strngplyr
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Differnece being, the chargers are a horrible match up for the ravens... while the patriots not so much
Care to go into detail?
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Differnece being, the chargers are a horrible match up for the ravens... while the patriots not so much
Care to go into detail?
Differnece being, the chargers are a horrible match up for the ravens... while the patriots not so much
Well out of this schedule the Patriots only faced 1 team in the top four ranked defenses, PIT and we all now how that went. They also only faced a total of 3 teams in the top ten. Beating Jets and PHI. So my point is, that how you guys think the Ravens defense hasn't been tested my elite offenses, we in Baltimore think that the Patriots offense hasn't been tested by elite defenses.
They will both meet in what should be a good game, and it's pretty naive to think that this game will be a cakewalk for the Pats.
While you can say we haven't been tested strongly this season, it really doesn't say all that much given the fact that Brady has been the best QB in the league since '07 and HAS been tested.
'10 faced Jets twice (ranked 6th), put up 59 points between 2 games before the playoff disaster. Put up 23 against the Ravens (3rd), 39 against the Steelers (1st), 36 against the Bears (4th), 31 against the Packers (2nd). Thats averaging 31.3 PPG against the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th ranked defenses.
Before you say "oh, that's last year", it's practically the same offense, just improved (health, O-line, experience for TEs) and the scoring difference between '10 and '11 is just 5 points (0.4 PPG).
Brady and the offense has been tested against elite defenses and we've fared pretty well...
Well if you use that logic during the past few years the Ravens defense has been tested by many elite offenses and came out on the winning side, and they're practically the same unit with a few better upgrades in the secondary.
Last year: NO (24) NE (L 23 OT) 09: IND (17) NE (L27 W14) SD (26).
But i think it's pretty illogical to go into last year because then we would have to go into each teams new additions and subtractions. K
Kinda like it's naive as a Ravens fan to believe that because of Baltimore's win in 09, it's gonna be a cakewalk for the Ravens this year. So yes I'm sorry I had to say "oh but that's last year" because yes the Pats O has only improved since last year, the teams they faced can be totally different now.
I'm going back 1 year to an offense that's practically the same. The only real difference from last year is the addition of Riddly, healthy Welker, Hernandez and Gronk becoming beasts, and our O-line improved with Connolly replacing Koppen at C, Solder/Cannon taking over for the injured Volmer, and Water replacing neal at RG. Thats IT. And those are ALL improvements over last year.
You are dismissing the actually issue here by trying to turn it into something it's not. I addressed your SPECIFIC point: The Pats offense hasn't been tested vs elite defenses. I showed that it has and has performed extremely well. Your counter is simple "Different years, different teams"? As I showed above, it's the same offense 1 year removed, that's now improved. Trying to then spin it like "I could compare the Ravens defensive performances to XYZ since '09" is disingenuous because it was never the question. Your comment was not "vs Balt" it was "vs elite defenses". In fact, you were the one who pointed out our game vs the steelers this year, so it appears you are directly contradicting yourself when you say I'm being illogical by assessing the Pats play against teams other than the Ravens. You are also being unfair to count this years game vs the Steelers while conveniently ignore the ass-whooping we gave them last year with the same offense.
I'm not comparing defenses to this year or anything. I'm simply showing that the offense we have this year (which is the same as last year and performed nearly identically) HAS had great success against the very best defenses. It's not a stretch and it's perfectly fair.
I don't think you read what I wrote clearly. I did say that the Patriots offense since last year has only improved.
But my opinion is that the Patriots of this year have not been tested by that strong of defenses this year,like the opinion that the Ravens defense has not been tested by strong offenses this year. The reason I'm comparing Ravens defense to Pats offense is because the Pats offense is the Patriots strongest side while the Ravens defense is the Ravens strongest side. And I brought up the whole thing about the Patriots not being tested by strong defenses to counter the whole thing about Ravens not being tested by strong offenses.
