Popular sentiment may posit that the Ravens backed into the playoffs after dropping four of their last five games, but it's worth noting that they smoked the Giants 33-14 two weeks ago and rested starters in Week 17. And Baltimore is getting someone special back for the first round. While it's impossible to quantify the emotional boost from Wednesday's announcement of surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer Ray Lewis' impending retirement, his return is likely to have some effect on Sunday's game. Lewis will be on the field with his teammates -- back from an 11-week triceps injury -- and claims to be "100 percent" healthy. Lewis' skills appeared to be diminishing early in the year, but he should be a run-defense upgrade with fresh legs after the layoff. ... Schematically, Baltimore has an edge on Indianapolis from the standpoint that the Colts are a decidedly vertical-passing team and border on one dimensional in that respect. Playcaller Bruce Arians' system demands that Andrew Luck make a high volume of low-percentage downfield throws, which helps explain the still largely impressive rookie's unimpressive turnover count (23), completion rate (54.1), and QB rating (76.5). The Ravens happen to have a takeaway specialist in the back end of their defense in centerfield safety Ed Reed, who butters his bread by picking off vertical throws. Although 2012 was not Reed's best season, he still intercepted four passes and has a whopping eight picks in 11 career playoff games. Baltimore is a good bet to win Sunday's turnover battle.
Luck finished his first NFL season ranked fifth in pass attempts, and coach Chuck Pagano recently acknowledged that he's playing with a "tired arm." Both the national and local medias have been protective of the Golden Boy, so little was made of the comment. The numbers bear it out. Luck has completed just 78 of his last 168 passes (46.4 percent) for 1,012 yards (6.02 YPA). While he's compensated with a 4-1 record and 8:5 TD-to-INT ratio across that span, the sustainability of the latter two statistics is worth questioning. Luck could be exposed a bit by a rested Ravens defense that's especially likely to be high on energy in Lewis' return. ... Donnie Avery and dynamic rookie T.Y. Hilton are Indianapolis' purest vertical weapons, but Reggie Wayne is the sustainer on offense. A short-to-intermediate receiver at this stage of his career, 34-year-old Wayne finished the regular season ranked sixth in receptions (106), seventh in receiving yards (1,355), and fourth in first-down catches (73). It would be safe to expect Wayne to have a Wild Card game voluminous on targets and grabs. The Ravens must limit Indy's big plays in the passing game, however, and Reed should have a lot to do with it. ... A grinding, workmanlike runner, fifth-round rookie Vick Ballard is the Colts' every-down back. While Ballard is a suitable fit for Arians' power-running offense, he managed just four runs of 20-plus yards during the regular season, handling 211 rushing attempts. Among backs with at least 200 carries, only three (Shonn Greene, Mikel Leshoure, banged-up Trent Richardson) had fewer 20-yard gains. Ballard is capable of moving the chains as a complement to the passing game, but he's not quite a difference maker.
Joe Flacco's contract year didn't live up to expectations, but he did deliver Baltimore a fifth playoff berth in five seasons while posting a career-high 3,817 passing yards. Flacco was particularly sharp at home, where Sunday's Wild Card game will conveniently take place. In eight games at M&T Bank Stadium, Flacco completed 176-of-283 throws (62.2 percent) for 2,363 yards (8.35 YPA), and a 15:5 TD-to-INT ratio, with three additional touchdowns on the ground. The Colts rank 21st in pass defense and 24th in sacks, so this is a favorable matchup. ... Like Flacco, Torrey Smith opened the regular season piping hot only to fade in late fall and winter. Also like Flacco, Smith was much more productive at home, where he scored seven of his eight touchdowns and racked up 59.3 percent of his yards. Flacco would be smart to aggressively target Smith when matched up with burnable Colts left cornerback Cassius Vaughn. Baltimore needs to stay away from right corner Vontae Davis. ... Ravens slot receiver Anquan Boldin sat out Week 17 to rest a shoulder injury and practiced fully this week. Physical, 6-foot-1, 223-pound Boldin will spend most of Sunday's game in 5-foot-10, 185-pound Colts slot CB Darius Butler's coverage. Boldin turned 32 in October, but still paced Baltimore in 2012 targets, catches (65), and receiving yards (921).
Three players handle Baltimore's pass-catching load. No. 3 is tight end Dennis Pitta, coming off a breakout third NFL season. Though he lacks flashy measurables, Pitta dropped just three passes all year, securing 61 and reaching pay dirt seven times. Pitta is a reliable underneath target for Flacco, often picking up the slack when aging Boldin has down games. ... The star of Baltimore's Wild Card Round offense still figures to be do-it-all tailback Ray Rice, who closed out the regular season with 441 yards on his final 89 carries (4.96 YPC) and will be fresh after playing single-digit snaps in the Ravens' Week 17 rest game. Indianapolis ranks 29th against the run, serving up an AFC-most 5.14 yards per carry. No team in the NFL has allowed more running plays of 20-plus yards. If Rice touches the football 20 times in this game -- and he ought to -- the Ravens will win.
Score Prediction: Ravens 27, Colts 21