Ravens stuff Colts 24-9
BY BARRY WILNER Associated Press
Monday, January 07, 2013
1/07/13 at 5:47 AM
BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Ravens want one long final ride for Ray Lewis. Having disposed of Andrew Luck and the Colts, they now face a more imposing challenge.
Next up, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
The Ravens delayed Lewis' retirement for at least another week by defeating Indianapolis 24-9 on Sunday in an AFC wild-card game.
Baltimore (11-6) plays at top-seeded Denver (13-3) next Saturday.
The Broncos beat the Ravens 34-17 three weeks ago.
"I wanted Denver, because they beat us," said Anquan Boldin, who set a franchise record with 145 yards receiving, including the clinching touchdown, on Sunday. "We'll make it different."
The Ravens are in pursuit of their first NFL title since the 2000 season, when Lewis won the first of two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Lewis, who made 13 tackles Sunday, ended his last home game in Baltimore at fullback, of all things, for the final kneel-down. He then went into a short version of his trademark dance before being mobbed by teammates.
He followed with a victory lap, his right arm covered by a brace and held high in salute to the fans after playing for the first time since tearing his right triceps on Oct. 14 against Dallas.
"My only focus was to come in and get my team a win. Nothing else was planned," the 37-year-old Lewis said. "I knew how it started, but I never knew how it would end here in Baltimore.
"To go the way it did today, I wouldn't change nothing."
Manning was 2-0 in the postseason against Baltimore while with the Colts.
The loss ended the Colts' turnaround season in which they went from 2-14 to the playoffs in coach Chuck Pagano's first year in Indianapolis (11-6). Pagano missed 12 weeks while undergoing treatment for leukemia and returned last week.
He was upbeat following the defeat to the team he served as an assistant coach for four years.
"The foundation is set, and we said we were going to build one on rock and not on sand," Pagano said.
Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who went 9-3 as interim coach, was absent Sunday after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. Pagano said Arians "is fine" and would stay overnight for observation before rejoining the Colts on Monday.
Baltimore's suddenly revitalized defense never let standout rookie QB Luck get comfortable.
"It's great making the playoffs, but you can't make mistakes (like we did) and expect to beat a playoff team," said Luck.
Original Print Headline: Ravens stuff Colts
Associated Images:
Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne is tackled by Baltimore cornerback Cary Williams (left), strong safety Bernard Pollard and inside linebacker Ray Lewis (top) during Sunday's wild-card playoff game in Baltimore. NICK WASS / Associated Press
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis celebrates after a play during Sunday's game in Baltimore. PATRICK SEMANSKY / AP
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