The Odd Stat of the Week

Issue: Anything odd happen during Wild Card weekend?

Short Answer: It most certainly did.

Reasoning: The Baltimore Ravens have long been known for their defense.  Let us remember that the Ravens victory in Super Bowl XXXV was with Trent Dilfer as their quarterback.  Yes, Trent Dilfer has done something that Dan Marino, Dan Fouts, Ken Anderson, and Boomer Esiason have not, and that is win a Super Bowl.  Although most people who know the game know that the Ravens would not have won that Super Bowl if it wasn't for their defense.

Times are no different in 2010-11, as the Ravens are once again in the playoffs, due largely to their defense.  But something happened in the openning round of the playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs, that doesn't often happen against the Ravens.  Midway through the first quarter, with the Ravens holding a 3-0 lead, Jamaal Charles, Kansas City's best running back, busted through the defensive front and outran the Baltimore secondary to score a 41-yard touchdown.  That doesn't seem like THAT big of a deal.  But it was.  Ladies and gentleman, this was the first rushing touchdown allowed by the Baltimore Ravens defense, of 30+ yards since....2005.  Wow.

The last time the Ravens had given up a 30+ yards rush for a touchdown was October 9 of 2005 when Detroit Lions running back Shawn Bryson (who?) took his only carry of the game 77 yards to the house.  Since that day, the Ravens had gone 2,484 straight rushing attempts against without giving up another 30+ yard touchdown scamper.  Jamaal Charles ended that streak on Sunday, but let us not forget - it was the only points Baltimore would reliquish the entire game.  The final score was 30-7, as the Ravens move on to face the Steelers.  I think it is a fairly safe bet that Rashad Mendenhall will not break a 30+ yard touchdown.  But, football is a crazy game.

Runner-up for odd stat of the week (and it's related!): the score in the last 17 meetings between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers is 302-302.  Should be a good game this weekend.