What a difference a year makes.

Two teams that were in entirely different positions just a season ago met at M & T Bank stadium this Sunday. One is headed back to the playoffs, the other back to the drawing board.

Baltimore continued to ride the usual elements of success to a 27-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. A potent running game led by Pro Bowler Le’Ron McClain (25 – 70 – 2 TD) and Willis McGahee hit the endzone three times. Joe Flacco continued his steady play under center and just missed his first 300 yard passing performance and the Ravens defense was keyed by the ball hawk Ed Reed whose two interceptions gave him sole possession of the league lead in that category.

Jacksonville is left searching for answers as a shakeup in administration and personnel is expected as a result of a disappointing 2008 campaign. They fought hard for about a half and then coughed up the football four times and were held to their season low in points.

But the real story is the Baltimore Ravens, showing poise and confidence in the season finale to notch their 5th playoff appearance in franchise history. With so much uncertainty about how the team would respond to change, most followers of the club could have only hoped for a .500 season. But new players stepped forward and the team answered the call to more accountability. Now the second season awaits.

And with that the team will travel to meet another success story in the Miami Dolphins, who pulled off quite an impressive worst to first finish themselves. Oddly enough these two teams do have some history together, a Ravens playoff victory in 2001, the Dolphins lone victory a season ago and Baltimore beating Miami earlier this year 27-13 in a game that may have helped save their season.

But there will be plenty to write about in the next few days. I’ll just enjoy a return to the playoffs for now.

Points to Ponder

-Name the five best receivers since 2000 and you probably wouldn’t name Derrick Mason. Quiet and dependable he passed 10,000 career receiving yards during today’s game. He is a model of consistency, professionalism and determination. Can some national media give him some credit, please?

-The Offensive line was strong once again. I’ll mention this later but in a season of surprises this group is the biggest to me. Even with players out they have gelled nicely and have been able to help propel a punishing run game. Re-sign Jason Brown and you have the makings of a solid line for years to come.

-I’ll give Frank Walker his due here. I wasn’t that excited about his signing but he filled in well for Fabian Washington and helped cause an early fumble with a strip. It’s that kind of depth that has helped keep the Ravens in the playoff mix. I lost count of how many players Baltimore has sent to IR this year.

-I was planning a bigger article on this but never got around to it. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance for the halftime celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Colts-Giants 1958 championship game today. About 15 former Baltimore Colts were recognized and there was a dinner held in their honor the night before. By the way I watched the re-mastered game and it looks magnificent. Ownership never seems to forget where pro football started even though the former commissioners did. Goodell grew up a Baltimore Colts fan too.