OWINGS MILLS — The Baltimore Ravens are counting on three of a kind to win their wild-card playoff game Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Ray Rice, Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee comprise a three-pronged ground attack that ranks fifth in the NFL. The trio also combined for 114 receptions, including a team-high 78 by Rice.
Rice ran for 1,339 yards, totaled 2,041 yards from scrimmage and made the Pro Bowl in only his second season. McClain, who led the Ravens last year with 902 yards rushing, proved to be equally adept at fullback this year and earned a second straight Pro Bowl berth.
Then there’s McGahee, a dutiful backup who averaged five yards a carry and scored 14 touchdowns, including three last week in a 167-yard effort at Oakland. His stiff-arm against safety Hiram Eugene during a 77-yard score surely made an impression on the Patriots, ranked 13th in the NFL against the run.
“The backs that they have, the depth they have at the running back position, is very good. They do an excellent job of running the ball, and they also use those players in the passing game,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “They’re good receivers and make a lot of yards on their own after the catch. So it’s the running game, and then the play-action that goes with it.”
The opposition never knows who’s going to be featured on Sunday — and neither do the Ravens.
Rice started against the Raiders before McGahee took over. And, although McClain spent much of the regular season as a blocker, the 260-pounder could conceivably be a factor on the cold, hard turf in New England.
“We have three very good backs, and they all have a role. Going into the game, I don’t think you’re necessarily sure what their role is going to be,” coach John Harbaugh said. “It could be Le’Ron McClain this week. It just might go that direction. I think he’d be happy about that, and he’s capable of having a good game.”
Drafted as a fullback in 2007, McClain was a bruising ball carrier last season behind veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal. After the Ravens let Neal go during the offseason, McClain returned to fullback and played well enough to garner another Pro Bowl trip.
“I just had to make the transition this offseason, keep in mind that’s what I got drafted for,” McClain said. “So I just took pride in it, took pride in my blocking. It panned out. I hope I can continue to do that in the playoffs, help Ray and Willis continue to get their yards.”
There is no jealously among the trio. Only an intense desire to carry their act into the Super Bowl.
“I was always one of those guys that wanted more touches, but right now that’s not the issue,” McGahee said. “The issue is keep going farther in the playoffs.”
McGahee, the 23rd overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft by Buffalo, resented being a backup last year. He has since made the adjustment, a transformation aided by the fact that he scored twice as many touchdowns this season than last.
“It’s been pretty cool. I can’t complain,” he said. “I’m injury-free, everything’s good. Ray went to the Pro Bowl and I got 14 touchdowns.”
