notes
All according to plan, Koch runs out the clock
Game-ending safety recalls play in Super Bowl XLVII
As startling as it might have been to watch Ravens punter
Facing fourth-and-8 from their 23-yard line, the Ravens did not want to give Cincinnati a chance to turn a 19-12 deficit into a tie. So special teams coordinator
“It was early in the series” when the coaches began formulating the play, Koch said. “Just kind of going over some possible situations that could arise in that situation. When you have someone like Jerry and John and Randy all there, with the minds that they have, it's one of those situations they brought up. So it played out in the end, and we've got to thank Jerry Rosburg for that.”
The play was similar to the one the Ravens used to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. On fourth-and-7 from the Ravens 8 with 12 seconds left, Koch scampered around the end zone until he was forced out of bounds.
After that safety, San Francisco still had four seconds left to potentially return the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. On Sunday, Koch made sure he ran out all 11 seconds before stepping out of the back of the end zone.
“We know what we did wrong in the Super Bowl, and we kind of learned from it and just made sure that everybody did what they needed to and held on as long as they could and ended up winning the game,” he said.
Although several Ravens were flagged for holding Sunday, the Bengals were not awarded an untimed down because they were not defensive penalties.
Harbaugh said Koch would have had options had the Bengals penetrated the protection and pressured him, but the play worked as well as the Ravens could have hoped for.
“I thought our guys did a great job,” Harbaugh said. “Part of the deal was just identifying all of their men, because if we misidentify on the count and leave one guy running through there, he's going to get to Sam, and there's going to be very little time off the clock. Everybody did a great job of communicating.”
“Eighty-nine said I was trash,” Kirkpatrick said of Smith, according to comments distributed to reporters. “If I'm trash, what did he do today? [Expletive], clean that up. Who was trash today? He said what he had to say last year. I just wanted to let him know, am I trash now? Eighty-nine looked to trash me, but he didn't do anything.”
Kirkpatrick was referring to last year's meeting in Baltimore, which Cincinnati won, 28-24. After catching his second touchdown in that game, Smith, who finished with 13 receptions for 186 yards, was caught on camera calling Kirkpatrick and cornerback
Kirkpatrick joins a growing list of cornerbacks who have taken issue with Smith. Jacksonville Jaguars rookie
Smith declined to talk after Sunday's win.
Outside linebacker
“His release point is kind of low,” said Judon, who finished with two batted passes. “He's not a taller quarterback. We were just trying to get our hands up and get some of those balls if we couldn't get to him.”
The opening-drive reception was Perriman's only one of the day, though he was targeted two more times, but it marked his second score in his past three games.
“It really got me going, and it gave me a confidence boost,” Perriman said. “That was a good start.”