The Ravens were born of this victory, in control of another win on a big stage that would move the momentum of the AFC North, when linebacker Ray Lewis began working the sidelines with a message for his defensive teammates."Hunting, shooting, hunting! ' hollered. "Don't stop huntin' until you have them on your wall!"
It was inspirational, Mark Lewis-a vivid memory of his presence. Yet for all that Lewis could do on the sidelines, could do none of it on the field. This night, this 16-6 win over the 49ers, belonged to a defence on the performance of many others.
Who could have guessed, in one of two games that Lewis was forced to miss out with an injured finger, the Ravens would tie the franchise record with nine sacks in a game? But this is not enough to send a message to Baltimore's capacity without Lewis in the lineup.
Send a message of what it will be like when he is back.
"Everyone thinks that we are a different defense without Ray Lewis, and we are," said linebacker Terrell Suggs, speaking on the set of "total access" by NFL Network. "But we are still a great defense. We are still a hell of a defence ".
The Ravens were a lot of confusion at times this season. They've fallen in ways more frustrating for most unexpected teams: the Titans in week 2, the Jaguars in week 7 and Seahawks in week 10. The collective record of those three teams is 12-18.
And yet, they got the signature victories in times of enormous, as two wins against the Steelers, as the success of last week against the Bengals, as this most recent against the 49ers. All four of them came with a huge reflector; all four victories occurred when most needed them.
Baltimore was a beast in big games--even if it was a disappointment in smaller ones. Good news: in the playoffs, there is no such thing as a small. And here's why this team of Ravens is proving, despite their inconsistencies, they will be a very dangerous team this postseason.
For all those who have hated on the Ravens for their letdowns lame, you can't discount what they did in three of the last four weeks. And you can't discount that they have done with their biggest Communicator on the sideline.
Yes, quarterback Joe Flacco still needs to spend these final five weeks of work on her consistency. Yes, the Ravens finally get Lewis back in the mix, despite the successes of the team in the last two weeks. Yes, they must also keep alive momentum against some opponents who do not provide the same motivation as the Steelers and Bengals or 49ers.
But this is all about? Those are the three concerns?
"I mean, obviously we think we might be a little better, but as the season went, we feel great about it, and we just continue to do so," Flaccus said.
This defense is loaded with players able to orchestrate a championship race. Lewis. Suggs. Ed Reed. Cory Redding. Haloti Ngata. Jameel McClain. They had the hard, deep, clutch must put themselves in any game, from this point forward.
If nothing else, they've shown this season that their biggest problem is not the chance to win big games-but rather their ability to lose those easier. This is obviously a problem.
But when the postseason begins, it helps to have a team built with a low ceiling. It helps to have a team with a stranger. The Ravens are still losing all games this year with their toughest opponents. Even with their leader on the sideline.
If there is a lesson of this need for Ravens team to realize how it continues its journey toward the playoffs, could be found in the words of Lewis during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. If you are able to digest those words if they translate to the field, the Ravens will be a difficult team to beat.
Don't stop huntin' until you have them on your wall.
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