.
"I just wanted to go out and give everything," Boldin said. "I think everyone in this locker room wanted to make sure this wasn't our last game. I think we all have a goal in mind and we're focused in on that goal. The only way we're going to get there is if we go out there and give our all on the field."
Boldin, 32, has been criticized in the media at times for not having the speed to get much separation in his routes.
But that wasn't an issue Sunday.
He got open down the sidelines and over the middle of the field, and even when he was in tight coverage he still came up with impressive grabs. One of his highlights was a 50-yard grab down the sidelines, as Flacco floated a deep ball and Boldin beat the defender to make the over-the-shoulder catch and still kept his feet inbounds.
Later in the game, Boldin hauled in an 18-yard touchdown grab over cornerback Darius Butler. On the catch, Butler grabbed Boldin's jersey and had a hand in Boldin's face as he went up for the pass and hauled in the grab while falling to the ground.
"It was just a good job by Anquan of winning the route and going up and making a nice catch," Flacco said.
Boldin, who is in his third season with the Ravens, said it was games like this that he had in mind when he came to Baltimore.
"I was real motivated [today]," Boldin said. "I've said it before, I came to Baltimore to win a championship. That's my goal."
Next up for the Ravens is the Denver Broncos, who beat the Ravens, 34-17, at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 15. That loss is still fresh in the mind of the Ravens, and Boldin was direct when asked about a rematch with the Broncos during his post-game press conference.
"I was hoping we would get them," Boldin said. "They'll see us next week."
