No one is talking about that one team......

IllegalContact said:

I was talking about the Ravens .....

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My mistake, that's been the Patriots MO in recent seasons so I figured that was who you were referring to.

Ivan said:

My mistake, that's been the Patriots MO in recent seasons so I figured that was who you were referring to.

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a couple of years ago, bad ones (matt flynn, vince young, chad henne, ryan fitzpatrick, dan orlovsky, jason campbell all threw for over 300 yards in 2011.....a couple over 400 yards)

This year Pitt > Baltimore.

Oswlek said:

"No one" as in "everyone"? You literally can't go a single day without someone saying "watch out for Balitmore!" or "Baltimore is a bad match up for the Patriots!"

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Agreed

Bruschi in his chat featured Baltimore as the tough post season matchup against the Pats.

While I agree they could be tough (PI calls as Flacco throws long, rinse & repeat) the 2014 Patriots are both physically and mentally tough and have a FAR better defense than recent Pats teams that lost to Baltimore.

mayoclinic said:

I don't see Baltimore as a bad matchup for the Pats. They have no secondary, and I think Flacco would make a ton of mistakes against ours. Any given Sunday, but Pittsburgh to me is much more formidable than Baltimore.

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PatsWickedPissah said:

Agreed

Bruschi in his chat featured Baltimore as the tough post season matchup against the Pats.

While I agree they could be tough (PI calls as Flacco throws long, rinse & repeat) the 2014 Patriots are both physically and mentally tough and have a FAR better defense than recent Pats teams that lost to Baltimore.

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The only thing that worries me about Baltimore is the 2007 Giant possibility their pass rush presents. I don't think they'd move the ball easily against NE, but I could see a 20-17 game where NE struggles on offense and Baltimore makes just enough plays (long DPI, strip sack) to pull it out. Of course, just like the Giants needed a 1 out of 1,000 formula to break perfectly, I don't think it's likely that Baltimore wins, just that it's a lot easier to picture than Indy or Cincy coming to Foxboro.

Pitt might be a little scary against on offense, but their defense is terrible. NE could sleepwalk their way to 30 and just a B effort should put a 40-burger on the board.

Kid~Brady said:

Baltimore!!!

Yes, yes... I know. They don't stack up against the Pats on paper and I really don't think they'd beat the Pats. However, if there's that one team that's not afraid of the Patriots, at home, its them. We've seen what they can do here in the playoffs on multiple occasions. I think they are that one team that could maybe upset the Pats.

Thoughts?

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No team is afraid of another team, or a stadium. Teams win because they play better. Games are not decided because a team is or isn't afraid of the other.
The Ravens used to match up well against us. If they still do, they will be a tough opponent but I don't think they still do, and those games from 2009 and 2012 will have nothing to do with this one.

IllegalContact said:

a couple of years ago, bad ones (matt flynn, vince young, chad henne, ryan fitzpatrick, dan orlovsky, jason campbell all threw for over 300 yards in 2011.....a couple over 400 yards)

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But we won every one of those games and the yards were mostly in garbage time so it was't really meaningful.

IllegalContact said:

a couple of years ago, bad ones (matt flynn, vince young, chad henne, ryan fitzpatrick, dan orlovsky, jason campbell all threw for over 300 yards in 2011.....a couple over 400 yards)

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I don't care about yards at all they're usually ahead and they play a bend don't break defense, the only stats that matter are turnovers and points.

true.....but we're digressing from the OP

the ravens would not be much of a mystery

When you look at the AFC, the only team people should not be "talking about" is Indianapolis.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Agreed

Bruschi in his chat featured Baltimore as the tough post season matchup against the Pats.

While I agree they could be tough (PI calls as Flacco throws long, rinse & repeat) the 2014 Patriots are both physically and mentally tough and have a FAR better defense than recent Pats teams that lost to Baltimore.

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Pretty much says it all right there. Watch the PI flags as Flacco throws blindly off his back foot into double and triple coverage. One of the most grossly overpaid players in the game.

My only question on this matchup is who covers Steve Smith if Torrey is being covered by Revis?

Balt is well coached, experienced, with an excellent front 7 and a decent QB. Seems reasonable to be concerned, although I still think we would be justified as 7 pt or greater favorites at home.

Patjew said:

I actually feel like people aren't talking about Denver very much these days. After the Pats beat them they seem like almost an afterthought but they're still tied for the best record in the league.

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They've been winning because of their defense, run game, and the officials. But Brady rips that defense a new one anyway, our run defense is hugely improved, and the home team is often the beneficiary of more calls than not.

I don't fear anything in the AFC as long as we secure home field.

The steel city steelers are looking pretty tough!

Patriot Missile said:

Pretty much says it all right there. Watch the PI flags as Flacco throws blindly off his back foot into double and triple coverage. One of the most grossly overpaid players in the game.

My only question on this matchup is who covers Steve Smith if Torrey is being covered by Revis?

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I'd be flipping Revis and Browner between the two. You never know, Browner could rough up Smith Sr to the point of throwing a punch. You can't make plays from locker room.

Patriot Missile said:

Pretty much says it all right there. Watch the PI flags as Flacco throws blindly off his back foot into double and triple coverage. One of the most grossly overpaid players in the game.

My only question on this matchup is who covers Steve Smith if Torrey is being covered by Revis?

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I'd double Torre Smith and let Revis handle that scary little bastard Steve Smith 1 on 1.

Outside of the reality that EVERYONE you play in the playoffs can beat you, the entire AFCN have been a division of frauds fattening up on the 2 worst divisions in the league and then splitting with each other. They will feast off off of their past reputations and the luck that will probably allow 3 teams to make playoffs. Quite frankly, if any of them had to play the Bills in Buffalo, I'd pick the Bills over any of them.

Trust me, I haven't forgot about the ravens.

Shouldn't we be more worried about Buffalo? Denver is still nipping at our heels trying to get the top seed, and Buffalo is looking like a dangerous team to face on the road. They beat Green Bay there this week. They could potentially beat us there in the last week as well, I assume.

MassPats38 said:

Not the team they were in years past. They have beaten chumps and lost to good teams this season. The defense is what made them problematic in past meetings. Good run defense, so teams just throw on them (early and often). They are decent in points scored, but take out the NFC South games and not all that impressive.

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The reality is Baltimore can win with the help of some serious injury

Welker- 2009.

Gronk.....Talib- 2012.

The reality is the 2012 AFCCG was well in hand before Talib performed his disappearing act. Talib doesn't get hurt............Patriots win by 10-15 points.

Baltimore has a chance if Gronk and Revis go down.