Colts vs. Ravens: Strategies for Winning
Jan. 8, 2007 — -- A quick breakdown of the Indianapolis-Baltimore divisional playoff game.
The Ravens will win if ...
1. They keep the ball in the hands of tailback Jamal Lewis and allow him to dictate the offensive tempo. Despite all the credit afforded Steve McNair, the quarterback only had 16 touchdown passes, just the 15th most among the quarterbacks who started all 16 games, and Lewis remains the centerpiece. Lewis isn't the same guy who rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2003, as evidenced by his 3.7-yard average since then, but he can still hammer defenses between the tackles and could maul the undersized Indianapolis front seven. Lewis had just one 100-yard performance in 2006, but there were eight games in which he registered 20 or more carries and the Ravens were 8-0 in those contests.
2. The Baltimore defense gets Peyton Manning moving his feet in the pocket. The Ravens were second in the league in sacks (60) and first in sack yards (418), and the unit featured five players with five or more sacks, led by end Trevor Pryce, with 13. The Baltimore edge rushers -- Adalius Thomas, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott -- are all dangerous hybrid-type defenders and the Indianapolis tackles will be tested. But Pryce is also effective when he moves inside, particularly on third down, where he will be matched up against the Colts' guards. On those occasions, the guards might need some assistance from center Jeff Saturday to help keep the very active Pryce out of the Indianapolis backfield.
3. Tight end Todd Heap can get up the seam against the Indianapolis safeties and make some plays in the middle of the field. Heap can also be a factor in the red zone, where he is a very clever receiver who knows how to uncover himself in tight spots. Heap is the guy to whom McNair most often looks to bail him out, especially on third down. Of the tight end's 73 receptions in the regular season, 46 were for first downs or touchdowns. The Ravens like to move the versatile Heap around, including playing him out in the slot, to help create mismatches. If the Colts are forced to bring free safety Bob Sanders down into the box to help support against the run, it will mean more room in which Heap can operate.
