While Offense Is Pondered, Colts’ Defense Takes Over With their 20-3 victory Saturday, the Colts sounded a warning shot for the Jets in next Sunday’s A.F.C. championship game and perhaps beyond.

Well-Rested Manning Leads Colts Past Ravens The Colts showed no signs of rust as they dissected a Ravens team that never got in gear. The win sends the Colts to the A.F.C championship game.

Ravens Lineman Can Create His Own Ending The next challenge for the Ravens’ Michael Oher, whose story was chronicled in “The Blind Side,” comes Saturday night against the Colts in Indianapolis, where his past and present will intersect.

RAVENS 33, PATRIOTS 14; Dominating Victory by the Ravens Shakes Up a Dynasty Their injured receiver, Wes Welker, watched from a luxury box, his crutches propped nearby providing a fitting reminder of how fragile the New England Patriots' grip on success has become. Perhaps, if better days are ahead, the Patriots will look back on this season as a blip in their dynasty, the moments when a young team tasted bitter defeat and grew from it. But on Sunday, their glorious past gave way to a miserable present, the Baltimore Ravens overwhelming the Patriots with an 83-yard touc...

For Jets, Success Far Beyond One Playoff Victory The Jets’ win over the Bengals highlighted Rex Ryan’s Baltimore pedigree, from the Ravens players he brought with him, to an overall approach to football.

After Super Bowl Catch, Tyree Is Just Hanging On David Tyree, who helped the Giants win a Super Bowl, has carved a niche for himself on the Baltimore Ravens by excelling on special teams.

N.F.L. ROUNDUP; The Ravens Win and Are In; New England Is Next Willis McGahee ran for a career-high 167 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 77-yarder that included a vicious stiff-arm, and the Baltimore Ravens clinched an American Football Conference wild-card berth Sunday by beating the host Oakland Raiders, 21-13. ''It's not easy to make the playoffs in the National Football League, and our guys did it, and it's been a tough road,'' Coach John Harbaugh said.

Penalties Cost Ravens At times, the Ravens seem to be the only ones who don't realize their tough, physical, old-fashioned brand of football is, these days, often illegal. Baltimore leads the league in penalty yards. On Sunday at Pittsburgh, Baltimore managed to turn a playoff-clinching win into a loss, because of 113 yards' worth of flags. They weren't your run-of-the mill flags, either. Kelly Washington's hold negated a Willis McGahee touchdown. Terrell Suggs's block in the back wiped out a Domonique Foxworth scor...

STEELERS 23, RAVENS 20; Steelers Scrape by the Ravens and Keep Slim Hopes Alive Before Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs together with their computers would have had a hard time figuring out the chain of events necessary for the Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs. But it was pretty simple to the Steelers. ''We knew if we lost, there was no scenario; we're out,'' Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said after the game.

Ravens Are Hovering Over Ocean of Mediocrity In the barren, featureless prairie of the American Football Conference playoff race, an 8-6 team stands out like a mountain. The Baltimore Ravens were determined to hang around .500 this season -- they were 3-3, then 4-4, then 5-5, then 6-6. But they were too good to stay there. A two-game winning streak nudged them above the conference's Even Stevens, and they now control their future. The Ravens are in position for the fifth seed in the playoffs, and a division title is still possible. The Ra...

Rhodes not happy with Jets (Yahoo! Sports) You'd think safety Kerry Rhodes would be absolutely ecstatic to no longer be part of the New York Jets...

The Shutdown Corner hypothetical mock draft, Part 2 (Yahoo! Sports) For our second Shutdown Corner mock draft, we're going throw a couple semi-likely scenarios into the mix.

Michael Vick says he humbled by award, but protesters say he's undeserving (The Canadian Press) BALTIMORE - Inside the banquet hall, a humbled but defiant Michael Vick was honoured Tuesday night as one of 32 NFL players to receive the Ed Block Courage Award.

Vick 'humbled' by Ed Block Courage Award (AP)

Inside the banquet hall, a humbled but defiant Michael Vick was honored Tuesday night as one of 32 NFL players to receive the Ed Block Courage Award. Outside, dozens of protesters expressed dismay over his nomination. The award is presented to players who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.

Ravens Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Ravens finally have the frontline receiver they have coveted for several years.

The question now is, can Anquan Boldin stay any healthier than the Ravens' other injury-plagued wide receivers?

Boldin and a fifth-round pick were acquired from Arizona for third- and fourth-round picks this year.

"Anquan is a player who makes the tough catches and he is outstanding getting yards after catches," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. "He will also help the running game with his blocking skills. He's a very tough competitor and, with the way he plays with passion, he'll fit right in with the foundation we have for our team."

Boldin will likely start opposite Derrick Mason, if Mason returns.

Ravens make up for lost time, sign Anquan Boldin to aid ailing passing game (The Canadian Press) OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Ozzie Newsome has lamented his poor judgment about Anquan Boldin for years.

Chargers claim RB Mason off waivers from Redskins (The Canadian Press) SAN DIEGO - The Chargers have claimed running back Marcus Mason off waivers from the Washington Redskins, beginning the process of restocking their backfield.

Boldin on Baltimore: 'It's a place that fits me' (AP)

Ozzie Newsome has lamented his poor judgment about Anquan Boldin for years. Newsome decided against selecting Boldin in the 2003 NFL draft. Given the opportunity to make things right, the Baltimore Ravens general manager couldn't resist trading for the three-time Pro Bowler. The Ravens introduced their new primary wide receiver to the media Monday, and although Boldin signed a lucrative contract...

Roethlisberger, accused of sexual assault, hires high-profile Atlanta lawyer (The Canadian Press) MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - A high-profile defence attorney hired by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Monday disputed a college student's claim that the two-time Super Bowl winner sexually assaulted her at a Georgia nightclub.

Browsing through free agency's on-sale rack (Yahoo! Sports) The first wave of free agency has come and gone, and while we're not quite at the "bargain bin"...