NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Music City became Ravenstown on Saturday.
Ravens fans descended upon Nashville in droves via two-hour plane flights, 11-hour car rides, and 14-hour bus treks.
By lunchtime, downtown Nashville was filled with Ravens fans, as there was as much purple and black as Titan baby blue and navy. But all fans had a common goal: trying to stay dry.
By mid-morning, the temperatures were in the high 50s, but a steady rain forced tailgaters to seek shelter under tarps, as the field was covered with a white tarp.
“It feels like there are 20,000 Ravens fans here today,” said Brian Karsseboom, 45, of Glen Burnie. “We won’t let a little rain bring us down.”
By kickoff, however, the temperature was about 60, but dipped into the 30s by the end of the game.
“We drove too far to let the rain ruin our experience,” said Carl Beard, 51, of Baltimore. “This season has just been to special for us to stop supporting the team now. I’m one of the few fans who actually felt like we were going to have a good season this year.”
Reed unanimous All-Pro Ed Reed was the top vote-getter this time.
After finishing third in the race for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the safety was the lone unanimous selection to The Associated Press All-Pro team.
Reed’s 50 votes put him four ahead of fellow safety Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh. Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth received 49 votes. In the Player of the Year voting, Reed placed third behind Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison and Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware, the runner-up.
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (39 votes) and fullback Le’Ron McClain (38 votes) also were named to the All-Pro team, in which a panel of national media pick the top player at each position. It was the sixth selection for Lewis, but the first for McClain, who began the season buried on the depth chart behind Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (six votes) and punter Sam Koch (five) were fourth at their positions. Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (two), inside linebacker Bart Scott (one) and guard Ben Grubbs (one) also received votes.
Sweet music, sweet victory Nashville resident Martina McBride sang the national anthem at LP Field before the game.
And the Titans chose her for good reason — they are 26-4 when an RCA Records performer sings the anthem.
She is a four-time winner of the Country Music Awards Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year.
