NFL PLAYOFFS: Ravens understand wild-card route

Barry Wilner | The Associated Press

1/11/2009 - 1/12/09

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Baltimore Ravens are rolling down a familiar road. It's a route they once took to a Super Bowl title. They expect it to lead to the same place.

In January 2001, the Ravens stuffed their wild-card playoff berth down the throats of four opponents to win their only NFL crown. One of the teams they beat was Tennessee.

On Saturday, the Ravens eliminated the Titans, the AFC's top seed, 13-10. That followed a 27-9 victory over Miami in the wild-card round.

Next up is another division winner — the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat Baltimore twice this season to take the AFC North.

"It's great to make our own history, our own path," linebacker Bart Scott said. "That team was great. We can't be compared to that team. That team had its own identity, and we're trying to create our own.

"We're not through yet. We'll evaluate all that stuff when it's over with."

To a man, the Ravens (13-5) believe it will be over after a successful trip to Tampa, the same place they beat the Giants for their previous Super Bowl championship.

The leader of that team was Ray Lewis. He still is: an All-Pro with viable Hall of Fame credentials and a mean streak that epitomizes the Ravens.

"We always have got one philosophy to this defense," Lewis said after Baltimore forced three turnovers and a slew of other blunders by the Titans. "If they don't score, they don't win.

"I was here in 2000. It was physical then. Both ballclubs are built kind of similar. That is why the game came down to what it was. We knew that coming into the game."

What these Ravens have more of than the previous title team is balance. Led by 40-year-old kicker Matt Stover, who made the 43-yard winning field goal with 53 seconds left, their special teams, are, well, special. Punter Sam Koch also excels, and the coverage units are solid.

And unlike in 2000, these Ravens have a more varied offense. Baltimore has a rookie quarterback who doesn't get rattled in Joe Flacco.

Flacco is unflappable, and he came through Saturday, especially with a 23-yard pass to Todd Heap on third-and-2 at the Baltimore 32 with 2:51 to go.

Still, turnovers were the key.

"It's about playing a physical football game and causing turnovers," said safety Ed Reed, the only unanimous choice for the All-Pro team. "In crunch time like this, ball security is huge on either side of the ball. It just bounced our way."

In crunch time, it often does.