If there were any lingering doubts concerning the ability of the Baltimore Ravens defense, they are all but gone, dead and buried. With a nation looking on, the Ravens completely stifled and shut down the #2 offensively ranked Denver Broncos, sending them home with their tails between their legs. Aided by a record-setting, crazed and boisterous crowd, Baltimore forced their way onto the national scene. Only once did the Broncos enter Baltimore territory during the entire afternoon, kicking a field goal to avoid an embarrassing shutout. Rookie running back sensation Mike Anderson was held to 40 yards on 15 carries, while Denver quarterback Gus Frerotte may still be wondering what hit him. The turning point of the game came late in the second quarter when Baltimore staged their own version of the "Immaculate Reception". A pass intended for running back Jamal Lewis was bobbled, tipped by a Broncos defender, then grabbed by tight end Shannon Sharpe, who scurried down the sideline for a 58 yard touchdown. The Broncos, who appeared to be in disbelief, never quite recovered. Jamal Lewis led the grind-it-out attack for the Ravens, bursting through would-be tacklers time and again while breaking the backs of the Broncos with a 27 yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter. The story of this game, however, was the Ravens defense. Led by a firey Ray Lewis, Baltimore smothered the Broncos at every turn, sacking Frerotte 5 times and playing perhaps their best pass-coverage game to date. Punter Kyle Richardson repeatedly kept Denver pinned deep in their territory and the Broncos could never get their much vaunted passing attack into gear. Not enough can be said for the effect of the crowd noise in this game. The faithful at PSINet Stadium produced an old time, intimidating atmosphere, sending the message that Denver was doomed from the start. Baltimore fans waited twenty-three years to deliver and made the most of their opportunity. It is now on to Tennessee to face the Titans in the divisional round and win or lose, New Year's Eve 2000 is a day that Baltimore football fans will never forget.