KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed battled through Sunday's playoff victory at the Kansas City Chiefs despite worrying news about his missing brother.
Reed's younger brother Brian has been missing since Friday near New Orleans and several media reports say he jumped into the Mississippi River while trying to elude police officers during a traffic stop.
Police called off a search of the river for the 29-year-old Saturday but the Ravens' Pro Bowler still took to the field and was part of an impressive Ravens defense that forced five turnovers in a 30-7 rout.
"My family kept me focused, my older brother called me and said 'do what you do, handle your business, take care of everything', it was just a matter of being focused, being around my second family and doing my job," said Reed.
The safety, who has eight interceptions this season and 54 since he joined the NFL in 2002, said he received plenty of support from his Ravens team mates before the game.
"They supported me in so many ways, so many prayers," said Reed. "They have just been team mates, like they are, just being another family gathering around and giving me strength."
Reed was given the team ball following the 30-7 win at Kansas City.
"They gave me the team ball for my family, it was just a respect thing," Reed said, adding that he and his family have not given up hope of finding his younger brother.
"We are still kind of looking, trying to find out things, keeping in constant contact to see what is going on," he said.
"At the end of the day it is in God's hand, there is a bigger picture to life. This is a child's game we play.
"I wasn't worried about football, that was the last thing I was worried about."
(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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