The Defining Moment

The New Face of the Baltimore Ravens

Most NFL observers believe that the Baltimore-Pittsburgh matchup is the best rivalry in the league right now.  I am one of those observers.  When the Ravens and Steelers get together, you know there's going to be two teams that hate each other, trying to beat the crap outta one another for 60 minutes straight.  And when each combatant has that tough guy, east coast, blue collar swagger well, it just makes the storyline that much more compelling.  And that's only the background to the story.

These teams aren't just division rivals, these two teams are arch rivals: Bmore & the Burgh are considered the top 2 defenses in the league, AFC powerhouses, and legitimate Super Bowl Contenders.  And they hate each other!  

As a Maryland resident, I can tell you with 100% certainty that there are only three sporting events that really matter -- that's Maryland-Duke basketball, Redskins-Cowboys, and Ravens-Steelers football.  People remember how local players perform in these games.  And it DOES matter.  These matchups move the needle.  Every time.

On that note, I've heard from countless Ravens fans over the years how Joe Flacco was less than stellar.  And local criticism of the guy bordered on being downright hateful at times.  This derision coming from Ravens fans, no less!  The dominant theme was that Flacco lacked the late-game heroics of the Steeler QB, Ben Rothlisberger.  No doubt Bmore fans got sick and tired of this guy beating them.  So Beating Rothlisberger became the litmus test for Joe.

Then, a funny thing happened.  He did beat Pittsburgh on a game Winning final drive, on their field!  But most fans remained unsatisfied.  The line of reasoning was that beating the hated Steelers was good, but he bested their backup--not their main man Rothlisberger.  And to add insult to injury, those same steelers late in the year came to Baltimore and beat the hometown Ravens, with Flacco being sacked and fumbling in the critical final stretch.  Further, Pittsburgh beat the Ravens AGAIN in Pennsylvania to end Baltimore's season in the playoffs.  These developments took place last season.

Fast forward to this year, with Baltimore hosting the hated rivals to open the season.  Finally, they stuck it to 'em pretty good.  Ravens fans loved it!  But they were expected to hold serve at home.  All of the neutral observers figured that those Pittsburghers circled the Week 9 rematch, and were ready to sock the Ravens some serious payback.

 Fast forward to this game.  Sure, it was tooth and nail; when these two teams play, it always is.  Then predictably, the Rothlisberger led Steelers get their go-ahead touchdown late to seal it.  Or so it seemed.  The Ravens got the ball with little more than 2 minutes left in the contest, and Joe Flacco had his shining moment.  The guy was simply amazing!  On that drive, he became the man he was brought to Baltimore to be.  He looked poised, sure, and played the role of the clutch quarterback.

Beating Rothlisberger in Pittsburgh is the game changer.  Joe is now the man in town.  He finally slayed the dragon, and I for one, am happy for the guy.  In order for the Ravens to eventually reach the pinnacle, they had to scale this obstacle.  And everyone associated with the Baltimore organization knew it.

Now victorious, will #5 get his due?  He's done what was asked of him in spectacular fashion.  Which might just be the springboard to big things.