The Drive

“This drive is going to be talked about [by Ravens fans] for a long long time.”

Color commentator, Cris Collingsworth uttered these words minutes after wide receiver Torrey Smith hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco. The Baltimore Ravens would hold on to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-20. Leading to the Ravens' first season sweep of the Steelers, and eventually, their first AFC North title in five years.

Somehow this defining moment in Ravens history has become lost in the shuffle. First, lost to the Ravens' 2012 playoff run, which is looked at as Joe Flacco’s shining moment. Second, Joe Flacco’s inconsistencies make him an undesirable character to Ravens fans. Finally, because of the drafting of quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2018.

Lamar Jackson replaced an injured Joe Flacco during the 2018 season. The Ravens were 4-5 and had not made the playoffs since 2014. Head coach John Harbaugh was on the verge of being fired when Lamar Jackson came in and led the Ravens to 6 victories out of their last 7 games. Leading the Ravens to their first AFC North Title since 2012. The Joe Flacco era was over in Baltimore.

Joe Flacco has been regarded as a below-average quarterback who only played “elite football” during the 2012 NFL postseason. Flacco is underappreciated among fans and NFL personalities. During Flacco’s 11 ½ year stint as the starting quarterback for the Ravens, nobody was tougher, more consistent, or more durable. Flacco won 96 games while completing more than 60% of his passes. He threw for more than 38,000 yards, 200 touchdowns, and he led 24 game-winning drives.

When Flacco was drafted in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL draft, he immediately faced three challenges: First, overcoming the aftermath of Brian Billick (Head Coach) Era. Second, improving a weak offense, and third, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following the disappointment of a 5-11 season in 2007, Billick (1999-2007) was fired. He led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win in 2000, but he was never able to improve the offense as he promised. Billick produced a Ravens offense that would finish in the top ten in yards or points once in 2003.

From 2001-2007, the Ravens produced only 4 winning seasons, including a then franchise-record 13-win season in 2006. The Ravens advanced to the playoffs twice but were eliminated in their initial games against the Titans and Colts, respectively. When John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco came on the scene, the Ravens lacked an identity and had not won a playoff game since 2001.

Ben Roethlisberger was drafted in 2004 to begin a new era. He led the Steelers to division titles in 2004, 2005, and 2007. Mike Tomlin was hired in 2007 and with Roethlisberger, they would lead the Steelers to a 10-win season. Despite a first-round playoff exit, the Steelers knew their identity – a great defensive team led by Ben Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore (2008-2011)

Harbaugh returned the Ravens to a defensive-minded, run-first team, led by linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed. Even on a short leash, Flacco could use his big arm to make tight throws to wide receiver Derrick Mason and tight end Todd Heap. From 2008-2010, the Ravens won 36 games, but narrowly missed winning two division titles in 2008 and 2010 with two late-season losses to the Steelers. However, they kept their resolve to win 4 playoff games (against Miami, Tennessee, New England, and Kansas City), all on the road. The Ravens had become a legit Super Bowl contender. However, the Steelers managed to end their seasons in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

2008, in the AFC Championship, Troy Polamalu intercepted Flacco and returned it for a 40-yard touchdown leading to a win 23-14. Two years later in the Divisional playoffs with the game tied at 24, rookie wide receiver Antonio Brown caught a 58-yard pass to convert a 3rd and 19 to set up a first down and goal. Two plays later, Rashard Mendenhall scored, leading to a 31-24 defeat.

2011 Season

Opening day 2011, the Ravens and Steelers first met. The Ravens forced 7 turnovers and won convincingly 35-7. In week 8, the Ravens fell behind 24-3 to the Arizona Cardinals, putting themselves in danger of losing a game they could not afford. Joe Flacco and Anquan Boldin, 2010s major trade acquisition, caught fire and helped the Ravens to a 30-27 win that kept their hopes of an AFC North title alive. At 5-2, this Ravens team was potentially different due to their ability to come from behind.

Even so, the difference was 2nd round draft pick, wide receiver Torrey Smith. Smith could stretch the field and keep defenses from crowding the middle where Boldin did his best work. Opposing defenses would have to respect Smith's speed, which opened the running game, and allowed the other wide receiver's room to get open. After their huge come from behind victory against the Cardinals, the Ravens knew their greatest test was just up ahead.

Week 9, Sunday Night Football @ Pittsburgh

First place was on the line and Pittsburgh was up to the challenge. Unlike week 1, the Steeler's defense would not be caught off guard and slow to respond to the Ravens offense. The Steelers defense ranked 2nd in the NFL and Roethlisberger was now in mid-season form.

