Rookie, Ravens have quite a time

NASHVILLE - The Baltimore Ravens usually win with their intimidating, hard-hitting defense, but it was their poised rookie quarterback and soon-to-be-41-year-old kicker - along with some help from the sloppy Tennessee Titans and an extremely close officiating noncall - that played the biggest part in them advancing to their first AFC Championship Game in eight years.

Joe Flacco delivered two clutch throws on a winning drive - one of which could have been negated by a delay-of-game penalty - and Matt Stover was true with a 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining, as the Ravens slugged their way to a 13-10 victory over the stunned Titans yesterday.

The kick silenced the crowd of 69,143 at LP Field and ended the Titans' season, a campaign in which they opened with 10 straight wins and threatened to match the New England Patriots' undefeated campaign of 2007.

Next Sunday, the Ravens will be on the road again to face the victor of today's game between San Diego and Pittsburgh.

While on their way to the Super Bowl XXXV championship, the Ravens also beat the Titans in the divisional round at Nashville. So while it was a familiar, sad tune for the Titans in the Music City, the Ravens were rocking to the beat.

"We have a bigger vision," said veteran receiver Derrick Mason.

Yesterday's game came as advertised - low scoring, two powerful forces colliding - with Ravens coach John Harbaugh calling it a "knock-down, drag-out battle." It also had a bit of controversy, on the Ravens' final drive.

The score was tied at 10 with 2:51 remaining when the Ravens faced third and 2 from their 32. Flacco was in the shotgun when the play clock appeared to run out before the ball was snapped. Yet the officials did not throw a penalty flag, and Flacco avoided pressure, moved to his right, and connected with tight end Todd Heap on a 23-yard pass up the right seam.

A Willis McGahee 11-yard run, and another clutch delivery from Flacco - 8 yards to Mason - helped move the Ravens in position for Stover's winning kick.

After the game, referee Terry McAulay explained that the back judge is responsible for the delay-of-game call, and he is instructed to look at the play clock, then to the ball. If the snap has not occurred by the time the back judge looks at the ball, a penalty should be called. At LP Field, the play clock is high on the scoreboard.

"So there is going to be a natural delay from zero to getting to the ball," McAulay said. "When he gets to the ball, if it is being snapped, we don't call it."

The Titans could not have challenged the noncall by back judge Robert Lawing on instant replay.

It wasn't the only call that had Titans players upset. They also felt Flacco should have been called for a safety midway through the fourth quarter when he came close to stepping out of the end zone. That would have cut the Ravens' lead to 10-9 and given the ball back to Tennessee.

While those calls didn't go the Titans' way, the AFC's best club during the 2008 regular season also didn't help itself.

Despite holding a 34:07-25:53 advantage in time-of-possession and outgaining the Ravens, 391-211, they were hurt badly by three turnovers, two of which took sure-fire points off the scoreboard - a LenDale White fumble at the Ravens' 17 with 25 seconds left in the first half, and a fumble by tight end Alge Crumpler at the Ravens' 6 with 8:57 left in regulation.

The Titans, who lost lightning-legged rookie running back Chris Johnson to an ankle injury midway through second quarter, also had 12 penalties (for 89 yards).

"This was obviously a very, very difficult loss, one that was probably a result of our own self-inflicted mistakes," said dejected coach Jeff Fisher.

Meanwhile, Flacco, who will turn 24 Friday, directed the Ravens' offense like a seasoned veteran when it counted on the final drive.

"You're on the sideline and see that you get the chance, and that's all you can ask for," Flacco said. "It's the same as any other drive."

Flacco's poise was noticed by his teammates.

"You read his eyes and there is nothing to read. You are looking at him and you are thinking, 'Does anything faze this guy?' " said Heap. "People have been asking me if he is going to be different in the playoffs, if this is going to be too big for him. They're not. He has been the same way since the first day of minicamps. Every game, he has had that demeanor about him on the field and off the field - you know he is confident and that just exudes confidence throughout the huddle."

Flacco finished 11 of 22 for 161 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, delivering some key downfield strikes - such as his 48-yard touchdown bomb to Mason to make it 7-7 late in the first quarter, or his 37-yard heave to Mark Clayton late in the third quarter to set up a Stover field goal to make it 10-7.

While Flacco proved to be a rookie playing well beyond his years, Stover represented the opposite end of the spectrum - a 19-year veteran who still has the youthful pop in his right kicking leg. His 43-yard winning kick was never in question.

"That's probably the calmest time in my mind, when Matt is anywhere near the 30-yard line taking a field goal, because I've seen him do it so many times," Heap said. "I think everyone in this locker room has that confidence that when he's under pressure, it doesn't faze him. We know we can count on him in those situations."

"One more to tack on a fabulous career," added Harbaugh.