Bittersweet weekend for Baltimore Ravens fans

Pardon my absence the last few weeks. It’s strange, you think you’re going to get more work done over the holidays writing and instead you get substantially less done. I’m forever a kid. Just one weekend into 2015 and already we’ve celebrated victory and mourned a loss.

The Baltimore Ravens won impressively on the road in the playoffs, and the sports world was saddened by the passing of ESPN personality Stuart Scott who lost his battle with cancer at 49.

Both events happened within 24 hours, and as Ravens fans we’re all still processing everything with mixed feelings and emotions. Obviously, I didn’t know Scott personally. But through television, he’s been a part of my household for what seems like my entire life. Flat out, cancer sucks.

Or maybe Rich Risen expresses it better:

As someone who has lost family to cancer, it’s a tough battle to lose and the loss runs deep. From The Baltimore Wire, our hearts go out to Stuart Scott and his family.

Back to the Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens finished the regular season 10-6 and traveled to Heinz Field for a Wild Card game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. I was very nervous about this game for a number of reasons. Where to begin? The still suspect Ravens secondary, the fact they seemingly limped into the playoffs at the end of the regular season, or because Baltimore has never defeated Pittsburgh on the road in the playoffs? Take your pick.

Still, I also knew there were things to be confident about in this game. The Steelers would be without star running back LaVeon Bell. The Baltimore defense was getting hot at the right time entering the playoffs, and the return of Haloti Ngata was coming at just the right time. And the last time the Ravens limped into the playoffs at 10-6, they won the Super Bowl.

This game didn’t quite go as I expected. I predicted Baltimore with the upset victory but not with a decisive one. The Ravens executed their game plan to perfection. Joe Flacco showed similar signs of another historic playoff run. 2012 all over again (knock on wood)? The defense certainly stepped up. And special teams prevented good field position for the Steelers to work with.

It’s easy to say this was the Terrell Suggs show, but more specifically it was how the Ravens attacked the Steelers offense that was the deciding factor. So many questions heading into the game: Are they going to get pressure on Ben Rothelisberger? Are they going to slow down Antonio Brown? Is the secondary going to hold up? All of those questions had positive answers.

The key to this game was defense, and the Ravens’ philosophy was simple: make them earn every yard, don’t allow big plays to break into the end zone, and once in the red zone, buckle down and force field goals.

This message rang loud and clear as the Steelers’ first three trips to the red zone all ended in field goals. Combined with five sacks on Big Ben, Pittsburgh never seemed to really have a chance. Classic Ravens defense.

Joseph Flacco (I went there), managed the game as good as any quarterback can. Zero interceptions, big completions to Steve Smith, who totaled 101 yards, and touchdown passes to Torrey Smith and Crockett Gillmore.

Lastly, one factor that closed the door on Pittsburgh that most seem to overlook: penalties. Pittsburgh surrendered 114 yards to penalties. That, readers, is a recipe for a loss.

All in all, it was a great weekend for the Baltimore Ravens and a tragic one for the sports world. Bitter sweet.