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Reaching a Stopping Point
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Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner who was starting his second game because Steve McNair and Kyle Boller were out with injuries, was sharp, completing 16 of 27 passes for 171 yards. He led Baltimore to three touchdowns -- something that happened only one other time this season -- and his teammates praised his poise and leadership. His 15-yard touchdown pass to Devard Darling late in the third quarter gave the Ravens a 27-7 lead, their biggest of the season.
Baltimore piled up 180 yards on the ground, despite missing Willis McGahee (cracked ribs) -- who entered the final week as the league's fifth-leading rusher (1,207 yards) -- and veteran backup Mike Anderson (hamstring). Musa Smith, who had never had more than seven carries in a game, gained 83 yards on 22 carries, and scored a two-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive.
The seldom-used Cory Ross -- whom linebacker Bart Scott once referred to as "Kirby Puckett," due to his squat, 5-foot-6, 201-pound frame -- had 72 yards on just 12 carries, and broke free for a 32-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, juking safety Anthony Smith in the process.
"That's been our theme the whole season: next man up," said wide receiver Derrick Mason, who became the first player in Ravens history to surpass 100 receptions in a season (he finished with 103). "Whoever's up, you got to come in and get the job done. . . . We won this game because the defense did a great job and everybody stepped up, but I think the most important part was because of Troy. He stayed calm throughout all that we were going through today."
Summary, E11
