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Playoff time See the best images from the 2010 NFL playoffs. more photos

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updated 12:56 a.m. ET Jan. 17, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS - Dallas Clark struggled to find an opening against Baltimore back in November.

In Saturday night’s rematch, Clark was his All-Pro self.

He caught seven passes for 59 yards, gave four-time MVP Peyton Manning a critical option over the middle and helped open things up for his teammates in a 20-3 divisional playoff victory over the Ravens — a win that ended Indy’s two-game postseason losing streak and quieted any talk of rust.

Indy will host San Diego or the New York Jets in next week’s AFC championship game.

Having Clark back in the mix made a noticeable difference.

When the Colts won 17-15 at Baltimore, Clark had one catch for 3 yards — a TD pass he hauled in with one hand to break John Mackey’s franchise record for receptions by a tight end.

On Saturday, Clark did all the other things Indy has come to expect.

How much did the Colts (15-2) want Clark in the mix? Manning’s second pass of the game went to Clark out of the slot for a 10-yard completion. Five plays later, Manning went back to Clark, who got crunched by Ray Lewis and appeared momentarily to be injured. But he got up and, fortunately for the Colts, continued to play.

Clark caught three passes on Indy’s two touchdown drives. Just having the threat of Clark open over the middle eventually opened things up for players like Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie, whose TD catches in the final 2 minutes of the first half broke open a 3-3 game and allowed the Colts to play keep-away in the second half.

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