Absolutely the coldest playoff game I’ve covered this year – but I’m betting it plays out to be the loudest… Crowd is completely amped. Interesting stat – the last time Peyton Manning lost to the Baltimore Ravens, Bill Clinton was still in office – yep, it’s been that long… Seriously loud and we’re still twenty minutes from kickoff – just announced in the Press Room that with the wind chill the on-field temperature is two-degrees – roughly the same temperature as my ex-wife.
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1st Quarter
Here’s a good sign, Broncos win the toss and defer to the defense… maybe they’re trying to keep Peyton warm on the sideline. Doesn’t really matter – Flacco can’t move it past the 38 and Sam Koch makes his debut as the Baltimore Ravens punter. Might not be something he’s really jazzed about right now – Trindon Holliday takes the punt and returns it 90-yards as 76000+ go absolutely crazy…. did I mention it was about to get LOUD?
Holliday’s 90-yard touchdown on the punt turns out to be the longest in NFL history. Manning hasn’t even touched the ball and the Broncos are straight up seven on top… Flacco and Co. will try again from their own six.
As quick as it turned for Denver, Ravens quiet it just as quickly – Flacco hooks up on a huge 59-yard strike to Torrey Smith and before the buffet’s even digested the Ravens come back to tie it up. Here comes everybody’s favorite T-shirt
Broncos ready to make a statement from their own 25 – statement made – we might be in trouble. Manning’s pass to Decker gets tipped, Ravens CB Corey Graham wins the lotto and it’s a 39-yard touchdown for Baltimore. Not exactly the way you wanted this to play out is it? Crowd looks like someone just shot their dog…. Broncos Take Two from the 26 trailing 14-7.
Ok, this is a little more like it – nerves die down and Manning’s moving it – huge strike to Tamme nets 21, follow up to Decker adds 13 and before you know it Denver hits the Ravens 17. Time to go old school – Manning gets perfect protection in the pocket and turns to Brandon Stokley in the right corner of the end zone – that woke them up. Four touchdown in the opening minutes of the first quarter – Welcome to the NFL Playoffs…..
Now that things have calmed a bit off Colfax, we’ve got a game – Flacco faces the noise starting at the Ravens 17. So much for everybody that said this was gonna be a cakewalk – Ravens came to play. 6 of 8 for 103-yards and Flacco closes the quarter at the 48…. Broncos D seems to be loosing their swagger…
2nd Quarter
Quarter opens on the positive for Denver - third and two comes up short and the Ravens are forced to punt – doubt they’ll be looking for Holliday. Ball falls dead at the 20 and Manning gets set for his fourth possession of the afternoon. Evidentially not his lucky number – drive stalls a quarter-mile short of midfield and it’s back in Baltimore’s court with 12:47 left in the half.
Not quite as loud or confident as it was earlier – maybe it’s the frostbite… Champ Bailey certainly is looking old – continues to get beat in the secondary – Ravens drive finally stalls at the 35 and it’s gift wrapped back to the Broncos. Sincerely hoping somebody can generate some excitement – Media Room is turning frigid.
Broncos are looking for love from the 14…. stroke of genius, break out the playbook, 8-plays, 86-yards and it chews nearly four minutes off the clock – Manning hits Moreno inside the 20 and Denver’s back on top 21-14. Bet you’re glad if took the over in this one…
Got so excited about the potential for pizza in the Press Box that I forgot to mention the Ravens tanked it in three – Koch nailed the punt and the Broncos dance generated at the 19. Not surprisingly the temperature warmed up to 14 degrees as the Broncos crossed midfield. First and ten from the 36 as we hit the two-minute warning… seriously reconsidering stepping outside at halftime.
Longest two-minute warning in history – crowd is actually turning blue as we speak – Ravens are challenging the spot on the previous play… good excuse to catch your breath. Play stands as called – here comes the drill…
Wait a minute, that was it? Five minutes to prepare and all you come up with is a botched field goal attempt from 52?
That certainly wasn’t pleasant – then again, from a Broncos perspective, neither was the three-play, 58-yard touchdown drive Joe Flacco put together following the jacked up field goal attempt… Eleven-yards to Boldin, 15-yards to Pitta and the final 32 to Torrey Smith for the score. Not a good time to start showing your age on defense….
Half closes out Denver 21 – Ravens 21… thinking about lighting myself on fire to stay warm
3rd Quarter
Ok, back to being pleasant – Holliday takes it 104-yards – another NFL record – and the Broncos score back to back on opening touches of the half. It doesn’t get more pleasant that….
Maybe it does – momentum shifts once again – Broncos D tightens the screws and Flacco finds the wrench – Rice on the ground breaks it for 20 and the Ravens are officially past midfield. Tack on a 5-yard flag for too many men on defense and backpedaling is starting to become the norm. First and ten from the 43 and we’ve got our first Ravens turnover – miscue on the snap is recovered by Broncos LB Keith Brooking and it’s Denver with the advantage at midfield as it all turns chaotic…
Maybe the officials are being paid per flag – either way this is turning freakishly cold – Broncos go nowhere and it’s up to Colquitt to salvage it off the punt. Nails it – ball falls dead at the Baltimore 3 and Flacco huddles it in the end zone.
