OT:why no respect for baltimore ?

[SVN]

granted chargers are the #1 team but everyone seems to be confident playing the ravens than the chargers . i think the balt defense is much more experienced than any of the other defenses in the playoffs maybe except the pats and they have a lot more playmakers. With mcnair now they have a decent enough offense too . so why a lot us here seem to prefer ending up playing baltimore than SD ? is it just to avoid LT ?
we talk a lot about people disrespecting the pats but i think baltimore also deserves a little more..as much as i hate billick.
thoughts ?

 

[LloydBraun]

Stop Lewis and the run game, force McNair to throw, hold them to 17 points or so. If we protect Brady, run a little, we can find a way to score 20-24 and win.

Very possible since we do well against the big, Bettis-like backs.

The O-line will be our key, make some holes to run in and protect 12. Then we spread them out on "O", give Brady time to pick them apart, protect the ball and win.

 

[patsfan13]

Well everytime we play the Ravens we stomp them, Brady deals well with the D, their O is based on runing the ball which we defend well. OTOH we have ost (badly) to the Chargers the last 2 times we have played them. Tomlinson may even be better than J Brown by the time he is done (never thought I'd say that about any FB player) and we Gates kills us. I'd rather play the Ravens although Marty isn't the best game coach in the playoffs.

 

[BelichickFan]

I really like how we match up with SD and Baltimore. They have respectable passing games for sure but they're run based and I think we can stop the run as well as anyone, expecially once Wilfork is back.

 

[Fogbuster]

granted chargers are the #1 team but everyone seems to be confident playing the ravens than the chargers . i think the balt defense is much more experienced than any of the other defenses in the playoffs maybe except the pats and they have a lot more playmakers. With mcnair now they have a decent enough offense too . so why a lot us here seem to prefer ending up playing baltimore than SD ? is it just to avoid LT ?
we talk a lot about people disrespecting the pats but i think baltimore also deserves a little more..as much as i hate billick. thoughts ?

Whoa, whoa, whoa !! Who's "not respecting" the Ravens?!
They are a fine team who has been rising to new peaks steadily all year. They will be a *very* serious challenge to whomever faces them; as will the Bolts.

 

[SVN]

Stop Lewis and the run game, force McNair to throw, hold them to 17 points or so. If we protect Brady, run a little, we can find a way to score 20-24 and win.

Very possible since we do well against the big, Bettis-like backs.

The O-line will be our key, make some holes to run in and protect 12. Then we spread them out on "O", give Brady time to pick them apart, protect the ball and win.

again, we are talking about that defense, sure we can hold their running game . this formula of holding a team to 17 and 'finding a way' scoring 20-24 ourselves can be applied all the games played in the season and we can win against any team . doest happen that way.
'protect brady' hasnt worked the best this yr against blitzing teams and balt D is quite good at pressure

 

[PatsSteve1]

I have a lot of respect for the Ravens and I've always liked McNair. The guys a warrior. I don't think any of the possible AFC playoff opponents will be easy games. Some may be a little better matchup than others, but they shoudl all be good games.

 

[Tunescribe]

I believe we match up well against the Ravens. I think we can neutralize their running game, and BB has proven he can contain McNair. Their passing game is efficient but not scary. Their defense is top-notch but beatable. That's why I've been harping on getting that No. 3 seed.

 

[BelichickFan]

again, we are talking about that defense, sure we can hold their running game . this formula of holding a team to 17 and 'finding a way' scoring 20-24 ourselves can be applied all the games played in the season and we can win against any team . doest happen that way.
'protect brady' hasnt worked the best this yr against blitzing teams and balt D is quite good at pressure

Not meaning to rely solely on Football Outsiders but that's the easiest way to take a good, overall quick look.

