All season long, we’ve been bringing you NFL Gamechangers, the column that brings you the biggest plays that you won’t see on the highlights. These are the plays and players that changed the outcome of the games this weekend, but really don’t get the fanfare or hype that they deserve given their key role in the outcome of the game. Of course touchdowns are important, but these are plays that help to set up those touchdowns and give a team momentum throughout the course of the day.
Now today we bring you the special AFC Championship edition of NFL Gamechangers. The AFC Championship went down Sunday Night in Foxborough, Massachusetts and featured the Baltimore Ravens pulling off a 28-13 upset victory over the heavily favored Patriots and punching their ticket tot he Super Bowl. The Ravens got great contributions throughout the game from the offence featuring Joe Flacco, and Anquan Boldin who connected for two touchdowns on the night. However this week’s special NFL Gamechanger, game ball goes to Bernard Pollard and Arthur Jones for their play early in the fourth quarter.
As the fourth quarter began, the score was 21-13 for the Ravens. The Tom Brady led Patriot offence had the ball, and seemed to be starting one of their patented drives. They had taken over at their own 16 yard line, and after a first down run by Steven Ridley, and a 12 yard pass reception by Brandon Lloyd gave them another first down, they found themselves at their own 39 yard line. Most Patriots fans thought that this was it. The drive that would take them down the field, the Touchdown and 2 point attempt that would give them a chance to tie the game.
Brady again handed the ball off to the Patriots workhorse back in Ridley, who took the ball around his right tackle and to the right hashmark. He seemed to be getting a good gain, running for 8 yards and setting up a short second down play when our game changer happened. Bernard Pollard came barely in looking to make the tackle and land a punishing blow to Ridley. Looking to gain a few extra yards Ridley dropped his head and plowed forward. The result was a sickening helmet on helmet collision that would leave Ridley injured on the field, and the football fumbled and recovered by Arthur Jones.
Pollard has long been a thorn in the side of the Patriots, whether it was his hit in 2008 that caused Tom Brady’s season ending ACL injury in the first game after the Pats “almost perfect season”. He also was involved in the 2009 hit that resulted in a torn ACL for Wes Welker, and the 2012 tackle that resulted in a high ankle sprain for Rob Gronkowski and limited his effectiveness in the Superbowl vs New York.
This particular stop though was devastating to the Patriots season; as it took possible points away from New England, and put the ball back in the hands of Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens’ offense. Flacco would put the final dagger in the hearts of Bill Belichick’s men as just four plays, and 1:30 later he was throwing his second touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin. This would give the Ravens a 15 point lead in the fourth quarter, an advantage that they would never relinquish.
I’ve been on it all season, but you just can not overestimate the impact of turnovers on the outcome of a football game. This fundamental rule of football only gains in importance in the biggest games, and in this case, the AFC Championship was no different.
Thanks for reading and remember that you can follow me on twitter @lastwordBkerr or get all your site news from @LastWordonSport. Stay tuned tomorrow, as I’ll be releasing my gameball for the NFC Championship game.
