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INDIANAPOLIS -- This puts to rest the debate about rest, we can hope.


The Colts will host the AFC Championship Game Jan. 24 after a stingy defense and an offense that found enough big plays made the difference between them and the Baltimore Ravens look monstrous.

Indianapolis 20, Baltimore 3.

The Ravens took their first possession 87 yards on 15 plays, but settled for a Billy Cundiff field goal. They struggled mightily to move the ball after that.

And when the big sparks arrived, they could not turn to a fire.

Ed Reed’s first interception of Peyton Manning in the third quarter was given back to the Colts when the intended receiver, Pierre Garcon, chased him down and punched it free for Dallas Clark to recover.

Reed’s second interception, later on the same Colts possession, also didn’t take the ball away. It only happened because Corey Ivy interfered with Clark.

Indy wound up collecting four second-half turnovers.

Offensively, the Colts weren’t phenomenally crisp, but they did some good work against a tough Ravens defense and bounced right up from every big hit. Taking what was available, they didn’t manage a play longer than 20 yards.

Manning connected on 30 of 44 passes for 246 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. The scoring throws to Austin Collie and Reggie Wayne were of the vintage variety.

If they get a defensive effort like this against the Chargers or Jets, Manning and the offense can have a season-worst day and still be punching a ticket to the Super Bowl.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Baltimore Ravens have been an up-and-down team all season, and that trend held true to form Saturday.

Following a dominant, wild-card performance against the New England Patriots, the Ravens fell flat in the divisional round with a 20-3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Baltimore didn’t give itself much of a chance after allowing two touchdowns late in the first half, and accruing seven penalties and four turnovers.

The Colts’ early lead helped them stay one step ahead of the Ravens (10-8), who lost to Indianapolis for the second time this season. When the Ravens did make plays, they couldn’t take advantage. Two big second-half interceptions by Baltimore Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed were negated by a fumble and a pass interference call.

That was the final chance the Ravens had to save their season.

Baltimore fell one game short of its AFC title game appearance from last year. The Ravens will enter the offseason with several needs to improve, including a big-play threat at receiver to help the development of quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Ravens entered the 2009 as a dark horse Super Bowl pick. But their inconsistency throughout the year and in the playoffs was the story of their season.