OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -The Baltimore Ravens are counting on three of a kind to win their wild-card playoff game Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Ray Rice, Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee comprise a three-pronged ground attack that ranks fifth in the NFL. The trio also combined for 114 receptions, including a team-high 78 by Rice.
Rice ran for 1,339 yards, totaled 2,041 yards from scrimmage and made the Pro Bowl in only his second season. McClain, who led the Ravens last season with 902 yards rushing, proved to be equally adept at fullback this season and earned a second straight Pro Bowl berth.
Then there’s McGahee, a dutiful backup who averaged 5 yards a carry and scored 14 touchdowns, including three last week in a 167-yard effort at Oakland. His stiff-arm against safety Hiram Eugene during a 77-yard score surely made an impression on the Patriots, ranked 13th in the NFL against the run.
an excellent job of running the ball, and they also use those players in the passing game,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “They’re good receivers and make a lot of yards on their own after the catch. So it’s the running game, and then the play-action that goes with it.”
The opposition never knows who’s going to be featured on Sunday – and neither do the Ravens.
Rice started against the Raiders before McGahee took over. And, although McClain spent much of the regular season as a blocker, the 260-pounder could conceivably be a factor on the cold, hard turf in New England.
“We have three very good backs, and they all have a role. Going into the game, I don’t think you’re necessarily sure what their role is going to be,” coach John Harbaugh said. “It could be Le’Ron McClain this week. It just might go that direction. I think he’d be happy about that, and he’s capable of having a good game.”
Drafted as a fullback in 2007, McClain was a bruising ball carrier last season behind veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal. After the Ravens let Neal go during the offseason, McClain returned to fullback and played well enough to garner another Pro Bowl trip.
is continue to get their yards.”
There is no jealously among the trio. Only an intense desire to carry their act into the Super Bowl.
“I was always one of those guys that wanted more touches, but right now that’s not the issue,” McGahee said. “The issue is keep going farther in the playoffs.”
McGahee, the 23rd overall pick in the 2003 draft by Buffalo, resented being a backup last season. He has since made the adjustment, a transformation aided by the fact that he scored twice as many touchdowns this season than last.
“It’s been pretty cool. I can’t complain,” he said. “I’m injury-free, everything’s good. Ray went to the Pro Bowl and I got 14 touchdowns.”
One week before the Ravens faced Oakland, Rice pierced Pittsburgh for 141 yards on 30 carries. Now, after getting only 14 attempts against the Raiders, the 5-foot-8, 210-pounder expects to be fresh against New England.
“Last week, it was a Willis McGahee kind of game. He had a great opening,” Rice said. “But I think going into the playoffs right now, the way my body feels, I feel great.”
The running backs’ teammates don’t care which one of them gets the ball.
“To be real honest with you, a lot of times I don’t even know who’s in there,” center Matt Birk said. “They call the play, and we go block it.”
Quarterback Joe Flacco said, “It doesn’t matter to me who I’m handing the ball off to, really. It’s just a matter of what they do with it afterward.”
Add A Comment