This season has been a tale of two halves for the Baltimore Ravens.
Though the Ravens are in first place in the AFC North and off to the best start in franchise history at 8-2, they have not gotten to that point without providing a lot of dramatic moments along the way. Of Baltimore?s eight wins, four have come after trailing at halftime, including in Sunday?s 24-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons, when the Ravens trailed, 7-0, after 30 minutes of play.
For whatever reason, the Ravens have found a way to play at a higher level in the second half when the game is on the line, especially in the third quarter. After running back Jamal Lewis rumbled for two of his three touchdowns in the period against Atlanta, Baltimore has now outscored its 2006 opposition, 35-6, to start the second half. Overall, the Ravens hold a 107-54 scoring edge over the final 30 minutes this year.
Wide receiver Derrick Mason said a big reason for Baltimore?s success in the second half is the ability to eliminate turnovers, penalties and other mistakes that plagued the team early in a number of games.
“I think we just stick together,” Mason said on Sunday?s comeback. “We know the situations that we?re in. We know why we?re in those situations. The first half just didn?t go our way. It was more or less self-destructive. We did some real stupid things out there, but in the second half, we came back and regrouped as a team.”
Linebacker Bart Scott said the reason behind Baltimore?s come-from-behind wins is the team?s ability to come up with a big play from a different unit every week. Against Cleveland on Sept. 24, Chris McAlister had and interception in the end zone, which set up Baltimore?s game-winning drive. Two weekends ago in Nashville, Tenn., defensive end Trevor Pryce blocked a field goal late in the fourth quarter to secure a win over the Titans. And on Sunday against the Falcons, B.J. Sams came up with 212 return yards that helped give Baltimore solid field position.
“Last week, you saw a defense that slacked a little bit, and our offense picked us up until we got our heads out of our butts,” Scott said Sunday. “Today, you saw the special teams lift the whole team up and hold us up, so that?s just the nature of the game. You never know who is going to be called to have to make a big play and hold it down for us.”
RALLYING BACK
The 2006 Ravens have four come-from-behind wins after trailing at halftime:
» Sept. 24 ? Trailed at Cleveland, 14-3, before winning, 15-14.
» Oct. 1 ? Trailed San Diego, 13-7, before winning, 16-13.
» Nov. 12 ? Trailed at Tennessee, 26-17, before winning, 27-26.
» Nov. 19 ? Trailed Atlanta, 7-0, before winning, 24-10.
