After playing four solid games, the Ravens laid an egg. The Colts dominated in all three phases of the 31-3 blowout. In a Sunday filled with thrillers, this wasn't one of them.
In the first half, the Ravens turned it over three times and were held to 49 yards. You could almost see this coming. In fact, here's what I wrote on Saturday….
*The Colts top three receivers have a decided advantage over the banged up Ravens secondary. Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez will be matched up with Chris McAlister, Corey Ivy and Frank Walker. *
*These three Ravens can't cover those three Colts for long. If the Ravens don't get pressure on Manning, it could get ugly early. *
And it did. You didn't have to be Rex Ryan to know that the Ravens were playing short without cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Fabian Washington.
Against a running team like the Titans you might get by, but against Peyton Manning and his receivers, fat chance!
I wonder if Manning read or heard those Terrell Suggs comments. Something like "they know they can't match up their 11 with our 11." Or maybe it was that ESPN.com story that stated Eli was the best quarterback in the Manning family.
Whatever it was, the Ravens got a full dose of vintage Manning; three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was definitely in charge, dictating to the defense, spreading it around to Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, and tight end Dallas Clark.
Peyton Manning shows no favorites – get open, and you get the ball. And he does it with one of the most accurate arms in the history of the game. His preparation is legendary, but it's the strength and accuracy of that right arm that has punched his ticket to Canton.
John Harbaugh said, "We got what we deserved," and he's right. The Ravens didn't show up, losing their sixth straight to Indianapolis.
In the end, I think this game was more about No. 18 than the Ravens. When Peyton Manning is locked-in, the Colts seldom lose. That's why they've won at least 12 games each of the last five seasons (the only team in NFL history to do that). Overtime
Turnovers; Ravens 5, Colts 0.
The Colts have scored 99 points in their last three regular season wins over the Ravens.
Hold the Matt Stover calls this week. Ole automatic was 1-1.
Congrats to former Ravens assistant Mike Smith – his Falcons are 4-2. That was quite a bear hug Mike put on QB Matt Ryan after Jason Elam's game winning kick. Ryan connected with WR Michael Jenkins to set up Elam's game-winner. Smith's brother-in-law, Brian Billick, was part of the FOX broadcast team that called the Falcons' win over the Bears.
The Redskins win at Dallas and Philadelphia, and then come home and lose to the 0-4 Rams – welcome to the NFL.
Long-time and respected broadcast journalist Scott Garceau has covered Baltimore sports, including all of its pro football teams, for the last 30 years. Scott, who was the radio voice of Ravens football for the team's first 10 seasons (1996-2005), is a seven-time Maryland Sportscaster of the Year. Garceau is also honored as Baltimore's Pro Football Hall of Fame selector/voter. A native of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, where he is a member of the area Hall of Fame, Scott has covered the NFL since 1971.
