Just Win Baby- The Ravens Edition

I'm well aware that the famous moniker I used for my blog title is sole property of the Oakland Raiders and Al Davis. But I'm stealing it today. Sue me. It fits. Just Win Baby! And the Ravens did just that, win and they are in, against the Raiders, no less.

The Ravens went to the Black Hole knowing what was ahead of them. The Raiders have played the party crasher role the entire season, beating the likes of the Eagles, Steelers, Bengals and Broncos. Three out of the 4 teams could have used that win to either make the playoffs (Steelers, Broncos), or seal their division title (Eagles). The Raiders came into Sundays game with the similar game plan- to knock the Ravens out of playoff contention.

Charlie Frye was the starting QB for the Raiders. I've seen Frye before. Frye was a starting QB for the Cleveland Browns before he was traded to Seattle a few years ago. So I wasn't scared of him, really. It's Charlie Frye for crying out loud. But I was wrong, Frye came in and the Raiders offense had a great game plan. Spread the Ravens out and throw quick passes in between the zone. Frye went 18/25 for 180 yards and a TD before half time. This wasn't the Charlie Frye I remembered...... My palms were sweating and the anxiety kicked in.

Then the unthinkable happened. Frye got hurt right before halftime and never returned. Here comes JaMarcus Russell. The Raiders #1 overall pick, turned #3 QB. Russell showed some early success against the Ravens but eventually let the pressure get to him. He was a part of 2 turnovers. One was an interception and the other a fumble.

On a day when the Ravens could get anything going on offense, the savior of the day came from an unlikely hero- RB Willis McGahee. McGahee had 16 carries for 167 yards and accounted for all 3 of the Ravens scores. The highlight of the day was McGahee's "slap my b*tch up" move he put on Hiram Eugene for a 77 yard TD run. By far the best stiff arm TD I've seen thus far in the 2009 season (okay, AP has had a few, but let me show Willis some love)



Along with the good play from undrafted rookie LB Dannelle Ellerbe (INT, recovered fumble), the Ravens came out with a victory and a playoff berth for the 2nd time in as many years. Was it pretty?! No. Did the Ravens have "style points" with their victory? Of course not. But do they ever?? Ray Lewis said it the best when he told reporters,

"In my 14 years, I've never had a pretty road to the playoffs. It's always been a grind, but there's no better thing than having that grind and getting to advance. I like where we're positioned right now, and I like all the adversity we've gone through. I just like seeing this team fight."

Truer words have never been spoken.

Just Win Baby!!!! The Ravens did just that. Next up: New England!