x team did this to y team does not mean z team will be able to as well. SD's basketball player sized recievers have always presented a matchup hell for our DBs. Welker, not so much. Webb is an ideal matchup for a guy like him.
If Webb contains Welker, which is very possible, that lets us focus on taking out those TE. Then what? Is NE going to beat us on the ground? Not likely. Certainly aren't going to beat us with your defense.
This game isn't going to be the cake walk you people think it is.
I simply pointed out a fact that your defense has not played any high end offenses other than SD and Houston missing its biggest playmaker in the passing game.
I don't see anyone stopping Welker in single coverage. You have to bracket him. Then you can double one of the TE's, but not both. And who is going to cover the TE's? Lewis can't run with either of them? I think Suggs will have to get in the face of one of them and jam them at the LOS. Which will slow down his pass rush. It will be a pick your poison situation.
The only way you will be able to stop this offense is if Ngata and company bring pressure right up the middle. The Ravens will have to be able to get to Brady only bringing 3-4 allowing them to drop 7-8 into coverage. Otherwise one or more of Welker, Gronkowski, Hernandez or Branch will eat you up. This offense is playing on another level right now. Even with their slow starts at times through the year. Particularly the last two games of the regular season, they were down 17-3 at halftime and then score 24 points in the second half. Again shutout in the 1st quarter against Buffalo and then hang 49 on the board in 3 quarters.
Don't under estimate the Pats run game. Its not Arian Foster and Ben Tate but it is very solid. Ridley has been very explosive, but has a case of fumbleitis. Lawfirm is a 3 yards and a cloud of dust guy that always falls forward. Obviously Woodhead is a change up guy that is shifty and hard to find.
This last ranked defense thing that your boys on the Ravens forum keep pointing out is comical. Yeah they give up a lot of yards, but not points. They are 15th in the league in points. To put into perspective the Browns are 5th allowing 19.2, the Bengals are 9th allowing 20.2....the Pats allow 21.4 PPG. And as I pointed out earlier over the past 4 games the two teams are allowing the same amount of points against similar offenses.
Your offense is not very good and is centered around 1 player. Smith is explosive and has the ability to make big plays in the passing game. Boldin is a solid possesion receiver. The problem is your QB is not very good and has a hard time making big plays in the passing game.
And yes I watch a lot of your games. Your team will come to play, I'm sure of that. But I don't think they have the horses on offense to score enough points to win. And I don't think you have what it takes on defense to stop this offense. If you played a team with a competent QB today you would have lost. Yates threw some dumb ass Int's that first one was terrible. The 2nd one was essentially a decent punt. The third one was numb, 4th and 2 and you chuck it deep? That won't happen with Brady.
Again the way I see it, you have to get pressure up the middle while being able to drop 7+ into coverage. Brady has to be off, and the Ravens have to get turnovers. Ray Rice has to have a career day and you can't turn the ball over. IMO, all that has to happen in order for you guys to win.
