Ravens' 2008 Season: Poised With The Right Plays and Players

There are many plays that one might see during an NFL season. There are offensive plays that effectively propel a team toward the end-zone and then there are defensive plays that successfully confuse an opposing quarterback. Through the ebb and flow of a game, momentum is built upon both multiplication of positive play calling and execution. During the Ravens’ 2008 campaign, there were a great deal of plays that created the momentum needed for what many deemed, a surprisingly exciting season. Now, several are worth mentioning, but for time and space, let’s revisit five of these special plays.

In week eight, against the Oakland Raiders’ defense, real offensive ingenuity was in play. Up until this point, plenty of Baltimore fans believed that the Ravens’ offense possessed creative potential, at best. As the offense lined up in a shotgun formation, back-up quarterback, Troy Smith lined up in the backfield as the running back. Joe Flacco, Baltimore’s starting rookie quarterback, received the snap and handed off the ball to Smith, who then ran a stretch play to the right. Flacco took off down the left side of the field, running a “Go” route, when Smith stopped, turned, and fired to an opened Flacco. Just being able to get to the pass, Flacco stumbled as he caught one of the most exciting passes in Ravens’ offensive, football history. Fans could see the possibilities in the versatility of a newly-led offense.

In week 16, the Ravens’ closed out old Texas Stadium with playoff implications on the line and the pressure of playing “America’s Team”. Smash-mouth football is the Ravens’ most noted offensive style, and as the team lined up in a single set, back formation with an unbalanced left side, Willis McGahee broke through the line untouched and ran for a 77-yard touchdown. After the Dallas Cowboys answered with a score, the Ravens’ offense lined up in a pro-set formation with Le’Ron McClain and Lorenzo Neal in the backfield. Taking the hand off, McClain ran up the middle, breaking tackles and escaping the secondary for an 80-yard, touchdown response. Watching this game, it was apparent that these back-to-back, offensive plays were the result of a maturing offensive line.

In the AFC Wildcard game, the skill of the defense was on display against the Miami Dolphins as the defense lined up in its hybrid 3-4 defense. This formation gave Ed Reed the freedom to play, as he would call it, “street football”. As the master secondary improviser, Reed intercepted the pass attempt from Dolphins’ quarterback, Chad Pennington, and then it was a pick-six all the way to the end zone…The Ravens’ could see the playoffs’ finish line.

Let’s round this out with the AFC Divisional game against the Tennessee Titans, where the Ravens’ showed that, even with a tight score, they were the team that would make the difference. In a close game, a poised Flacco executed a play out of the single set back formation; making an improbable pass to tight end, Todd Heap, who was running a post route. This pass kept the ball in the Ravens’ possession, which later resulted in a score.

Let’s be real here, it isn’t always the right play at the right time, sometimes; it’s the right player at the right time… But, well-thought out plays are good, too.