Baltimore Ravens-Tennessee Titans post-game thoughts, part II

Analysis of Saturday's Ravens-Titans game:

1. Joe Flacco: Flacco barely improved on his mediocre numbers from the Miami game: from 9 of 23 for 135 yards to 11 of 22 for 161 yards. However, he made two beautiful, absolutely clutch throws: the 48-yard TD bomb to Derrick Mason on 3rd-and-13, and the 23-yard completion to Todd Heap to convert a 3rd-and-2. The first throw tied the game at 7 all, answered Tennessee's TD drive, and gave us our first real sparks of life after consecutive 3-and-outs to open the game. The second throw kept alive the drive that culminated in Matt Stover's game-winning field goal with 57 seconds remaining.

I feel like I've been saying this every week since the Giants game, but we'll need more from the rookie to knock off PIttsburgh ... On the other hand, through two playoff games, Flacco has thrown no interceptions, lost no fumbles, and he hasn't been sacked. His two counterparts, the veterans Chad Pennington and Kerry Collins, combined for 5 interceptions, 2 fumbles, and 4 sacks. That kind of disparity in mistakes on Sunday---and Ben Roethlisberger has been known to make a mistake or two himself---will need to continue.

2. Wide Receivers: Each of our "big three" came up huge at least once: I've already mentioned Mason and Heap, and Mark Clayton stuck with a floater thrown into double coverage, turning a possible INT into a 37-yard completion that set up Stover's first field goal. Clayton also caught an 8-yard pass at the Tennessee 23 to give Stover a much more manageable distance from which to kick his game winner. Marcus Smith would have had his first catch of the year---he adjusted perfectly to a tipped ball to pick up a 3rd-and-9 early, but alas, Mason was guilty of an illegal shift and the catch was nullified. Still, this group continues to fight hard, and Clayton has begun to consistently put himself in position to make plays ... even if the throws from Flacco aren't always there.

3. Offensive Line: Not their greatest game, particularly run blocking---the Titans got penetration all day long, but then again, Tennessee's front four is among the best in the league. Still, that's two playoff games without a sack, though some of that credit goes to Flacco moving just enough in the pocket to avoid the rush. Considering the circumstances---Tennessee's stadium is considered one of the loudest---not committing a false start until the fourth quarter (when they committed three) is commendable.

4. Discipline: 8 penalties, but only for 40 yards, though a couple of them wiped out positive plays for us early. Still, the Titans committed 12 penalties for 89 yards---they were pushing and shoving (and no doubt taunting) all day, and by and large the Ravens kept their heads and got back to the huddle. In the end, it was the more disciplined team that won. When was the last time we said that of a Brian Billick team?

5. Coaching: Harbaugh made the challenge of the season when he questioned whether Bo Sciafe had possession of the ball as he fell out of bounds. The catch was overturned, turning a 46-yard FG into a 51-yard FG that Rob Bironas just pushed wide left. Special teams (particularly the punting of Sam Koch and the punt returns of Jim Leonhard) continue to be a strength.

On defense, Rex Ryan and his coaching staff are dealing with a very banged-up secondary---and it looks to be even more banged up against Pittsburgh. Thus far he has covered up the weaknesses very well, perhaps as well as could be expected, given the talent level of the backups. Still, the entire group could use a refresher course on tackling. Fortunately, Willie Parker doesn't usually present us with the kinds of problems that Chris Johnson did.

As he did against Miami, Cam Cameron asked Flacco to make several deep throws, and this time he connected on a couple, though the offensive game plan is still heavily tilted toward the run---through two playoff games we've run 63 times and dropped back to throw 45 times. That's not surprising---teams that win in January run the ball, so goes the adage ... and besides, we run the ball more than any other team in the league.

Against elite defenses such as Tennessee's or Pittsburgh's, Cameron's offense hasn't been able to produce many yards or points (of course, that's what makes them elite defenses), but we have been in every one of those games. I would expect more of the same against Pittsburgh. The game will be there for us to win in the 4th quarter, as it was against Tennessee---if we can again pick up first downs and score points when the opportunity presents itself, we will succeed. Of that I am confident.