The Ravens have played in two of the most memorable and intense Divisional Playoff games since the start of the century. The more recent of the two was the infamous “Mile High Miracle” in January 2013 in which the Joe Flacco-led Ravens marched into Denver, went toe-to-toe with Peyton Manning, and left the city of Denver victorious.
But the arguably more memorable and absurd game was the 2001 Divisional Round victory over the #1 seeded Tennessee Titans.
You remember that game, right?
Do you?
Everyone remembers when Ray Lewis figuratively ate Eddie George’s soul with his 50-yard interception return for a touchdown that all but sealed a 24-10 victory for the Ravens. But do you truly remember how lopsided the stats were in favor of Tennessee?
Let’s take a look, shall we?
In today’s pass-happy era of football, the quarterback is considered almost solely responsible for a team’s victory or defeat. Trent Dilfer was 5-16 passing for 114 total yards.
What?!?
Only five completions?
Yeah, I know. You remember that Joe Flacco only had 4 completions in the 33-14 2010 Wild Card Victory over New England. But the Ravens ran for 234 yards in that game, and Joe was somewhat hobbled. Jamal Lewis ran for only 47 yards in the 2001 victory over the Titans.
On the flip side, Steve McNair had 24 completions for 176 yards, and Eddie George had 91 yards rushing. Furthermore, the Ravens only had six (That’s right! 6!) first downs the entire game. The Titans had 23.
The Titans also owned the Ravens in time of possession. The Ravens only possessed the ball for 19:31 of game time. Comparatively, the Titans had the ball for over 43 minutes. Tennessee had 317 yards of total offense to the Ravens’ 134.
So how does a team with 5 completions, 47 rushing yards from Jamal Lewis, 6 first downs, and 134 total yards outscore a number one seed by 14 points IN THEIR HOUSE?
Where they’ve only lost 1 previous time in the entire history of their stadium?
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Titans special teams and Al Del Greco. Oh yes!!
Our good friend, Big Al.
Mr. Del Greco went 1-4 in field goal attempts during the game. There was actually an instance during the 1st half when Del Greco was just short on a field goal attempt, but an offsides penalty against the Ravens gave Del Greco another shot which he promptly banged off the right upright. So, technically speaking, Del Greco was 1-5 kicking field goals on the day.
Out of the 5 field goal attempts by Del Greco, the Titans scored 3 points.
The Ravens scored 7.
Remember Anthony Mitchell’s 90-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown early in the 4th Quarter?
That field goal was blocked by Keith Washington, who also happened to block a field goal earlier in the game. So Keith Washington blocked two Al Del Greco field goals.
Funny enough, Ravens punter Kyle Richardson had 2 punts blocked. And both were by Chris Coleman.
Wow!
The Ravens had two punts blocked by the same guy, and the Titans had two field goals blocked by the same guy. I sit here and shake my head. This game was totally and completely absurd.
I still remember Chris Berman leading off NFL Prime Time that night saying: “I can honestly say this was, by far, the weirdest Divisional Round Ever.”
Well-said, Mr. Berman.
My sentiments exactly.
