Jerry Coleman: Ravens Fly Into The Playoffs
Before more than 71,000, Ravens doubled up the Browns 20-10, and received a bit of luck with the Chiefs defeating the Chargers 19-7. Many players tried their best to stay focused on the Browns, and not scoreboard watch because they knew that if they won they set themselves up for at least a chance to make the playoffs. Linebacker Terrell Suggs had a different prospective "[Heck], yeah. When we were down, we were down, 10-3, and we [saw] they were up and then [KC] went up again. I was like [heck] no, let's go. We paid attention, and it was just like, we've got to handle our business – and we did."
After nearly missing the playoffs a season ago, the Purple and Black make it back into the tournament for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. With all the success John Harbaugh, and the Ravens have had over the last seven years he stayed humbled and knows that that not all the players have been here from the start.
"You're just happy for them, for this team, for this group of guys. Not the guys seven years ago, for these guys. That's what you think about. It's year-to-year, it's week-to-week … That's the beauty of it. That's what makes it great."
Quarterback Joe Flacco will be making his sixth trip to the playoffs, and even though at times he looked below average during some games this year, Flacco set seasons high in 2014. He complied 27 touchdowns and threw for a total of 3,986 passing yards, which ranks second in franchise history for passing yards in a single-season, and is only behind Vinny Testaverde who threw 4,177 in 1996.
He also came up big in the fourth. With the Browns leading 10-6 at the start of the final quarter the Ravens would come from behind and get the victory. With 7:34 left Flacco would connect to one his favorite targets in Torrey Smith for the go-ahead score and the Purple and Black would never look back. Smith praised Flacco's demeanor, and how the offense finished. "It always clicks when we click on offense. That even helps the defense out as well. And when Joe is hot, he's tough to handle."
With the Ravens win over the Browns they improve to 13-1 against Cleveland under Harbaugh. As far what is next for the team in the Charm city, they will be taking the AFC North Division Champion Steelers on Saturday for a prime time match-up at Heinz Field. Even though that will be a very tough game at least the Ravens will not be on couch this year watching the playoffs.
"It feels good. I remember sitting at home last year, a week from now, and it didn't feel very good. So, that at least won't be happening this year, and it feels very good. It's a great locker room right now, and we've just got to do all we can to go get ready, have fun this week and get ready for another challenge," Flacco said.
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