In consecutive possession, he led a 12-game march that culminated in a field goal, then an 82-yard drive that ended with him cutting off the Titans’ defense in a 48-yard run that was both an exclamation point and a touchdown. . The sprint tied the score at the end of the second quarter and served to realize that these Ravens are different from some of the past. They had so many chances to blink or give in this season, whether it was three consecutive losses and four defeats in five games in the middle of the season, or the COVID-19 spurt that served as a revolving door to their locker room, leading players and Away.
The ability to overcome these things, as well as an initial deficit against an opponent who had his way against them in recent games, was at the forefront of coach John Harbaugh’s mind afterwards. Normally, Harbaugh makes uncompromising comparisons about previous teams, games or players, but on Sunday, he stepped out of his comfort zone and called Jackson’s touchdown race the best he has ever seen by a quarterback, so he described the game as his “best win ever”. Remember that Harbaugh has 140 career wins, 11 of them in the playoffs, including one in the Super Bowl.
“It had a lot of meaning,” said Harbaugh, “for our boys and for us together. The things we spent together this year and how our boys responded, how our leaders led and how our boys stayed together. All the things that really matter, all the things that are not always counted on the scoreboard, but are counted in life, that you remember for the rest of your life. “
The Ravens took the lead that they would not lose to start the second half, scoring 77 yards in 10 moves. Jackson was behind the wheel, completing each of his four passing attempts while running 34 yards in four races. He gained 23 yards in a third to two run, then found his defender 9 yards in another third for 2. JK Dobbins culminated in the march with a 4 yard TD run to make 17-10.
Tennessee has managed only one field goal in the last six possessions (and three quarters). Usually relying on running back Derrick Henry, who won his second consecutive racing title this season and became only the eighth back in NFL history to pass 2,000 racing yards in one season, they were unable to get him going. He ended up with just 40 yards on 18 loaded, the second lowest post-season result of his career. In his previous two games against the Ravens, he ran for 195 and 133 yards.
“They had a plan and they carried it out,” said Henry. “All the credit goes to those guys, you know, to stop the race. The last two times we were successful and they had a plan to make sure we weren’t successful, and that’s what they did.”
At any other time, the Baltimore defense would be history. He closed a Titans team that had scored at least 30 points in 10 games this season, reaching 40 or more on five occasions. Kept Tennessee with the lowest low of the season with 13 points and only 209 yards and first 12 runs.