— Todd Heap is too modest to single out an opponent after an impressive performance.
But after a 10-catch, 108-yard showing that aided the Ravens' 30-7 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC wild-card round Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, the tight end conceded that he felt confident when he was lined up against rookie strong safety Eric Berry.
"Obviously, I think it's a good matchup anytime I can go up against a safety, but I know he's a good player," Heap said of the 6-foot, 211-pound Berry, who give up five inches and 36 pounds to Heap. "But [him] being a rookie, I just felt like there were a few looks that we could take advantage of."
Heap seemed to enjoy particular success on crossing routes, flashing underneath across the middle for quarterback Joe Flacco as the wide receivers drove the coverage deep.
"There was one play that we have that we probably ran four or five or six times in the game and converted on all of them," Heap said. "Joe was seeing the same thing I was. When the ball was snapped, he read the defense, and I was reading the same exact thing that Joe was reading. Had a little option of either setting down in the zone or beating a guy in man coverage, and most of the time, we were getting man coverage. The lanes were opening up, and Joe was seeing it just like I was, and we were making plays."
Heap said he realized that he could make an impact on the outcome.
"From the snap, there were times when I would say, 'All right, this is it. If I beat my guy, it's going to be a big play,'" he said. "And then there was a few other times where the play had to develop a little bit, but overall, I think the big plays were made by Joe. He played spectacular."
Both the 10 catches and 108 yards are postseason records in the franchise's 15-year history. Four of Heap's grabs converted third downs, and three of the offense's longest plays from scrimmage occurred because of Heap.
After the game, coach John Harbaugh was asked if Heap gets the national acclaim that he deserves. Harbaugh seemed to deflect the question before offering an assertive opinion.
"If there's anybody out there that doesn't think Todd Heap is one of the premier tight ends in the National Football League, then they probably haven't paid attention over the course of his career," Harbaugh said.
Nakamura takes blame
Safety Haruki Nakamura offered a mea culpa for his decision to lateral the ball during an interception return that the Kansas City Chiefs recovered for a fresh set of downs in the third quarter.
On third-and-11 from Kansas City's 19-yard line, Nakamura grabbed a pass from quarterback Matt Cassel that tipped off the hands of rookie tight end Tony Moeaki. During the return, however, Nakamura tried to pitch the ball to free safety Ed Reed, but the lateral fell short and Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles recovered the fumble.
The defense later stopped Charles on fourth-and-1 from the Ravens' 33, but Nakamura was embarrassed by his gaffe.
"It was just a bone-headed play," he said. "It was one of those situations where you're trying to make a play after a good play's already been made and then disaster happens. I'm very fortunate that we have a great defense, and they did a good job on that fourth-and-short."
Ravens blank Bowe
The defense did what only one other team had done this season: shut out Pro Bowl wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
Bowe, who led the NFL in touchdown catches with 15 and caught 72 passes for 1,162 yards, was virtually non-existent as Cassel didn't even target him once. Only the Denver Broncos on Dec. 5 had blanketed Bowe as well.
Cornerback Chris Carr said while wary of Bowe, the secondary had also done its fair share of studying him.
"I just think coming into the game, we were pretty confident," Carr said. "We knew he's a really good player and he catches the ball very well, but I felt very confident that those bigger types of receivers, it's kind of easier for me to read their routes. And so it's good when you meet up to your expectations."
Defense rebounds
Highlights from Sunday's playoff game will include Charles' 41-yard scamper through the left side that gave the Chiefs a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter.
Aside from that single play, Charles rushed for just 41 yards on eight carries, and Ravens defensive end Cory Redding said the key to containing Charles entailed a minor adjustment on the part of the defense.
"That long run wasn't him. That was us," Redding said. "A guy got off of a gap, something he never does, but he made that one mistake and Jamaal Charles took advantage of it. From that point on, we said, 'You know what? He won't get anything if everyone just holds their gaps and pursues to the ball.' Great play by Charles. He saw the hole and he took off. Made a couple guys miss. But if we didn't give up that gap, he wouldn't have had that long run."
Suggs, Ngata back in starting lineup
As expected, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (right knee) and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (thigh) started Sunday. Both Suggs and Ngata had practiced Friday after sitting out Wednesday's and Thursday's sessions and were listed as questionable.
Three players who were also questionable — Reed (ribs), cornerback Josh Wilson (head) and Dannell Ellerbe (head) — played with Reed and Wilson starting.
The team deactivated rookie kick returner/wide receiver David Reed (torn ligament in left wrist). Reed practiced fully last week and was listed as probable, but he has been forced to wear a hard brace to protect the wrist, which made it difficult for him to hold the football in his left hand.
The Ravens also scratched a pair of injured players in free safety Tom Zbikowski and linebacker Tavares Gooden. Both Zbikowski (bulging disk in his back) and Gooden (dislocated left shoulder) had practiced on a limited basis and were questionable.
The team deactivated tight ends Davon Drew and rookie Dennis Pitta, defensive tackles Lamar Divens and rookie Arthur Jones and fullback Jason McKie.
Hall of Fame beckons
Art Modell, the Ravens majority owner from 1996 to 2003, isn't among the final 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Modell hasn't been a finalist for the Hall of Fame since 2001. His candidacy has been a hot-button issue with voters because of his unpopular relocation of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in February 1996.
Two former Ravens — tight end Shannon Sharpe and cornerback Deion Sanders — did make the cut. The selection committee will announce the inductees Feb. 6, the day before the Super Bowl.
Here are the 17 finalists (* - senior nominee): Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Dermontti Dawson, Richard Dent, Chris Doleman, Marshall Faulk, Charles Haley, *Chris Hanburger, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Andre Reed, *Les Richter, Willie Roaf, Ed Sabol, Sanders and Sharpe.
End zone
When the Chiefs' challenge of an 11-yard Flacco-to-Rice completion for a first down was denied, it marked a rarity for the Ravens. Before Sunday, opponents had been 4-of-6 this season when challenging plays against the Ravens. The last time the Ravens had won a challenge issued by an opposing team occurred on Dec. 13 when officials upheld a ruling that a pass from Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub to wide receiver Kevin Walter was incomplete. … Charles' 41-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the second-longest in Kansas City's postseason history. … The Chiefs deactivated wide receiver Chris Chambers, who started seven games opposite Pro Bowler Dwayne Bowe. Chambers, who was not listed on the team's injury report, had caught just 22 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. Rookie Dexter McCluster, who has caught 21 passes for 209 yards and a score, and Terrance Copper, who has caught 18 passes for 157 yards, will likely fill in for Chambers. Kansas City also scratched wide receiver Quinten Lawrence (illness), fullback Mike Cox, safety Reshard Langford, linebacker Charlie Anderson, center Rudy Niswanger and defensive tackle Anthony Toribio. Tyler Palko was the third (emergency) quarterback. … Linebackers Ray Lewis, Brendon Ayanbadejo and Suggs, Reed, Mason and quarterback Joe Flacco represented the Ravens for the coin toss.