Ravens Beat Broncos 21-3

B A L T I M O R E, Dec. 31, 2000 -- — The Baltimore Ravens delivered an emphaticmessage to the Denver Broncos and the rest of the NFL today: Weare for real.

The Ravens shut down the league’s second-ranked offense and gota bizarre touchdown from former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe ina 21-3 wild-card rout of Denver. The Broncos were held without atouchdown for the first time in 28 postseason games over a span ofthree decades.

“We were like a pack of deer being chased by wolves,” Ravensdefensive tackle Tony Siragusa said after they held the Broncos to177 yards, 233 below their average.

Baltimore, in its first playoff game in 23 years, had five sacksand held rookie Mike Anderson, who gained 1,500 yards rushing thisseason, to 40 on 15 carries.

“I didn’t really believe they ever saw a defense like ours,”added middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the star of a unit that allowedan NFL-record 165 points and had four regular-season shutouts.

For Baltimore, the long wait for another playoff game was worthit. In winning the first postseason game in this city since 1977,when the Colts lost to Oakland, the Ravens earned a trip toNashville to play the Tennessee Titans, who edged them for the AFCCentral crown.

‘Emotions Were High After 23 Years’

“The emotions were high after 23 years,” Lewis said. “I was 2 the last time there was a playoff game here.”

As for the Titans, whose only loss this season at AdelphiaColiseum was to Baltimore, Lewis added, “We know it is atournament and that is our mindset. A lot of people said to get tothe Super Bowl, you have to go through Tennessee.”

While the Ravens head south, the Broncos head home with theirfirst postseason loss since 1996. They won seven straight on theirway to Super Bowl titles in 1997 and ’98, then didn’t make theplayoffs last year.

“When you come into a place like this and you make mistakes,it’s hard to overcome it,” said quarterback Gus Frerotte, fillingin for injured Brian Griese. “And we made mistakes.”

But it’s questionable whether even John Elway would havemastered the Ravens’ defense and the tricky wind that gusted to 27mph. Frerotte didn’t complete a pass until his first attempt of thesecond quarter, and most of his throws were off target. Ahalf-dozen others were dropped, and he finished 13-for 28 for 124yards.

They also were victimized by Sharpe’s stunner and Jamal Lewis’ big day: 110 yards on 30 carries and two touchdowns.

Sharpe’s Strange Touchdown

Sharpe’s strange touchdown in the second quarter made it 14-3and effectively ended Denver’s chances. Trent Dilfer’s pass in the flat was bobbled by Lewis, then glanced off the arms of Denvercornerback Terrell Buckley. Sharpe, who spent the first 10 seasonsof his outstanding career in Denver, caught the carom and headed tothe sideline.

With crushing blocks by Sam Gash and Patrick Johnson freeing theway, he sped 58 yards for the score.

“I was basically getting ready to chase T-Buck,” Sharpe said.“But the ball floated in the air and when I got it, I thought Icould get 10 yards. But the end zone kept getting closer andcloser.”

Combining such big plays with the dominating defense that forcedDenver into seven three-and-outs was enough to keep a PSINetStadium record crowd of 69,638 in full throat in support of theteam owner Art Modell brought to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996.

“The Modell family was a part of the fabric of society inCleveland. I didn’t want to leave. I had no choice,” Modell toldCBS-TV. Asked if time will heal the wounds, he said, “If I live to102, maybe. Not completely. There will always be people there thatmark me as a man who betrayed the community.”

Beloved in Baltimore

But he is beloved in Baltimore. So, for the moment, is JamalLewis, the rookie counterpart to Mike Anderson. One of them isexpected to win The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Yearaward, which will be announced Monday.

“That’s an individual award, and I’m into team awards” saidLewis, who rushed for 1,364 yards this season. He scored on a1-yard dive after his 20-yard dash got Baltimore close to the goalline.

Late in the third quarter, he burst through college roommate AlWilson’s tackle and a pile of other players for a 27-yard score,making it 21-3.

“This team can go a long ways, just play like we know how toplay, just go out and attack other teams,” he said.

Denver, which also was missing star runner Terrell Davis, gotits only points on Jason Elam’s 31-yard field goal in the firsthalf.

The Ravens, winners of eight straight, haven’t allowed a100-yard rusher in 34 games. They had five sacks, three of them byMichael McCrary, and Ray Lewis had an interception.

Now they have a date in Tennessee.