Garrett Downing: This was a better showing for the Ravens, especially the offense. Joe Flacco looked in command and moved the offense down the field. They need to clean up the mistakes and score touchdowns on some of those drives where they get in the red zone, but overall the group showed improvement in the no-huddle offense. Defensively, the secondary struggled with stopping Calvin Johnson once safeties Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard came off the field. Johnson is arguably the best receiver in the NFL, but the cornerbacks have had a tough time stopping the pass in consecutive weeks. And finally, the kicking battle between Justin Tucker and Billy Cundiff continues to stay interesting as they were both perfect on Friday night. That is a competition that could come all the way down to the wire.

Sarah Ellison: That’s what a successful up-tempo, no-huddle offense is supposed to look like. What a difference from last week. The starters didn’t come up with a touchdown because of a few mistakes in the red zone, but they moved the ball between the 20s and Joe Flacco looked in command at the line of scrimmage. The fast pace was taxing on the Detroit defense and factored into two Lions offsides penalties in the first quarter. Just imagine it with Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson in the lineup. Unlike the offense, the secondary’s performance was not an improvement from the Atlanta game. The unit struggled with Julio Jones last week and wanted redemption against Calvin Johnson, but didn’t get it. “Megatron” finished with 111 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Fans finally got to see running back Bernard Pierce in action for the first time and he looked impressive, showing explosiveness with some (correctable) rookie mistakes. Rookies Deonte Thompson and Asa Jackson had special moments to savor even though their touchdowns were brought back. Others who stood out: Matt Birk, Paul Kruger, LaQuan Williams, Omar Brown (again). Room for improvement: Jimmy Smith, Cary Williams, Courtney Upshaw, Nigel Carr and Tyrod Taylor (throwing, not rushing).

Ryan Mink: The Ravens gave the Patriots a heck of a game. It was a classic AFC championship. But that was an absolute brutal, brutal way to lose. You cannot get any closer than that. A touchdown pass gets stripped out of Lee Evans’ hands, then Billy Cundiff misses a 32-yarder to send the game into overtime. Once again in the playoffs, the Ravens fell short of the Super Bowl. This one will sting for a long time.

Garrett Downing: The Ravens came close but it wasn’t enough to take down the Patriots on the road and return to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history. Quarterback Joe Flacco responded to a mountain of criticism this week by playing one of his best games of the season, but a missed field goal by Billy Cundiff at the end of the game concluded the Ravens season with a devastating loss. This one will sting for a long, long time.

Sarah Ellison: Joe Flacco can’t do this by himself. He hit receiver Lee Evans square in the numbers in the end zone, but he allowed a defender to strip it lose. Then they brought out kicker Billy Cundiff to kick a 32-yard field goal, but he shanks it wide left. Nobody will feel worse than those two men. Prior to the mistakes, the AFC’s top two seeds traded blows for 60 minutes, but the Ravens were just a touchdown catch short of a second Super Bowl trip in franchise history. The truth is that Baltimore played inspired football, but there are no moral victories in the AFC championship. It’s heart-breaking for a first-class organization.

Ryan Mink: Thank you, thank you, thank you defense! The Ravens’ offense sputtered for three quarters, but the defense bailed it out. The Ravens’ defensive leaders, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, each played awesome. Cornerback Lardarius Webb showed why he’s one of the best in the game with two interceptions. But it wasn’t as joyous at M&T Bank Stadium as you’d expect after Baltimore advanced to the AFC championship because the offense went nowhere. It’s not a good sign heading into New England next week. But, hey, a win is a win – especially in the playoffs.

Garrett Downing: Just like most of the season, it wasn’t pretty for the Ravens. At times, it was downright scary. But when Baltimore got into clutch time, the Ravens defense came through as the offense struggled. As the Ravens took down Houston 20-13 to advance to the AFC championship, the Ravens’ aging stars shined brightest. Ed Reed played inspired and came up with a clutch interception late in the fourth quarter, and Ray Lewis made several key tackles throughout the game. Turnovers proved to be the difference in this one, as 17 of the Ravens points came off turnovers. The Ravens just narrowly escaped, but at this point of the season, style points don’t matter and the Ravens advance to face the Patriots next week.

