Somebody must have let the Ravens’ defense understand that they needed to step up in order for the team to get back to winning

football games. That message was taken to heart, and Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and friends put up their best outing of the season. Despite the lack of turnovers (the game only saw one take place), from the first play to the end of the 4th quarter, Kyle Orton had little room to succeed because of the suffocating pressure.

The tone was obviously set with Jarret Johnson’s sack of Orton on the first play from scrimmage. Orton found himself staring at the Baltimore sky, hoping and praying that the hit he just took would prove to be a regular thing for the next three hours. While Orton was only sacked one more time throughout the game, he was contained, and couldn’t produce nearly as much as the NFL has become used to over the Broncos’ first six games.

With Frank Walker being placed on the inactive list for the game, Ravens’ fans knew immediately that this game could be a season-changing one. The Ravens were putting more faith in rookie CB Lardarius Webb and former Titan CB, Chris Carr. Both players made a huge impact, and made the move by John Harbaugh to deactivate Frank Walker look like a stroke of genius. Webb played a solid game, and had a kick return for a touchdown. His score would ultimately give the Ravens the offensive momentum they needed to turn the game from a close match-up to a blowout. Carr ended his day with a giant sack of Orton, using his speed and his strength to find his way through one of the league’s best offensive lines.

The Ravens’ offense wasn’t as stellar as it has been in previous games. In fact, the majority of their production came in the second half of the season. Joe Flacco threw for less than 200 yards, there was no running back with over 100 yards, and the wide receiving corp didn’t see a player gain more than 40 yards in catches. However, the Ravens took advantage of the Broncos’ mistakes. They scored on special teams, used the Denver turnover to gain points, and stepped up the defensive effort. Overall, the team produced on both sides of the ball, something that fans had hoped to see all season long.

Along with the win on the field, the Ravens found themselves with a moral victory in the locker room as well. After such a streaky start to the season, the Ravens needed nothing more than a win over a team with such high respect around the league. They did to the Broncos what they had wanted to do against the Minnesota Vikings. A solid 23 point win against a team that had not lost yet this season should do wonders for the confidence of every player on the roster.

The Ravens' defense looked like the defense Baltimore fans have been spoiled with.

It’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback, but it’s hard to look past the fact that the Ravens are one screwed up play away from being 5-2, tied for the division lead, and in the mix as one of the best teams in the league. They finally got the huge win that teams need to prove their worth as a potential playoff contender. Next week brings a rematch against the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that Baltimore would love to have their revenge against. A win will not only sooth some emotions in Charm City, it will also do wonders for the teams’ standings position. With a loss by Pittsburgh against Denver, and a win for the Ravens, there will be a three way tie for the AFC North, and two games still to go between Baltimore and the Steelers.

But that is neither here nor there. The fact is, the win against Denver kept the Ravens in contention. While the season is still relatively early, soon enough, playoff talk will begin to sneak up on people, and Baltimore wants nothing more than to be involved in all the chatter.

Quote Of The Week, Week 8:

“I think a guy named Ed Reed and myself and Fabian Washington had pretty tight coverage throughout most of the second half. It’s pretty hard to make big plays. That’s one of the things Orton prides himself on; he’s not going to throw into coverage. Guys were covered today.” ~Domonique Foxworth, Ravens’ cornerback

Under The Radar Player Of The Game: Kelley Washington

Washington once again was the Ravens’ go-to wide receiver. He continuously proves that his role as a big time WR should be reconsidered, mainly because he can make a catch whenever he is asked to. Washington has been the best signing the Ravens made, making more of an impact then Chris Carr (the other major free agent signing before the season), and fans can only hope that, after the season, the team considers keeping him around. Kelley put up 58 more yards in receiving against the Broncos, bringing his season numbers to 267 yards in six games. Washington, when used correctly in an offense, seems to be the most reliable wideout on the roster.