Random thoughts after a near heart attack:
Pats are only the 3rd conference champion to win the game with a -2 (or worse) turnover differential. Forty-seven other times the team that does that lost. Amazing the Pats pulled this game out considering turnovers against that Ravens D had to be avoided and weren't.
Pats won a game in which "Good Flacco" showed up. He threw some pinpoint lasers in good coverage (the sideline throw to Evans was sick, as was the skinny post to Boldin). He also made some throws on the run. Fortunately he missed some open guys deep, but he was definitely good enough.
Pats won this game in which their offense stalled in the red zone 3 times. The Ravens' D clearly had a lot to do with this, but so did the Pats as Brady missed Gronk for a wide-open TD and for whatever reason BB didn't challenge the Gronk catch that was ruled OOB (looks like he got both feet in on the replay). Opportunities had to be taken advantage of against Baltimore and the Pats couldn't. Again, winning under these circumstances was impressive.
Pats D made four stellar stops that collectively saved the game:
1. Stopping Boldin short of the 1st down at the 2yd line. Baltimore settled for the 3-3 tie, so the stop was huge keeping the game close early.
2. The 3rd-down sack of Flacco after Woodhead's fumble to force a FG and keep the game to only 4 points. A TD there would have been devastating.
3. Stuffing Rice on the draw that really forced the Ravens to go for it on 4th down rather than try the 47yd FG. Big Vince getting a handful of Flacco jersey on the 4th down incompletion topped off the great sequence.
4. Sterling Moore stripping Lee Evans of the ball in the EZ. Great play by Moore, but also a lazy play by Evans. I guess you can take Lee Evans out of Buffalo, but you can't take the Buffalo out of Lee Evans.
I was glad to see the Pats go hurry-up all game as I did think it helped slow down the Baltimore rush. I liked even more the use of BJGE in that strategy as he ran superbly from it. What I didn't like was him coming off the field all too frequently. Even if he needed a rest, I thought it would have been good to still have him in there for play-action. I want to see a lot more of him in SB46.
Bernard Pollard is an ay-hole. Although he did have a good game when he wasn't trying to roll on Gronk's knee.
Brady's two picks were into double-coverage. To Edelman and Slater. Tom, if *those guys* are drawing the heavy coverage, are you trying to tell me Gronk, Hernandez or Welker aren't open somewhere else? Actually, the replay on the Slater bomb clearly shows Welker wide open about 8yds to the right downfield. Not two of Tom's best throws.
Big Vince was a force all game. Dederick started off the game on fire and still held up well as the game progressed as the Ravens' running game never killed them.
Cundiff's miss was a major league hook. Consider he hooked the ball from the right hashmark past the left goal post in 32yds and you're looking at one of the all-time chokes. Still, considering the 3 stupid turnovers by the Pats, I'll take it.
Bring on the Giants and let the Recent Playoff Losses Revenge Tour continue. Unfortunately, bring on the onslaught of SB42 flashbacks as well. Oh well, hopefully it will fuel the fire for Brady and company.
Regards,
Chris
