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Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore
Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium
Saturday, January 13, 2007
4:30 EST
CLICK HERE FOR RAVENS/COLTS PLAYOFF TICKETS
Game Preview
The Ravens have done just about everything they
could to secure a top playoff spot and a shot at the Super Bowl. That
quest won't begin for at least another week, however, as Baltimore
defeated the Bills 19-7 last week to secure a first-round bye. The
Ravens will instead try to get some rest, build their game plan and
wait to see who they'll be playing. As the No. 2 seed in the AFC,
Baltimore will face the highest seed to advance this weekend. So a
matchup with the No. 6 Chiefs is not a possibility, but if the Colts
win that game, the Ravens will face Peyton Manning and company. If the
Chiefs win, Baltimore will square off with the winner of the
Jets-Patriots game. Whoever makes it to Baltimore will have to deal
with a squad that is well-rested and motivated to come up with a Super
Bowl run.
So much for Indianapolis' run defense ranking dead
last in the NFL, and it was a great time to hold its first opponent to
under 100 yards on the ground. The Colts held Kansas City to 44 yards
rushing, didn't surrender a first down for the first 2½ quarters of
the game, and advanced to the divisional playoffs round with a 23-8
victory over the Chiefs. Not only did Indy stop the run, but the
offense used the run to control the game. Joseph Addai and Dominic
Rhodes combined for 190 yards on 38 carries to overcome a
three-interception performance by Peyton Manning. However, Manning
still threw for 268 yards and the clinching 5-yard touchdown pass to
Reggie Wayne in the fourth quarter. The Colts will now advance to play
the Ravens in Baltimore on Jan. 14 in the divisional playoffs. "Our
defense was awesome today," Manning said. "We made some mistakes and
the defense made sure we didn't pay for it."
It will be strength vs. strength as the Colts will
bring the third-ranked offense to Baltimore to face the Ravens'
top-ranked defense. Coming off a 23-8 win over the Chiefs in a
wild-card game, the Colts are in the divisional playoffs for a fourth
straight year. The Ravens, winners of the AFC North, are in the
playoffs for the first time since 2003 and enjoyed a bye week as the
AFC's No. 2 seed. The teams last met in the opening game of 2005 with
Indianapolis winning 24-7 in Baltimore, where the Colts made their
home until 1984. In 2003, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Ravens
QB Steve McNair (then of the Titans) were the league's co-MVPs.
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