In a season full of disappointment, Redskins fans experienced an isolated moment of exhilaration last month. On Sunday, Ravens fans enjoyed the same glorious vision — the unmistakable figure of No. 2, JaMarcus Russell, lumbering onto the field.
When the Oakland Raiders quarterback entered to a chorus of boos at home in Week 14, the Redskins were assured of their lone victory in the final seven games. When the same happened Sunday, the Ravens were a giant step closer a playoff berth.
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Needing a win to stay alive, Baltimore was buoyed by the appearance of Russell, who came off the bench in the third period for injured Charlie Frye. And it was vintage Russell, as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft threw an interception and lost a fumble, helping pave the way for the Ravens’ 21-13 victory.
Baltimore (9-7) travels to New England (10-6) in the opening round of the playoffs next weekend. It will be their second meeting. In Week 4, the Patriots won an evenly-contested game, 27-21, at home.
Next week, the Ravens won’t have the luxury of dealing with an inept quarterback. Despite dominating the Raiders at the line of scrimmage Sunday, it was a game the Ravens seemed destined to lose as they led, 14-13, late in the third period.
But that’s when rookie linebacker Dannell Ellerbe intercepted Russell, setting up Willis McGahee‘s third touchdown carry. Oakland followed with a drive to the Baltimore 26, but linebacker Antwan Barnes stripped Russell and Ellerbe was there for the recovery.
“For Dannell, a rookie, to come up with two turnovers, which was the difference in the football game, is amazing,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. “He was in the right place twice.”
The “right place” was being on the same field with Russell, who finished the season with a passer rating of 49.6, which is 15.9 points worse than the next lowest-rated quarterback in the league, Kerry Collins.
The Ravens, too, have had their moments of frustration with second-year quarterback Joe Flacco. But Sunday they were determined to make Flacco a game manager as he completed 11 of 19 low-risk passes for 102 yards while turning the offense over to McGahee (16 carries, 167 yards) and Ray Rice (14 carries, 70 yards).