I just LOVE that "sub .500 teams" yarn. Who do you think put 'em there, ya foo? Subtract the Patriots' wins, and you've got some decent, if not Ravens-like, records. Jets w/o Pats games: 8-6. Broncs, 8-7. Chargers, Raiders both 8-7. Cowboys? yep, 8-7.
Meanwhile, I'll gladly take our 3 losses (to 12-4 Pitt, a resurgent Jints team, and a clunker against a divisional rival) over your 4 chokes to some questionable (read: lousy) teams... all day.
I don't think you read what I wrote clearly. I did say that the Patriots offense since last year has only improved.
But my opinion is that the Patriots of this year have not been tested by that strong of defenses this year,like the opinion that the Ravens defense has not been tested by strong offenses this year. The reason I'm comparing Ravens defense to Pats offense is because the Pats offense is the Patriots strongest side while the Ravens defense is the Ravens strongest side. And I brought up the whole thing about the Patriots not being tested by strong defenses to counter the whole thing about Ravens not being tested by strong offenses.
hmm.. maybe we should ask the Giants or Pittsburgh.. oh right.. your offense is peaking.. and our defense is stagnant..
The Patriots might struggle to score 20+ points.. if the Ravens execute that is..
Problem is the Patriots might score 30 and still lose, with the defense they have..
(Boldin, Evans, Smith, Pitta, ****son, Ray Rice, Leach) is no joke against a bottom half defense.
Its tough sledding.
Y'all better hope you can get to Flacco with a 4 man rush
Spin it how you wish.
I feel confident taking the Ravens league leading 68.8 QB avg rating against into the AFC Championship game in Foxborough against Tom Brady.
I suspect as has obtained in the past TB will end up in the low 80's against the Ravens and nowhere near 35 points as he struggles against the #1 Ranked pass defense (by QB rating) in the league.
The Ravens defense is not an illusion boys and girls.. sorry to burst your bubbles.
It is as much an illusion as your high powered offense.
What should be of concern:
Brady cannot score if he is not on the field.
Is your defense and its 5th worst 43% 3rd Down rate up to the task ?
I think not.
Not against (Rice, Boldin, Smith, Evans, Pitta, ****son)
and the 7th ranked Baltimore 3rd down conversion (42%) rate.
Strength against Weakness.. whoop there it is.
Brady cannot pass when he is on the bench.
The new Pats defense has a very small sample size (a game and a half) but its very different from the Pats bad defense majority of season.
1. 4-3 switch to 3-4.
2. Chung and Spikes have returned, run D goes from average to very good.
Pitt....22
Tenn....21...L
SL.......32
NYJ.....13
Hous...10
Jack....29...L
Ariz.....24
Pitt.....22
Seat....23 L
Cinn....18
SF......11
Cleve...30
Indy.....28
SD......5....L
Cleve...30
Cinn....18
Cake walk regular season
Rich coming from fan of a team who only managed to knock Yates on the ground twice, and didn't even sack him......give Brady that time you're going to come back down to Earth with a bang!
We are not conceding 30 against you guys Rice is the key...shut him and the run gown down and Flacco chokes.
Stop Rice and you stop the Ravens.
The Ravens have the worst passing offense of teams remaining in the post season. FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2011 OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY RATINGS The Baltimore offense relies heavily on Ray Rice. The Pats D is good enough to slow him down significantly. This isnt 2009 anymore.
Flacco isnt good enough to carry the Ravens to victory. FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2011 QUARTERBACKS Mark Sanchez and Joe Falcco are alike. Both 57% completion passers. Thats good enough to beat the Texans with Yates at QB, but not good enough to win vs the elite QBs in the NFL like Brady and the Mannings. Cam Camerons play calling leaves much to be desired as well. Perhaps he doesnt have the confidence in Flacco and thats why the play calling is erratic.
You have to pass the ball to beat the Patriots.
Could you post the defensive rankings of the Patriot opponents as well as their end of season win/loss record ?
Ravens were 12-4 which included 9 games against teams with winning records , 8 games against teams that made the playoffs.
How'd y'all get to 13-3 ?
A Patriot Fan using the term Cakewalk Season to describe another team is the definition of irony.