Sarah Ellison: These opportunities are rare. So for now, all that matters is that the Ravens advance to the AFC championship game. On one of the biggest stages in sports, it was Ed Reed and Lardarius Webb who came up huge. Webb’s two interceptions tied a Ravens single-game postseason team record. And Reed’s pick essentially sealed the win. Fans will be nervous about the lack of offensive production as the team prepares for New England. After scoring 17 points in first quarter – two touchdowns converted off two turnovers – the Ravens offense went cold. The Texans defensive line overwhelmed the Ravens’ front line. It didn’t matter if Ray Rice was carrying the ball or if it was Joe Flacco (five sacks) dropping to pass, the offensive line had trouble winning battles in the trenches. The defense did enough to push through and the Ravens live another day and are still in the hunt for a Super Bowl ring.

Ryan Mink: What a game. These two playoff teams battled it out from start to finish in a game that will be remembered in Baltimore for a long, long time. The Ravens have been the best team in the AFC North all season long and deserved to be the champions. They went out and proved it on Sunday, beating a very good team on the road that was fighting for its playoff life. Baltimore now gets much-needed rest and will go into the playoffs as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Garrett Downing: The Ravens showed up on the biggest stage of the season and now are heading into the postseason in a position that they have been trying to reach for the last few years. Baltimore will have a first-round bye and home playoff game for the first time since 2006. The Ravens built up an early lead and then survived a late Cincinnati rally, completing a season sweep of the AFC North and putting them in prime position for the postseason.

Sarah Ellison: The Ravens ring in the New Year with a critical win that earns them an undefeated record in the division and all the prizes that come with it: the No. 2 seed, a first-round bye and a home playoff game. That’s an especially impressive feat considering the AFC North is arguably the best division in the NFL. Give the Bengals credit, each time the Ravens punched them in them mouth, they kept coming back. But it was Ray Rice who delivered the knockout blow with a 51-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter (after a forced fumble by Terrell Suggs) and his overall 191-yard rushing day. Dennis Pitta became the answer for the Ravens’ passing game with Anquan Boldin missing and Lee Evans struggling to come alive. And the playoffs start … now.

Ryan Mink: Whew, this one got a little too close for comfort. The Ravens dominated the first half and for much of the second, but a punt return for a touchdown put Cleveland right back in this game. Baltimore still got the win, but wasn’t the same offense without wide receiver Anquan Boldin and right guard Marshal Yanda, who suffered a chest injury in the second quarter. The Ravens also suffered injuries to cornerback Cary Williams and returner David Reed that cause concern going forward. Baltimore’s likely got to win the regular-season finale in Cincinnati to take the division and get a first-round bye, and it’s going to be a battle.

Garrett Downing: The Ravens should have handed the Browns a much more convincing defeat, but a late rally by Cleveland turned the game from a blowout into another gripping finish. Regardless of how they got there, the Ravens maintain control of the AFC North and are still in line for a home playoff game and first-round bye. The final quarter made for a nerve-wracking finish, but the Ravens played well enough overall to win it, and now need just one more win to seal an AFC North championship.

Sarah Ellison: It looked like Baltimore would sail to victory when they were leading at the half by 17 points. But you have to play all four quarters. The Browns made this an uncomfortable contest in the second half with a punt return for six and another late offensive touchdown. Luckily, the Ravens held on for a win and the lead in the AFC North. Victory did not come without its costs, as starting left guard Marshal Yanda, starting cornerback Cary Williams and kick returner David Reed all left the game never to return. Two questions coming into the game were how receiver Lee Evans and kicker Shayne Graham would fare with Anquan Boldin and Billy Cundiff out with injuries. Graham was solid going 2-for-2 on field goals, but Evans was still quiet and was held without a catch. The offense may have stumbled because of the injuries, but you’d like to see more out of it in the second half and as the Ravens rev up for the playoffs.

Ryan Mink: This was disastrous all the way around. The Chargers’ high-powered offense just rolled over Baltimore’s defense in a way that is very rarely seen. The Ravens didn’t get any pass rush and their cornerbacks were beaten by San Diego’s 6-foot-5 wide receivers consistently. This was the first time the Ravens really got BEAT this year, and it’s not what you want to see as the Ravens head into the playoffs. Baltimore has to hope for help now if they’re going to get a home playoff game.

