SEARCH NEILCORNRICH.COM
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Marshal Yanda to the rescue for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens guard Marshal Yanda walks off the field
By Barry Federovitch
January 13, 2013
Knowshon Moreno was knocked out with a knee injury. Von Miller had the wind knocked out of him. Future Hall of Famer Champ Bailey got beaten badly on two touchdown passes.
No, it wasn’t the prettiest of efforts for the Denver Broncos last night in the AFC semifinals against the Baltimore Ravens, even in a game in which Peyton Manning provided plenty of highlights and Trindon Holliday was turning in the greatest effort by a returnman in postseason history.
But what eventually did in the Broncos 38-35 102 seconds into the second overtime at Sports Authority Field last night? Not just a clutch kick by Justin Tucker, but one of the best blocks you’ll ever see, by Pro Bowl lineman Marshal Yanda.
The situation? The Ravens had just intercepted Manning late in the first overtime but were bogged down on a third-and-3, still out of field-goal range. Ray Rice, who rushed for 126 yards, one more than the entire Denver team, was going to be short of the first down, allowing Manning one more chance to win in sudden death. But Yanda wouldn’t allow that to happen.
He came from behind, pushed the pile forward and Rice got the first down that put Denver, a team with an 11-game winning streak, on the verge of extinction. Three plays later, Tucker tucked a kick just inside the right upright and Manning was denied another chance at a second Super Bowl.
For a team that rallied from behind four times, including Joe Flacco’s incredible 70-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter, it was the appropriate ending.
Terrell Suggs, the player no one thought would play this season, registered 10 tackles and two sacks. Ray Lewis, the future Hall of Famer on the verge of retirement, registered 17 tackles. And Torrey Smith, the oft-criticized receiver, burned Bailey in the air and with his speed.
But the unsung hero was Yanda, who at a time of game when players don’t expect to be playing, showed that he wanted to play one more week and maybe beyond.
Popular Posts
-
Kenny Nosay February 29, 2024 When it comes to the NFL, only the best of the best, truly can compete in this league. Most of the NFL’...
-
By Austin Belisle September 14, 2017 Duct tape may prove a quick fix for leaky pipes, but as every DIY repairman knows, a patchwork ...
-
By Matthew Coller September 27, 2017 After spending big in free agency and spending their top two draft picks on offense, the Minneso...
-
By ALBERT BREER February 04, 2019 3. Patriots pass rusher Trey Flowers—who rapped with Meek Mill on stage at the Super...
-
By BILL REITER March 6, 2010 CLEVELAND | The Mercedes S550 pulls up to the hotel silver and sleek and shining with the gleam of money and po...
-
September 11, 2017 By Kyle Ratke A day before facing off against the New Orleans Saints to kick off the 2017 season the Minnesota Vik...
-
From Peter King's "Ten Things I Think I Think" February 15, 2010 6. I think these are the five unrestricted free agents who co...
-
By Steve Berkowitz January 19, 2011 College football still loses marquee coaches such as Jim Harbaugh to the NFL. But it increasingly is bec...
-
Nate Ulrich Akron Beacon Journal Chuck and Elaine Vrabel traveled to the Nashville area this past spring to watch their grandson ...
-
The Patriots signed defensive tackle Markus Kuhn to a one-year contract in April. The Associated Press By Rich Garven August 23, 2016...