Broncos Get Great Start to NFL Playoffs
Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) celebrates with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third quarter during the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL Playoffs could not have started any better for the Denver Broncos.
With their 30-17 thumping of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens move on in the AFC Playoffs. Just as I said earlier this week, they are the most likely team to go into Foxborough and beat the New England Patriots. There was no chance the Cincinnati Bengals or Indianapolis Colts could do that. The situation is too big for both of those teams.
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The Ravens have done it before and the way they played on Saturday night, and how they have played against the Patriots in the past, nothing changes that. In fact, it solidifies it. It’s the best possible scenario for the Broncos, and the worst for New England.
The last team Tom Brady and Bill Belichick wanted to see is Baltimore. All the Ravens do is win in the playoffs, and win on the road. And Baltimore has done it in Foxborough twice in the last five years – with the most recent being two years ago in the AFC championship game. Baltimore is not intimidated by the Patriots’ mystique.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is now tied for the most road wins in NFL playoff history with seven. The way his team played against the Steelers, he could well get his eighth next Saturday in New England.
With the outcome in Pittsburgh, Denver will host the winner of the Bengals and Colts on Jan. 11 in the last game of the divisional round. Whoever it is, the storylines for both are rich. The team that beat Denver in Week 16, and, of course, Peyton Manning facing his former team in the playoffs.
There is nothing like playoff football, and it could not have started any better for the Broncos.
What does the second day have in store? We will soon found out.