Garrett Downing: For the first time this season, the Ravens suffered a dominating defeat. They had no answers for Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense, which marched up and down the field the entire game. The Ravens couldn’t get pressure on Rivers, and the young cornerbacks struggled to cover San Diego’s big wide receivers. Rivers picked apart the Ravens secondary, which clearly missed a hobbled Lardarius Webb, and fixing problems in the passing defense will be a priority moving forward. The Ravens didn’t have any breathing room at the top of the AFC, and now they no longer control their own destiny. Instead, they’re left counting on Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers to deliver an early Christmas gift with a victory tomorrow over Pittsburgh.

Sarah Ellison: The story of the game was quarterback pressure. Heading into the matchup, the Chargers’ weakness was protecting Philip Rivers – they’ve had 11 different starters on the offensive line. As the NFL leader in sacks, the Ravens were primed to expose that flaw, but didn’t, which allowed Rivers to pick apart the secondary. He specifically picked on rookie Jimmy Smith. With a 17-7 halftime deficit, the first time the Ravens trailed at the break since their loss in Seattle, Baltimore had to abandon the running attack. But Joe Flacco didn’t get the ball moving because he turned out to be the quarterback who was relentlessly under pressure. San Diego took him down five times for 40 yards. The Ravens fall behind the Patriots in the conference, but how much this loss will ultimately hurt in the division depends on what happens tomorrow night in San Francisco between the 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ryan Mink: This was utter domination on both sides of the ball. Yeah, the Colts didn’t have Peyton Manning and they’re down a couple starters on defense. But you can’t just use that as an over-arching excuse. This Ravens team is looking dominant as it heads down the final stretch trying to hang onto the top spot in the AFC. Baltimore’s defense threatened to break the franchise record for fewest total yards allowed in a game. The last unit that did it was pretty good, you know, the one that won a Super Bowl in 2000. The offense was clicking from the start, and once again Ray Rice ran for 100 and Torrey Smith showed he’s a difference-maker. This team is no doubt looking strong.

Garrett Downing: This is the kind of game you expect from a Ravens team hoping to make a deep run in the playoffs. Baltimore dominated Indianapolis the entire game on both sides of the ball, and the Colts never really had much of a chance. The Ravens looked good in just about every fashion, as Ray Rice had another strong game on the ground, Joe Flacco was effective through the air and the defense was flat-out dominant. For the first time since Week 3 against St. Louis, the Ravens blew-out an inferior opponent. The win gives Baltimore its fourth win in a row, and the Ravens are playing their best football in the final month of the season.

Sarah Ellison: Snapping a nearly decade-long, eight-game losing streak never looked so easy. With the playoffs four weeks away, the Ravens put both their focus and dominance on display against the winless Colts. The defensive unit suffocated the Colts’ offense, and was about to set new franchise record for fewest yards allowed (91) until the Colts got the ball back on their final possession. Terrell Suggs continued to make his bid for Defensive Player of the Year with three forced fumbles and three sacks. With 13 total sacks on the season, Sizzle broke his career-high (12) from his rookie season. A balanced and productive offensive attack went cold in the fourth with two turnovers and failing to convert on fourth down, then the Colts got a touchdown in garbage time, but it didn’t matter much. The Ravens are now on a four-game winning streak, and hope to keep momentum as they gear up for a post-season berth.

Ryan Mink: The Ravens ended that whole losing to losing teams thing with a strong win on the road in Cleveland. They ran all over the Browns throughout throughout this game, flexing their muscle in a game they had to have to stay atop the AFC North. It’s tough to know how much was Ray Rice and how much was the Browns’ 29th-ranked run defense, but he went wild on them for 204 rushing yards. Rice has typically had strong Decembers, so it’s a good sign going down the stretch. The defense – minus two miscommunications/breakdowns – was completely dominant as usual. With three straight games against losing teams ahead, it’s a good sign that they polished off the Browns.

Garrett Downing: The Ravens dominated the Browns from start to finish, and played the kind of game people wanted to see from a first-place team hoping to make a run at the Super Bowl. The knock on the Ravens to this point was that they couldn’t win a road game against a sub-.500 team after an emotional victory. Baltimore put that theory to rest with a commanding victory, where they beat the Browns on both sides of the ball. The Ravens controlled the game from early in the first half and rode a career-day from Ray Rice to the victory to keep pace atop the AFC.

