Baltimore Wins Tough Game Over Raiders, Earn Wild Card Berth

NFL News - January 4th, 2010 - Written by Bryan

Entering the final week of the regular season, the playoff scenarios for the AFC seemed numerous and complicated, but for the Baltimore Ravens it was simple; win and they're in. With a stellar day from RB Willis McGahee, the Ravens defeated the Oakland Raiders 21-13. In doing so, Baltimore secured a wild-card playoff berth and a chance at a Super Bowl.

McGahee was the cornerstone in the eight-point win as he accumulated 167 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He had a 77-yard score in which he threw a violent stiff-arm on Raiders' DB Hiram Eugene which cleared the way to the end zone.

"Willis took over the game the way he ran," Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said to the AP after the game. "I think our offensive line deserves a lot of credit. Obviously there were holes, but this guy was running north and south. He was powerful, he was explosive, and I think he's worked really hard all season to have this kind of game."

The Ravens' situation on Sunday mirrored that of last season, in which Baltimore had to defeat Jacksonville in the regular season finale to secure a playoff spot. Just like last season, the Ravens came through when it mattered the most.

"In my 14 years, I've never had a pretty road to the playoffs," Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said to the AP following the game. "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."

The Ravens got a fight from the 5-11 Raiders. Oakland entered the game with QB Charlie Frye, who on the day completed 18 of 25 pass attempts, good for 180 yards and a TD. However, Frye would go out of the game in the second half due to an ankle injury.

With Frye out, Oakland then sent in embattled QB JaMarcus Russell, but was unable to make the plays necessary to spearhead a comeback.

Russell has struggled all season and Sunday against the Ravens was no different. In the second half, Russell threw a critical interception to Baltimore linebacker Dannell Ellerbe. The interception eventually led to a McGahee touchdown, making the score 21-13. Russell then fumbled inside the red-zone with 9:42 left in the fourth quarter, eliminating a possible scoring opportunity.

The Ravens took the ball back, and behind McGahee, were able to take enough time off the clock to prevent an Oakland comeback.

"We're in the same position as last year where we had to win the last couple of games," McGahee told the AP in the post-game interview. "Once we get in there, we know we can do damage, and now we're in there."

The Raiders have now lost at least 11 games for seven consecutive seasons, the worst seven year run in NFL history.

Despite the valiant effort, Raiders' Head Coach Tom Cable may have coached his last game in the silver and black.

"I'm disappointed because we didn't win," Cable said. "I thought we were going to. And yet I feel excited about what's coming back. But there's got to be some things added and tweaked and fixed."

Entering the game, the Ravens were a 10-point favorite to defeat the Raiders, but their eight-point victory did not cover the NFL Betting Lines for the game. The over/under for the contest was installed at 39. The game total was only 34 points, going to the under.

Baltimore's season continues next week as they travel to New England in the wild-card round of the 2009 NFL Playoffs. These two teams met back in week four of the season and in a tightly contested match-up, the Patriots defeated the Ravens 27-21. New England has been installed as an early four-point favorite.