Baltimore played well at the beginning of the game jumping out to a 16-6 lead. However, the ghosts of last season’s playoff loss to the Steelers appeared as Roethlisberger would figure out the Ravens defense. Outside of a fantastic interception by Terrell Suggs, where he stopped a promising Steelers drive, the Ravens defense would have no answers for the Steeler's offense in the 2nd half. More than halfway through the 4th quarter, the Steelers took the lead going up 20-16. On a drive that the Ravens absolutely needed, they would crumble. James Harrison, Pittsburgh’s best pass rusher, completely blew up their 2nd down effort by pressuring Flacco into an incompletion. On 3rd down, Flacco ran out of the pocket to escape pressure, but he had nowhere to throw as the ball fell to the turf.

The ball would go back to Pittsburgh, and they only needed a few more first downs to seal the victory. As a Ravens fan, I thought, “I can’t believe we [the Ravens] are going to lose to Pittsburgh again.” The feeling became more pronounced when Roethlisberger completed a pass on 3rd down for a first down. Pittsburgh now only needed one more first down. The Ravens defense stiffened, stopping a run on first down and slowing down a screen pass on second down. On third down, Roethlisberger tried to take advantage of a perceived mismatch with linebacker Jameel McClain guarding running back Mewelde Moore. However, the play resulted in an incompletion.

A delay of game penalty took the Steelers out of field goal range causing them to punt. It was fair caught at the 8-yard line. 92 yards away from the go-ahead touchdown, this was the moment the Ravens had waited for.

Cris Collingsworth said it perfectly, “Joe Flacco has won a lot of playoff games over the years, but where has it not happened? Against these [Pittsburgh Steelers]. And a series sweep would be huge.” A few moments later, he added, “This is one long road against one great defense.”

Joe Flacco broke the huddle. He looks over and sees Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, Brett Keisel, Ryan Clark, and Ike Taylor. Flacco hears the crowd roar to peak levels as he and the rest of the Ravens understand the gravity of the moment. The first play ends in an incompletion as James Harrison creates pressure off the edge nearly causing a game-ending turnover.

For the remainder of the drive, the Ravens offensive line would not have another issue. They picked up every exotic blitz and kept Pittsburgh’s fearsome pass rushers out of Joe Flacco’s pass pocket. With Flacco having time to throw, he picked apart Pittsburgh’s secondary with precise passes to Anquan Boldin and little-used LaQuan Williams. Even when it came to a fourth down, Flacco calmly completed a pass across the middle to keep the drive going. With the tension mounting, one could look at the Ravens sideline and understand how much this game meant. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Jameel McClain, and Haloti Ngata watched every play with a curious intensity.

When the Ravens arrived past mid-field, the pressure rattled the Ravens. On second down, Flacco read Pittsburgh’s defense correctly and threw a perfect potential touchdown pass to Smith, but he misjudged it on his diving attempt. Collingsworth, moments later chimed in, “Gotta make that play. Got to make that play. That’s a championship moment right there.” Then added, “Flacco read it beautifully and Smith just missed it.”

On 3rd down, Flacco kept his composure and threw a completion for a first down to Boldin. However, a few plays later near-disaster occurred when Boldin dropped an easy reception on 2nd down that would have placed Baltimore just outside of the 10-yard line. Collingsworth again destroyed the Ravens' receivers, "Joe Flacco is doing a great job on this drive and his receivers are completely letting him down.”

Nonetheless, on the very next play, Flacco confidently went back to Torrey Smith to change the course of the Ravens season. Smith beat cornerback William Gay to the corner of the endzone, and like an egg falling quietly into a basket, the ball fell into Smith’s hands. Play-by-Play announcer, Al Michael’s captured it beautifully, “Flacco again protected well. To the endzone he goes, and it’s caught for the touchdown by Torrey Smith!”

Flacco, for a moment, was getting the respect he deserved as Collingsworth said, "And for [Joe] Flacco that was sensational.” Al Michaels would go on it add, “That drive. That drive was gigantic. In so many ways. Because this will give them a sweep of the season series.” Delivering in the clutch was giving Baltimore the respect and confidence that had alluded them.

The Aftermath

After falling to Seattle, the next week, the Ravens still managed a 12-4 record. Pittsburgh too finished 12-4, but because of their week 9 defeat, Baltimore would win the AFC North. After escaping Houston in the AFC Divisional round, the Ravens traveled to New England to take on the best team in the AFC, Tom Brady, and the Patriots. The Ravens played gallantly. Flacco again put together another memorable performance. Flacco nearly led the Ravens to the Super Bowl, but with less than two minutes remaining wide receiver, Lee Evans had the ball ripped from his hands after he failed to secure it in the endzone. Two plays later, the Ravens were eliminated after kicker Billy Cundiff missed a field goal that would have sent the game into overtime.

The disappointment of that AFC Championship game in New England helped Baltimore complete their journey the next year as they won their 2nd Super Bowl. However, that never would have happened had it not been for Baltimore’s come from behind win at Pittsburgh in week 9 in a hostile environment.