Ravens' Offense Gives Away Its Chances

BALTIMORE, Jan. 13 -- Derrick Mason violently unhooked his chin strap, ripped his helmet off in disgust and let out a sigh of frustration as the final seconds of the first half elapsed in Saturday's AFC semifinal. The suddenly stout Indianapolis Colts defense was halfway through confounding the Baltimore Ravens, and Mason could sense a promising season slipping away.

That frustration continued for 30 more minutes and into an offseason that, for the Ravens, started too soon after a 15-6 loss at home.

"You have to seize the opportunity," Mason lamented in a somber Ravens locker room. "We just didn't seize the opportunity."

Baltimore's offense languished all game and failed to complement a defense that prevented Peyton Manning and the high-powered Colts from reaching the end zone. The Ravens turned the ball over a season-high four times, failed to wear down the Indianapolis defense with the running game and never harnessed the vertical element in the passing game that made Baltimore so dangerous this season.

"We just didn't execute," quarterback Steve McNair said. "We make a big play, come back and throw an interception, or we get a penalty, a false start, a holding call, things like that. It's just the little things that stopped us from getting into that rhythm."

The Ravens' offense did not score a touchdown in its last eight quarters, a streak that dates from the team's victory over Buffalo in the regular season finale. Mason said having a week off and the first-round bye was not a factor, and several Ravens said the Colts' defense did nothing that surprised them.

Instead, Indianapolis played its cover-2 defense to perfection, with both safeties protecting downfield and denying McNair many opportunities to throw deep. Five times the Ravens completed a pass on third down but did not convert with enough yardage.

And when McNair finally connected on a long pass -- not until the third quarter -- wide receiver Mark Clayton fumbled, and the Ravens were forced to accept a five-yard penalty against the Colts instead of a 48-yard gain.

Turnovers uncharacteristically plagued Baltimore. The Ravens finished first in the NFL with a plus-17 turnover ratio, but were uncharacteristically careless with the ball Saturday.

"You cannot turn the ball over as many times as we did in the playoffs today and expect to win," McNair said.

Tight end Todd Heap lost a fumble in the first quarter, and Indianapolis converted it into a field goal.

In the second quarter, Baltimore's best drive of the game imploded when McNair threw an interception at the goal line. With his team trailing 6-3 and facing third and goal from the 4-yard line, McNair tried to fire a pass over the middle to Heap. Colts safety Antoine Bethea (Howard) stepped in front of Heap and picked off the pass despite colliding with teammate Cato June.

"Once [Heap] went to the left, I just reacted and didn't see the guy on the back side," McNair said.

The Ravens never recovered from that missed opportunity.

McNair, whose past playoff experience seemingly positioned him to lead his new team deep into the postseason, didn't provide the spark he did repeatedly throughout the season. He finished 18-of-29 passing for 173 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 49.9 passer rating.

Afterward, McNair stood at a podium in the depths of M&T Bank Stadium, dressed impeccably in his suit and tie, and tried to articulate his disappointment.

"To end on a shorter note than you intended to, other than Miami," McNair said, "I feel heartbroken."