They have Baltimore #1, Chicago #2, Jax #3 (before this past week when we played Jax). We've played #2 and #3 and averaged 20.5 against them. And those three defenses, while 1,2,3 are pretty much a statistical dead heat - way above the #4 defense but virtually tied themselves (-23.9%, -23.7%, -22.5% with 4th being -11.4% and we're 5th also at -11.4%). So we've scored against defenses basically the same.

Oh, and Baltimore's offense was ranked 15th - ours was 8th and could move up after a good game against the #3 defense.

 

[jbb9s]

I believe the BALT team is more dangerous than SD simply because McNair is in reality a very good former MVP quarterback while Rivers has had 3 or 4 bad games in a row including a one completion half yesterday. In other words, altough both SD and BALT probably outskill the Pats, BB can more effectively shut down SD and their unsuccesful playoff coach as opposed to a top notch game control QB and a coach that has a ring.

 

[Michael]

Stop Lewis and the run game, force McNair to throw, hold them to 17 points or so. If we protect Brady, run a little, we can find a way to score 20-24 and win. .

That was the plan against the Donks last year. And it worked perfectly only the bogus PI flag handed the Donks their first score with less than a minute left in the half.

 

[SVN]

Not meaning to rely solely on Football Outsiders but that's the easiest way to take a good, overall quick look.

They have Baltimore #1, Chicago #2, Jax #3 (before this past week when we played Jax). We've played #2 and #3 and averaged 20.5 against them. And those three defenses, while 1,2,3 are pretty much a statistical dead heat - way above the #4 defense but virtually tied themselves (-23.9%, -23.7%, -22.5% with 4th being -11.4% and we're 5th also at -11.4%). So we've scored against defenses basically the same.

Oh, and Baltimore's offense was ranked 15th - ours was 8th and could move up after a good game against the #3 defense.

i hope it works out like that and is true..Balt D seems to be a lot more fast and has a lot more talented players at all positions. Oddly our team this yr has struggled at pressure D's and blitzes which is quite unsual since brady picks up blitzes quite well...

 

[BelichickFan]

i hope it works out like that and is true..Balt D seems to be a lot more fast and has a lot more talented players at all positions. Oddly our team this yr has struggled at pressure D's and blitzes which is quite unsual since brady picks up blitzes quite well...

I haven't watched a single Raven game - all I have is the numbers. But I doubt they're faster than the Bears.

The only thing that worries me more about Baltimore is that the Bears are a Tampa 2 team (just a lot better at it than Indy) and we've played against that a ton. Baltimore, OTOH, is a lot more disguise and surprise and we haven't played them. That's a concern.

 

[Seymour93]

I really like how we match up with SD and Baltimore. They have respectable passing games for sure but they're run based and I think we can stop the run as well as anyone, expecially once Wilfork is back.

Tomlinson and Brees ripped apart our D last year. The D, the run defense in particular, has improved granted, but Tomlinson is playing even better this season. Rivers is a downgrade to Brees however. Still I'd much rather play the Ravens, but that's looking unlikely.

 

[PatsSteve1]

If the J-E-T-S and Bronco's are the WC teams, that'll mean 3 of the 5 possible playoff opponents have beaten the Patriots and the other 2 will be the top 2 seeds if all holds. I'm not saying the Patriots can't beat these teams, but they've have to play very well to beat any of them. That's winning the turnover and physical LOS battles, play good D, no stupid penalties, execute well and playing smart football.

 

[BelichickFan]

Tomlinson and Brees ripped apart our D last year. The D, the run defense in particular, has improved granted, but Tomlinson is playing even better this season. Rivers is a downgrade to Brees however. Still I'd much rather play the Ravens, but that's looking unlikely.

You're right but our defense back then couldn't touch what we have now. That was the Beisel/Brown era inside

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Baltimore D is physically a rematch with Jacksonville - the challenge will come from the Coaching adjustments.

Baltimore O is decent with a smart QB, but nothing the Pats D can't handle.

Where I don't have any insight on the Ravens is their Special Teams, we've seen time and again how critical the Teams are to field position and momentum shifts.