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Baltimore Ravens Round table: The best what if scenarios in team lore

By Richard Bradshaw

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 25: Wide receiver Lee Evans #83 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 25, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 25: Wide receiver Lee Evans #83 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 25, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 22: Sterling Moore #29 of the New England Patriots breaks up a catch intended for Lee Evans #83 of the Baltimore Ravens late in the fourth quarter during their AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 22: Sterling Moore #29 of the New England Patriots breaks up a catch intended for Lee Evans #83 of the Baltimore Ravens late in the fourth quarter during their AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Richard Bradshaw (Site Expert):

“What if…” Lee Evans didn’t drop that pass in the 2012 AFC Championship game?

How heart-breaking was this drop?

Not only is it the most significant dropped past in the history of the Baltimore Ravens, it is also one of the most memorable drops in the NFL over the last twenty years. The above picture hurts to even think about. This play not only would wipe out this drop from our memories, but we wouldn’t have had to worry about Billy Cundiff’s missed field goal two plays later. *Shudders*

As we all know, it was a 2nd and 1 play for Baltimore inside the New England Patriots 20-yard line. Fourth quarter. Final seconds winding down. Joe Flacco delivers a beautiful touch pass to lee Evans in the end-zone and he drops it. Patriots cornerback Sterling Moore was able to break up a pass that Evans had completely secured with two hands. The rest is history.

But it didn’t have to be that way.

No, Evans could’ve manned up and brought in that ball. A touchdown would’ve put the Ravens up 27-23 with less-than 30-seconds on the clock. Anything is possible for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, but the Ravens defense would’ve found a way to bite down for ~20 seconds if it meant a Super Bowl appearance.

Would the Ravens have won Super Bowl XLVII if they won the year before?. light. Related Story

From there, we can begin the debate as to whether or not the Ravens would’ve won Super Bowl XLVI versus the New York Giants (see above link).

This Lee Evans drop was brutal, gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, and so on. I remember being at work and literally shedding a tear after Cundiff missed that field goal, but that didn’t have to happen if Evans had held onto the ball. A Super Bowl berth and possible championship were on the line, and Evans fell well-short of greatness.

Instead, Ravens fans get to sit and think “what if it had gone differently?” Thankfully, the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII one year later and we can at least sleep (somewhat) peacefully at night.

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