Broncos players are begging for the crowd to get LOUD…. or maybe they’re just trying to find their own circulation – whatever works, Flacco’s keeping it on the ground – brings up third and four from the 8. Heading back to Bailey’s side and he connects with Smith for the first. Moves it to the 23 on another third and three – this time they come through – Broncos secondary holds square and the Broncos should end up with some pretty decent field position once it’s all said and done… Manning and Co. will take it from their own 25.
Here we go Broncos, here we go…. nevermind, too cold for that – Manning out of the shotgun finds Dressen across the middle falls one-yard short. Two plays later they move the chains by the nose of the football…. this could be the start of something big.
Then again, it might just be an exercise in frustration – this has got to be one of the worst officiated games in recent memory.
Manning’s got it past midfield as Hester snakes the first going off tackle – I take it back - flags fly again and Denver gets tagged for offensive holding – heading backwards once again. Garbage compounds seconds later with a nine-yard Manning sack and subsequent fumble, recovered by Baltimore… pretty sure there isn’t one human being on the field having fun right now – play stands and the Ravens will start it at the Broncos 37.
Nice field position Baltimore.
From what I can tell, this Ray Rice guy is pretty good. Thirty-two yards up the middle and Flacco’s got it at the five with four shots to light the board. As it stands, he only needs three – Rice on the ground pushes it in from the one and with Tuckers PAT we’re all tied (what a shock) at 28-28.
Time enough for one play in the quarter – Broncos spend it on a shot to Dressen who moves it out to the 25 as time expires.
4th Quarter
Broncos momentum, rewrite – lack of momentum stalls quick – Colquitt with the punt and the Ravens will look to break it from the 33. Three plays later they’re still looking to break it, unfortunately they’ve run out of downs – Koch nails it deep – no return on this one – Broncos dance will open at their own 12.
Somebody just reminded Denver they’re the best 4th quarter team in the NFL – Manning responds by threading it to Dreesen, who draws the 15-yard defenseless penalty when he gets his brain mangled by Chykie Brown’s helmet and the Broncos continue the roll. Manning to Decker on the left nets eight and they’re inside the 17. Here’s your highlight – follow up – perfect strike to Demaryius Thomas, cuts back, cuts in and dances his way to a quick seven – obligatory leap into the South Stands and with 7:06 left in regulation the Denver Broncos hold a 35-38 lead over the Baltimore Ravens…..
Based on recent history – I wouldn’t hold my breath…
Seventy-six thousand people screaming at the top of their lungs and Justin Bieber is nowhere in sight…. it’s beautiful.
Unfortunately, Joe Flacco is in sight – and he seems to be schooling the Broncos secondary. Drive marches all the way to the Denver 31 with a last-gasp shot on 4th and five….
This could be everything right here – Flacco goes on the slant to Pitta – Mike Adams on the coverage and it comes up lame – Denver is 3:00 away from taking this to the bank….
Conservative sounds good to me – Fox is playing it tight – back to back on the ground draws a first. Ravens are forced to burn their final time out at the 2:19 mark…. clock continues to wind as Denver faces third and 7 from the 47 as they hit the two-minute warning…
Everybody north of Colfax is praying it doesn’t come down to having the defense close this one out – Broncos come up short and elect to do just that – Colquitt drops it at the 23 with the 1:09 left on the clock in regulation and it’s up to Joe Flacco to write the final chapter in Denver.
To-flipping-che… Flacco pulls it off as everyone in the state of Colorado swallows their tongue… Seventy-yard strike to Jacoby Jones ties it at 35…. entire 77-yard drive took exactly thirty-eight seconds…
Plenty of people second-guessing this one – Welcome to Overtime boys and girls….
OT
Ravens win the toss and elect to try and put this away early – considering Flacco just got done torching Denver on the previous drive it doesn’t surprise me…. it shouldn’t surprise the Broncos either – drive starts at the 20 and continues to buy turf. Flacco moves it out to the Denver 33 with a nice mix on the ground – Broncos D looks gassed – or frozen, maybe both…
Officials are absolutely horrendous on both sides – Bailey gets flagged for PI and the Ravens drive extends past midfield. Third and two and the Broncos bring it – good timing – first real pressure on Flacco and he takes the sack – Broncos will field it at their own 16 – officially hit sudden death – first team to score wins the dance…
Major bail out – Third and five and Manning goes Old School (Part Two) - of course since Stokley caught it, they gotta have a review – need some more time to cool off – play stands and the Broncos are looking at first and ten from the 30. Willing to bet someone is going to bleed soon – drive stalls at the 39 and Denver has no other choise than to punt – perfect coverage as Tony Carter drops him at the five..
Baltimore’s turn to go backwards – delay of game moves it back to the three – not that it matters to Flacco – calmly goes deep right to Pitta and he’s got a 24-yard pick up. Not feeling real comfortable with this series but who is? Ravens freeze out, salvage the punt and Denver will take it at their own seven…. sure would be nice to wrap this up and head home for the night – just saying….
Manning must be sensing the urgency – steps out of the huddle on third and one from the 32 and sends Hester straight up the middle for the first – crowd goes crazy - two plays later crowd goes silent - Manning gift wraps it off the scramble and tosses out his second INT of the day… that should pretty well wrap up the 2012 season.
Flacco guides it down – the rookie hits from 47 and Ray Lewis lives to see another day… Broncos come up short 38-35.
Rough way to end an unbelievable season of Broncos football – plenty of media scratching their heads on this one…
Considering Manning’s record in cold weather, I’m wondering if a Mile High dome is too much to ask for?
Maybe we can do NASCAR!! — RB 
