It's official: Wildcard Playoff Round - Patriots vs. Ravens

[upstater1]

So, it's Jets/Texans at Cincy, and Baltimore at Patriots.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

When do we find out what day/time the game will be?

 

[dhamz]

When do we find out the game times..tonight or tomorrow?

Tonight.

When tonight is up to the league. They may wait for the outcome of the Jets/Bengals game or they could announce them earlier with 7 of the 8 match-ups set and game 8 as Hou/NYJ at Cin.

 

[Run DMC]

This is not going to be a cakewalk.

 

[gmtaxi27]

You can bet NBC will choose Dallas/Eagles Saturday night. If that happens, Jets/Bengals will be the early game. We will get the early game Sunday, and Packers/Cards will be the late game Sunday

 

[condon84]

These guys can still bring the pressure and Brady needs to be sharp for us to win. We need to score points.

Our defense cannot be depended on, regardless of who we play. We've managed to make Henne and Orton look All-World QBs. Flacco, although not playing great right now, has the ability and has shown that he can really light it up.

We need to protect Brady and score a lot of points heading into halftime. Because we all know what's coming in the second half...

 

[Run DMC]

I think we need to run a lot, especially with F. Taylor. Ball control and clock management. Dink and dunk. We are much better when we play old school Pats football.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Do most people agree Julian Edelman is a HUGE factor?

 

[102 Pat]

I really hope it's a sunday game, I gotta work saturday at 4pm, working during a playoff game is no fun...

 

[Connecticut]

So regardless of the Jets-Bengals outcome, the Ravens are coming to the Razor?

Go Bengals then!

 

[stcjones]

These guys can still bring the pressure and Brady needs to be sharp for us to win. We need to score points.

Our defense cannot be depended on, regardless of who we play. We've managed to make Henne and Orton look All-World QBs. Flacco, although not playing great right now, has the ability and has shown that he can really light it up.

We need to protect Brady and score a lot of points heading into halftime. Because we all know what's coming in the second half...

Obviously we need to score points.......we also need to prevent collapsing in the 2nd half....a trend which I have not seen the Pats stop from happening very often. Advantage is that we are at home. Will need the OL to step up big from here on out to give Brady time....and open up the running game....I for one, have NO faith in our OL for an entire game. Secondly, will need the defense to play all 4 quarters....get a CONSISTENT pass rush and pressure on the QB and not give up the long pass plays......In all honesty, I don't see this team going very far in playoffs.....too many holes to fill......

 

[chevss454]

These guys can still bring the pressure and Brady needs to be sharp for us to win. We need to score points.

Our defense cannot be depended on, regardless of who we play. We've managed to make Henne and Orton look All-World QBs. Flacco, although not playing great right now, has the ability and has shown that he can really light it up.

We need to protect Brady and score a lot of points heading into halftime. Because we all know what's coming in the second half...

We can stop their run and if we do get a 2 score lead, we can zero in on pass D. But if we dont get better safety help for our CB's, we could be in trouble as you say. Our DB's, imho, have gotten way too much criticism that should have been directed at our safeties for being too quick to jump play-action and too slow to react to deep receivers. Our CB's have talent, and yes, that includes Wilhite, but lack of safety help over the top is making our CB's look bad. Case in point, remember the wide-open NO receiver on that TD? Meriweather's responsibility! but people just assume it was a CB's fault

 

[TriplecHamp]

Do most people agree Julian Edelman is a HUGE factor?

The game could end up being on his shoulders.

 

[blackglass3]

I am afraid of the refs being seen as too leinent on RTP calls against Brady from last time.

 

[condon84]

Obviously we need to score points.......we also need to prevent collapsing in the 2nd half....a trend which I have not seen the Pats stop from happening very often. Advantage is that we are at home. Will need the OL to step up big from here on out to give Brady time....and open up the running game....I for one, have NO faith in our OL for an entire game. Secondly, will need the defense to play all 4 quarters....get a CONSISTENT pass rush and pressure on the QB and not give up the long pass plays......In all honesty, I don't see this team going very far in playoffs.....too many holes to fill......

I just don't see our defense holding up. The Ravens have some playmakers on their team (Flacco, Rice, Mason) and they're gonna score points in the second half. As bad as we are in the second half, the Ravens score most of their points in the second half.

So we need to score as much as we can in the first half. I really don't trust this team in close games this year.

One thing the Ravens do though is self-destruct with penalties. Maybe something to look forward to.

 

[chevss454]

Baltimore defeats Oakland 21-13, clinching a playoff spot and a wildcard game at Foxborough against the Patriots.

Regardless of any other outcomes, this is our opponent.

Pray for SNOW!!!

 

[condon84]

We can stop their run and if we do get a 2 score lead, we can zero in on pass D. But if we dont get better safety help for our CB's, we could be in trouble as you say. Our DB's, imho, have gotten way too much criticism that should have been directed at our safeties for being too quick to jump play-action and too slow to react to deep receivers. Our CB's have talent, and yes, that includes Wilhite, but lack of safety help over the top is making our CB's look bad. Case in point, remember the wide-open NO receiver on that TD? Meriweather's responsibility! but people just assume it was a CB's fault

I blame our troubles in pass coverage to lack of pressure. Our DBs and Safeties are decent and would look a lot better if we had consistent pressure on the QB. Especially when we play zone and rush 3 or 4, we get picked apart. The only way I've seen us get consistent pressure is when we have a good blitz scheme: first half against the Ravens this year/second Buffalo game. How we were able to play those blitz schemes could be the function of the offenses we were playing that gave us those opportunities, even on rushing downs, whatever the case, we need to be more creative and commit to be more aggressive.

 

[T_Brady12]

Is there a picking system for which station gets which game? For example, here in Canada for the NHL Playoffs, CBC gets the first pick, TSN the next, etc.

I'd assume CBS would take our game given the opportunity.

 

[BradyMossWelker]

Its the worst opponent it could be after the steelers, why? because they have experience
We will stil win, because we are better and have more experience, but the ravens wouldn't be my first choice

 

[Mack Herron]

Flacco is not the threat to pass that Shaub is, and Bodden will replace Wilhite in the secondary. Wilfork and Warren will strengthen the front. I believe 21 points will win the game, but that is the problem. Put a safety on top of Moss and that will limit his production (he will need to do better than 50 yards). Edelman can have a good game as he did today (100 yards), and it will not be enough. We will need to run the ball, but I am not confident our O-line is as stout as the Ravens front 7. Injuries to Sammy Morris and Dan Connely could take some thump out of the rushing game. So they will also need production in the passing game out of the tight ends and backs, who also have blocking responsibilities, and the Ravens will blitz. They will need to have a good game plan and execute it with good discipline. No brain farts like we saw today.