Divisional Playoff: Ravens Beat Texans 20-13

The Ravens beat the Houston Texans 20-13 today to secure a matchup with the New England Patriots in next week's AFC Championship Game.

In a closely fought contest, the Ravens were able to make more plays when it counted, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The defense forced three T.J. Yates interceptions, including two by Lardarius Webb (pictured) and one by Ed Reed that essentially sealed the victory. Yates made some good plays and generally played well, but the Ravens defense was just too much for the rookie to overcome. Arian Foster had a huge game, becoming the first opposing running back to rush for over 100 yards in a playoff game against the Ravens. Foster finished with 132 yards rushing and a touchdown, and also added 5 catches for 22 yards. The real strength of Houston's offense in this game was the offensive line, which opened huge holes for Foster and did not allow a single sack.

The Texans defense played like the top-notch unit it has become, constantly pressuring Joe Flacco and sacking him five times, while also corralling explosive running back Ray Rice, holding him to only 60 yards on 21 rushes. Flacco, while not putting up huge numbers, was steady in the face of the pressure, tossing two touchdown passes and no interceptions. Kicker Billy Cundiff connected on both his field-goal attempts, hitting from 44 and 48 yards.

Overall, the game was probably a little more closely contested than most anticipated, but the Ravens, led by their four takeaways, were the better team and came out on top. Now, they head to New England for the AFC Championship, with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

Ravens Huddle Game Balls

Offense: WR Anquan Boldin: 4 catches, 73 yards, 1 touchdown

Boldin's stats weren't off the charts, but the veteran's return to the lineup was huge for the team. He made the plays when the Ravens needed them, and had a 10-yard touchdown catch from Joe Flacco to put the Ravens up 17-3 at the end of the 1st quarter.

Defense: CB Lardarius Webb: 4 tackles, 4 passes defended, 2 interceptions

Webb played like an All-Pro for the Ravens, and shined brighter than all the other playmakers on the Ravens star-studded defense. He came up with two huge interceptions and played great when matched up against Andre Johnson, one of the top-three receivers in the NFL. Webb is really coming into his own as a star on this team, and it's at the perfect time.