[Editor’s note:  Former Broncos G.M. Ted Sundquist looks at the butt-kicking that the Giants administered on the Ravens in Week Eleven.] 

At this point there really is no question who controls the NFC. The Giants took on one of the best the AFC had to offer and finished them off with a 20 point victory. Baltimore has a defense that had shown to be fully capable of slowing down New York’s balanced attack. The Ravens were allowing only 65.4 rushing yards per game, while the Giants had only run under 100 yards once all season (4 times for 200+). Baltimore was controlling just about every defensive category and the Giants presented as complete a challenge on offense as they had faced all season.In the end something would have to give. And it was the Ravens’ defense.

The Ravens had stymied opponents on the ground all season. Baltimore hadn’t surrendered over 100+ yards via the rush all year and only 32.5% of the oppositions’ runs were reaching four or more yards. On the other hand, the Giants were generating 4+ yards per carry at an outstanding 48.1%.

The force of this efficiency on both sides was sure to collide and KEY #1 was for New York to maintain their inside run game behind OC Shaun O’Harra & OG’s Rich Suebert & Chris Snee. New York went to the ground almost 55% on first down and despite Baltimore’s success at stopping such I felt they would stick with the usual game plan. They did.

A bit surprisingly the Giants rushed for 207 yards on 33 carries, more than shattering the Ravens’ previous ceiling. New York found 5 runs of 4+ on first down, 9 total. But it was three big runs of 15, 22 & 77 that help lead directly to 17 points. The Giants interior stayed patient in the face of Baltimore’s front 7. LB’s Ray Lewis and Bart Scott were ultra productive with 18 combined tackles. But the “Earth, Wind and Fire” attack of the Giants ripped off more “big plays” than the Ravens had seen all season and kept the pressure off QB Eli Manning (he was sacked only once).

The Ravens had protected their rookie QB Joe Flacco for most of the season with a steady diet of run on first down as well. Baltimore went to the ground a League high 67% of the time to start a series and New York would want to force Flacco into more 2nd/3rd & long scenarios than he had previously seen. This would open up an opportunity to put some pressure on the young QB with a defense ranked 3rd in sacks.

KEY #2 was to slow down the rushing attack of Baltimore so that the burden would be on Flacco. The Ravens were held to just 47 yards on 18 carries by their RB’s Rice, McGahee and McClain. Flacco led all rushers with 57 yards, scrambling from pressure. Minus a 17 yard reverse and a 30 yard scramble, Baltimore managed only 17 yards from 13 carries on first down (1.3 avg).

The Giants then brought pressure to the tune of 1 sack and 3 hurries. Flacco threw 2 interceptions, one of which was returned 50 yards for a score. The Ravens faced eight 3rd & longs (> 6 yds) on the day and finished 5 of 12 overall.

WR Derrick Mason had nursed a shoulder injury much of the week and was made a game time decision to activate. In the end it paid off as the Ravens’ star collected 7 receptions for 82 yards, 11.7 per catch. I felt that minus a downfield threat, Flacco would be forced to find his short routes (KEY #3) to fend off some of the impending rush of the Giants front four. Even with the productive Mason, Baltimore turned to its RB’s for 9 receptions, 56 yards and a score. Rice, McGahee and McClain did their part to keep the chains moving and slow down some of the pressure of the New York defense. But already trailing 20-3 by halftime, the short yardage passing wasn’t going to “pull” the Ravens back into the game.

KEY #4 hinged on the assumption (as they had all season) of Baltimore controlling the Giants on the ground. This would place a greater emphasis on shutting down the trio of talented wide outs for New York; Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith and Amani Toomer. Manning spreads the ball around well in their offensive scheme and the Ravens had shown some cracking in their downfield coverage. With a beat up secondary, it would be paramount to control the “big plays” of these three. But Baltimore couldn’t stop the run and the Giants merely “balanced” their attack with production from the pass. The group would finish with 6 receptions for 73 yards, 12.1 average. Significant would be that 5 of the 6 would turn first downs. Manning only threw for 153 yards (13 of 23), but converted 6 of 10 third downs and efficiently used his WR’s to do so.

KEY #5 played out to a degree. Baltimore’s PK Matt Stover had converted every kick under 40 yards on the season, but was only 2 of 6 beyond that distance. I felt in a close defensive battle, every scoring opportunity would be vital to capitalize upon. The Giant defense rarely let their opponents travel into the red zone and Stover might be faced with converting some scoring drives from beyond 40 yards. On their second possession Stover had a 42 yard attempt blocked and recovered by the Giants on the Baltimore 33. Six plays later New York would score to make it 13-0.