Colts 6 @ Ravens 10 Halftime Notes
Jan 6, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (52) during the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts at M
The Colts managed to escape to the locker-room trailing by just 4 points, but this first half was really dominated by the Ravens, but punctuated by missed opportunities.
-The first miscue for the Ravens came on a horribly blown call by the officiating crew. Ray Rice fumbled the ball and there was a scrum for the ball. Marshall Yanda came out of the pile with the football, but the officials ruled the ball to have been recovered by Indianapolis despite no Indianapolis player ever possessing the ball. Huh? that call stole three points from the Ravens.
-The Ravens also missed 2 easy interceptions. one of the hands of a diving Ed Reed who looked to have simply misjudged the ball, and another right into the breadbasket of Ray Lewis who inexplicably dropped the easy pick. It might have had something to do with the brace he was wearing on his arm.
-The Ravens offense moved the ball easily most of the time. they have 3 times gotten to the redzone resulting in a field goal after a dropped TD pass by Tandon Doss, a Leech TD and the bad call fumble. The Ravens offense has been effective, but they need to capitalize on their opportunities. 10 points on three redzone trips is not good enough.
-Luck has been very good, but the Ravens pass rush has been excelent. look for the Ravens pass rush to get a big play at some point in the second half because Luck clearly has no clue where the blitz is coming from on any given play.
-The Ravens allowed a huge play to T.Y. Hilton to set up the half ending field goal by the Colts. that was inexcusable. Hilton was essentially chipped off the line and then ignored and left to be covered by Paul Kruger. That is an absurd mismatch to game plan yourself into on 3rd and forever when you know the opponent needs over 20 yards and the sideline to get anything done. I am not sure what the plan was, but it was a disaster of a play.