BALTIMORE — If style points and offensive fireworks meant anything, the Baltimore Ravens wouldn’t stand a chance of making it to the AFC championship.
Playing defense and protecting the football are what they do best, and that formula led to a 20-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday, putting Baltimore in the AFC title game against the New England Patriots.
“I always say there is a right way to do things, there is a wrong way to do things and there is just the Ravens’ way of doing things,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “It wasn’t pretty but we’re not really a pretty team. We got the ‘W’ and now it’s on to the AFC championship.”
The Ravens (13-4) had almost as many punts (nine) as first downs (11) and scored only three points over the final 46 minutes. But Baltimore wasn’t penalized once, didn’t commit a turnover, intercepted rookie quarterback T.J. Yates three times and totaled four takeaways — two in the first quarter and two during the final eight minutes.
“If we didn’t get any of those turnovers, it would probably be a different game,” Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said.
Baltimore visits New England next Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl on Feb. 5. The Patriots lead the series 6-1, but Baltimore’s lone win came in the postseason.
“We don’t play the game until next week,” Suggs said. “I’m going to enjoy tonight.”
Houston’s Arian Foster ran for 132 yards, the first player to rush for 100 yards against the Ravens in the postseason. But Yates’ three interceptions matched the total he had in six regular-season games.
“I can’t have the turnovers,” Yates said. “If we don’t turn the ball over like that, we have a chance to win.”
Key play
Houston rookie quarterback T.J. Yates drove the Texans to the Baltimore 38 with two minutes left, looking for the game-tying touchdown. But on first down, Yates went deep for receiver Andre Johnson, and veteran Ravens safety Ed Reed sealed the victory by making his eighth career postseason interception before tumbling backward into the end zone. It was the Ravens’ fourth takeaway of the game. “It’s winning by any means necessary,” Reed said. “That’s what it’s got to be.”
