It’s was quite the ride for Ravens Nation this season. Impossible to script and even more impossible to believe that they could overcome countless amounts of adversity to be crowned AFC Champions Sunday night.
After defeating the New England Patriots 28-13; the Baltimore Ravens are going to the Super Bowl to play the San Francisco 49ers. It will be the first time brothers face each other in the big game. Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh will square off against little brother Jim in what is being dubbed as the Harbaugh Bowl.
The monkey is off Joe Flacco’s back. It was his 8th playoff win in five seasons. Inconsistent all season, many doubted that he had what it takes to get to the Super Bowl, but he proved them wrong. And yes, Flacco outplayed Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady. Flacco went 21 of 36 for 240 yards with three touchdowns while Brady went 29 of 52 for 320 yards and one touchdown.
The Ravens looked like a flock of angry birds. They never forgot the painful loss of last season’s title game. Their drive to win was fueled by pain and anger; they kept their eyes on the prize and the Lamar Hunt Trophy is finally going home to Baltimore.
I believe that Ray Lewis’ retirement announcement was the catalyst that changed everything. The defense was banged up and Flacco was inconsistent, but when Lewis returned for the playoffs, the defense stepped up their game and Flacco proved his naysayers wrong and shined when it mattered most.
It seems unreal that a banged up defense lead by a 17-year Pro Bowl linebacker could come out firing in another road game against another elite quarterback. Oh but they did, the Ravens’ defense kicked ass. They only allowed the Patriots to score 13 points in the first half and completely shut them down in the second.
Congratulations to coach Harbaugh and all the Ravens! You survived the long road to the AFC Championship; enjoy the short hop to New Orleans.
It is not easy bleeding purple, but we are Ravens Nation and we are proud to do it. The monkey is off Flacco’s back and Ray Lewis’ last ride couldn’t have a better ending…well it *could*, but let’s live in the moment and enjoy this win.
Zennie Abraham