It's not often that a guy from Auburn praises a player from Alabama.
But that was the case in Baltimore's locker room Sunday after the 27-26 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, as cornerback Jerraud Powers (Auburn) talked up linebacker C.J. Mosley (Alabama) for his role in preventing the game-sealing two-point conversion.
Mosley tipped the pass at the line of scrimmage from quarterback Carson Wentz and Powers had tight coverage on wide receiver Jordan Matthews to force the incompletion and give the Ravens a nerve-wracking victory.
"I don't really credit a lot of Alabama guys on their play, but C.J. is a hell of a player," Powers said. "C.J. had a heck of a game. He had a [tipped pass] and I was over there just in position to finish it."
The failed conversion attempt came with just four seconds left in regulation after a nine-play touchdown drive by the Eagles. Philadelphia was in position to erase Baltimore's 10-point lead after putting up a field goal and touchdown in the final 2 minutes, 22 seconds.
Rather than kick an extra point and play in overtime, the Eagles (5-9) opted to go for the win. The decision came as no surprise to the Ravens.
"If you watched it, I don't think anyone on defense ran off the field. It was almost like we knew what was about to happen," Powers said. "They could have easily kicked it. But, they really have nothing that they're playing for, so of course they're going to go for the win. We knew, as a defense, that we have so many great leaders and so many great players, that if everyone just stayed calm and everyone respected the process, and if the opportunity was there, we were going to make a play. And we did it."
While the Eagles had little to lose on that conversion attempt in terms of their playoff lives, the Ravens' season was very much on the line. If the Eagles had converted on the two-point try, they would have won the game and likely put the AFC North crown out of Baltimore's grasp.
In that critical situation, Ravens Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees went with an all-out blitz to pressure the Eagles rookie quarterback. Wentz had to get rid of the ball in a hurry, and Mosley was in an ideal spot to get his hands on it.
"This is one of our calls we call a lot down there in the red zone," Mosley said. "Just everybody executed. Even if I didn't get a hand on the ball, [Powers] did a great job covering. He probably would have got this hand on the ball too."
Now the Ravens go into next week's meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers still very much in control of their playoff destiny. They will win the AFC North if they win their final two regular-season games, and the Ravens hope to carry over some of the excitement from their final stop in Sunday's victory.
"Right now, we're trying to get into the playoffs, and you need all the momentum possible. We know that if we get hot at the right time, heading into the playoffs, we can cause some damage," Powers said. "We need to make sure we are hot on all phases. No matter if we get a home playoff game or we go on the road, wherever. We are confident enough in our team – in our abilities – that we can play wherever."
