Ravens’ formula works to perfection

BALTIMORE – If style points and offensive fireworks meant anything, the Baltimore Ravens wouldn’t stand a chance of making it to the AFC championship.

Playing defense and protecting the football are what they do best, and that formula led to a 20-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday, putting Baltimore in the AFC title game against the New England Patriots.

“I always say there is a right way to do things, there is a wrong way to do things and there is just the Ravens’ way of doing things,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “It wasn’t pretty but we’re not really a pretty team. We got the W and now it’s on to the AFC championship.”

The Ravens (13-4) had almost as many punts (nine) as first downs (11) and scored only three points over the final 46 minutes. But Baltimore wasn’t penalized once, didn’t commit a turnover, intercepted rookie quarterback T.J. Yates three times and totaled four takeaways – two in the first quarter and two over the final eight minutes.

“If we didn’t get any of those turnovers it would probably be a different game,” Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said.

Baltimore visits New England next Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis on Feb. 5.

The Patriots lead the series 6-1, but Baltimore’s lone win came in the postseason.

“We don’t play the game until next week,” Suggs said. “I’m going to enjoy tonight.”

Veteran defensive stars Ed Reed and Ray Lewis led a unit that yielded only one touchdown and came up with the big play when one was needed. Lewis had a team-high seven tackles and Reed sealed the victory with the Ravens’ fourth takeaway, an interception near the goal line in the closing minutes.

“It’s winning by any means necessary,” Reed said. “That’s what it’s got to be.”

The Ravens finished 9-0 at home, but this one was anything but easy. Baltimore led 17-3 after the first quarter, and interceptions by Lardarius Webb and Reed in the final 7 1/2 minutes helped the advantage stand up.

Reed has eight interceptions in 10 playoff games, few bigger than the last one.

“You can’t say enough about him,” Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson said. “His big plays always seem to happen when you need one.”

One week earlier, in the first playoff game in Texans history, Houston didn’t commit a turnover in a 31-10 home rout of Cincinnati. Against Baltimore, the Texans couldn’t hold onto the ball and quickly fell behind by two touchdowns.

Arian Foster ran for 132 yards, the first player to rush for 100 yards or more against the Ravens in the postseason. But Yates’ three interceptions matched the total he had in six regular-season games.

“I can’t have the turnovers,” Yates said. “If we don’t turn the ball over like that, we have a chance to win. And we still had a chance to win. If I’d done a better job of protecting the football, I really think we’d have come out with the win today. We did a good job of moving the ball and we had some big plays, but you can’t have that many picks.”

Webb’s second interception came with 7 1/2 minutes left and the Ravens clinging to 17-13 advantage. Baltimore moved 45 yards to get a field goal by Billy Cundiff with 2:52 left.

Houston’s Danieal Manning muffled the record crowd of 71,547 by taking the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Baltimore 41. Yates then completed two straight passes, and after the Ravens stuffed Foster on a third-and-1, Rackers kicked a 40-yard field goal.

Baltimore failed to get a first down on its first possession and had to punt. Jacoby Jones inexplicably attempted to field the bouncing ball at the 13-yard line, was immediately hit by Cary Williams and lost the ball, which was recovered by Baltimore rookie Jimmy Smith at the 2.

On third down, Joe Flacco threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kris Wilson – the tight end’s first catch of the season.

After a Houston punt, Flacco completed a 21-yard pass to Anquan Boldin to set up a 48-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead.

Later in the first quarter, Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb stepped in front of Andre Johnson for an interception at the Houston 35. Five plays later, Flacco tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Boldin.