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 Shannon Sharpe talks with ESPN's Suzy Kolber after the Ravens' victory.
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Thursday, January 4
Sharpe's freak play changes game's momentum
Associated Press
BALTIMORE -- Someday, when Shannon Sharpe tells his
grandkids about his 58-yard touchdown catch Sunday, he may not
mention that he ran the wrong route into the right play in
Baltimore's 21-3 wild-card victory over Denver.
Sharpe pulled a twice-deflected pass out of the air and took it
down the sideline for his third career playoff touchdown. The first
two came with the Broncos, whom he spent 10 years with and
accompanied to two Super Bowls before signing as a free agent with
Baltimore in February.
|  | | Shannon Sharpe scored his third career postseason touchdown in the Ravens' win over his former team the Broncos. His first two TDs came with Denver. |
Sharpe's score gave the Ravens a 14-3 lead in the second
quarter. Given the frustration Denver experienced against
Baltimore's record-setting defense, the TD was devastating to the
Broncos.
"It looked like it was going to be an interception and then all
of a sudden it turns into a touchdown," Denver coach Mike Shanahan
said. "You've got to overcome those big plays, and we didn't
overcome it."
The play was originally designed as a pass to running back Jamal
Lewis. But he bobbled Trent Dilfer's throw, which glanced off the
arms of Denver cornerback Terrell Buckley before it was snared by
Sharpe, who followed key blocks by Sam Gash and Pat Johnson
into the end zone.
"It was a situation where I was in the wrong place at the right
time. I got under Jamal's route," Sharpe said. "Jamal's favorite
candy bar is Butterfingers, and he showed it today."
Said Lewis: "It was kind of cold out there to be catching the
ball. I kind of bobbled it and he saved me. I think he had a little
wind behind him, but it took it for a touchdown."
The freak play provided the Ravens the impetus for their first
playoff win in the five-year history of the franchise. Before this
season, Baltimore (13-4) had never had a winning season and had
experienced very little in the way of good fortune.
"Isn't it great? I remember in the past couple of years those
big plays were always against us," Ravens defensive end Michael
McCrary said. "It's great it's finally turned around and we're
making those."
Ravens coach Brian Billick, an offensive whiz whose team has
struggled to score points this year, kiddingly talked about the
touchdown as if it were part of the playbook.
"You have to get the back to bat it up just right," he joked.
"That part's easy enough, but to get the DB to bat it back as well
is the really hard part."
For the Broncos, it wasn't so funny.
"It's just one of those plays where luck was on their side,"
linebacker Al Wilson said. "Shannon was in the right place at the
right time. We had great coverage on the receiver. It was like the
ball bounced off the defender and bounced right into Shannon's
hand. It was unexpected for the defense, and he took it to the
house."
Making a big play against his former team was in no way
perceived as vengeance by Sharpe, who all week said only nice
things about the organization that drafted the tight end out of
Savannah State in the seventh round of the 1990 draft.
"It was just a normal game and I approached it like that.
That's why I'm so calm now," Sharpe said. "I have nothing bad to
say about those guys. I really appreciate the 10 years I had over
there. I still have so many friends over there."
Sharpe even cut back on his nonstop banter, which usually starts
at the opening kickoff and doesn't end until he's walking off the
field.
"We were still talking, but it wasn't the trash talking I would
normally do, because I have so much respect, so much love, for
those guys," he said.
Long after the game, someone asked Sharpe if this is the same
Denver team that won successive Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.
"They're minus (John) Elway, minus a healthy Terrell Davis,"
he said.
And without Shannon Sharpe, the team's career leader in yards
receiving. The Ravens signed him in part because of his playoff
experience and leadership qualities, but on this day his hands were
as important as his mouth.
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