Sarah Ellison: Is the Browns’ 29th-ranked rush defense really that bad? Or is Ray Rice and Co. that good? Both. What a fun day for Rice, who finished with a single-game career high 204 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Browns knew the Ravens were going to pound the rock, but could do nothing to stop it. While Rice was all smiles, Billy Cundiff will try to forget his two missed field goals inside the 50. The botched kicks and blown coverage late in the fourth made the game appear closer than it was. The Ravens defense dominated Peyton Hillis and Colt McCoy, and was two plays away from a shutout. Lardarius Webb put the nail in the coffin with his 68-yard punt return for a touchdown. It was a successful day for the Ravens, who conquered a demon by winning on the road against a losing team and maintain the top spot in the AFC North with the 0-12 Indianapolis Colts coming to town.

Ryan Mink: This game seemed to mirror the Harbaugh brothers themselves. It was defensively driven and hard-fought. But in the end, the Ravens were more clutch on offense and more explosive on defense. Baltimore battered 49ers quarterback Alex Smith all game, tying a single-game franchise record with nine sacks. The offense broke through when it needed to on a surgical drive at the end of the third quarter and a difference-making 8-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Dennis Pitta. It didn’t come in the final minutes like Pittsburgh, but that was a signature drive for this offense. Baltimore halted San Francisco’s eight-game win streak and in the process kept their head coach the big brother.

Garrett Downing: The Ravens were dominant in this one, showing the kind of football they are capable of playing and putting forth arguably their best defensive performance since their victory over the Jets. San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith was harassed all night long and never able to get comfortable, which made life tough for the 49ers offense. This victory shows what Baltimore can do when they put a complete game together, and by beating a one-loss 49ers team, the Ravens will be right back in the conversation with the best teams in the NFL.

Sarah Ellison: Somewhere Jack and Jackie Harbaugh are both celebrating John’s win and lamenting Jim’s loss. As expected, this was a hard-fought, defensive clash and it will be Alex Smith who wakes up tomorrow with the biggest aches. Smith was absolutely beat up by the Ravens’ front seven, which sacked him a franchise record (tied) nine times. It also kept the physical Frank Gore to just 39 yards rushing. All that without veteran leader Ray Lewis. The only touchdown of the game, and the first touchdown of Dennis Pitta’s career, gave the Ravens the momentum and they never let San Francisco back in the contest from there. What will make Terrell Suggs happier: his three sacks or the offensive pass to rush ratio (23 passes, 35 rushes)? Running is sure easier when you have a lead. The Ravens will have 10 days to savor this one while resting up for another divisional showdown against the Cleveland Browns.

Ryan Mink: Gritty win by the Ravens all the way around and it’s a big one, putting them right back on top of the AFC North and the entire conference for now. Baltimore found its run game, got big plays in the passing game and the defense’s playmaking side came alive, notching three interceptions and critical pressure on the Bengals’ final drive. What a show for the Ravens’ rookies. Wide receiver Torrey Smith had six catches for 165. Cornerback Jimmy Smith notched a crucial pick (even though he did allow a long score later). Defensive end Pernell McPhee’s sack at the end sealed it. This one nearly slipped out of the Ravens’ hands, but they made enough plays to win one heck of a game.

Garrett Downing: The Ravens sure like to make things interesting. This game looked like it was over at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Bengals never quit and two late scoring drives by Cincinnati kept Ravens fans on the edge of their seats. The Ravens were still able to come out on top, meaning they own the top spot in the AFC North and are tied with the best record in the conference (Steelers and Texans). The offense showed signs of excitement, as rookie Torrey Smith had a huge day, and Ray Rice was an instrumental part of the offense. The late Cincinnati scores were a little concerning, but overall there was plenty to be pleased with in this victory.

Sarah Ellison: You can’t say enough about how important that game was. The Ravens needed it with the AFC North on the line and they snatched the top spot with a balanced offensive attack, three forced turnovers and a huge last-minute defensive stand. Props to rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, who was impressive and brought this game back into reach. A week after Ravens fans cried out for more Ray Rice, who got five carries for 27 yards in Seattle, Cam Cameron fed him the rock 20 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. And wow, Torrey Smith. His 165 yards (and one TD) is the third-biggest receiving day in team history. It could have been more, though, if his dreads weren’t so long. Time for a cut? The bitter taste from Seattle has been cleansed, but there’s not much time to celebrate. Harbaugh Bowl staring Jim’s San Francisco 49ers and John’s Ravens is only four days away.