DENVER - Among the many challenges facing the Baltimore Ravens here Saturday afternoon is the task of finally starting a January winning streak.
Playoff participants each of the past three seasons, the Ravens have won their first post-season contest only to suffer varying levels of collapse in the second start.
A year ago in the divisional round, a typically strong defensive effort allowed them to beat the Houston Texans and set up an AFC Championship date with the New England Patriots. The Ravens had that one in their grasp, too, with quarterback Joe Flacco outplaying Tom Brady in a game that would have gone to overtime had Billy Cundiff hit a 32-yard field goal in the last seconds.
Two years ago, the Ravens won a wild-card contest against Kansas City, only to blow a 14-point halftime lead to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 31-24 loss.
