Watch out for Jump Ball Joe

If Browner is going to get called for tick tack penalties I hope he at least makes them count and lays some booming hits.

supafly said:

Sure, as much I like the trade and the value it provided, it's certainly reasonable to think that losing Mankins = losing some piece of nastiness.

Like you said, it's all going to be about the OL and its ability to hold up. I also believe that we need to get the running game going and stick with some balance. That will allow for some pressure to be taken off of Brady and the OL.

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We are thinking the same Sup, but it seems to me that predicting that the Pats will establish the run to protect Brady is like betting to an inside straight. In order to assure this plan coming to fruition I will voice an alternative. Josh will put the ball in Brady's hands and rely on his strength--the short passing game. Get the ball out fast, an occasional run (if it goes well), and mix in play action (which somehow works even when we aren't running). I expect Vereen to get most of the snaps at RB but mostly to spread the D.

chasa said:

I said it when the rule changed, This league is built for qb's like flacco. the only thing elite about him is his ability to throw the ball really far so that his receivers can flop for 60 yard penalties.

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Unfortunately, flopping is the way the NFL is heading now, and the Ravens might be one of the best acting teams. They also seem to get away with more than their share of helmet to helmet hits. We're ready for them though.

Bobsyouruncle said:

I've often wondered if they coach to get penalties. I would, it seems so easy.

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It would be stupid to not coach this.

It's just as valid a strategy as the QB trying to draw the defense off sides with their cadence (something Brady does all the time). It's working within the rules to help your team win. If Flacco is better at exploiting it than others, that speaks for his abilities as a qb, not against.

It's just another tool. Chris Collinsworth talked about it saturday night: if the QB sees the back of a defender's helmet, throw the ball at his (the defender's) helmet. If you overthrow, your receiver will have a chance. If you underthrow, the receiver knows to come back for it, and will get the PI call just about every time.

Mack Herron said:

We are thinking the same Sup, but it seems to me that predicting that the Pats will establish the run to protect Brady is like betting to an inside straight. In order to assure this plan coming to fruition I will voice an alternative. Josh will put the ball in Brady's hands and rely on his strength--the short passing game. Get the ball out fast, an occasional run (if it goes well), and mix in play action (which somehow works even when we aren't running). I expect Vereen to get most of the snaps at RB but mostly to spread the D.

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Yep, unless the defense sucks, we usually have trouble establishing a strong run game early on. That typically comes later. Instead, do the proxy run, i.e., short pass. Basically we need to use the game plan we used against the Lions, IMO.

Would love to see a Jonas Gray type game. The fewer chances Joe has to throw these prayer balls, the better.

mayoclinic said:

The Ravens are like the sandlot bully who expects that he can intimidate the other kids. It's worked against the Pats before, and it worked last night against Pittsburgh. But if the other team can punch them back, then it's a different story.

This will be a Brandon Browner kind of game.

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I just wish that we had that annihilator at safety to go along with him. But I agree, the Pats are going to have to be the more physical team right off the bat. Set the tone.

doesntmatter1 said:

I still don't miss Mankins. I feel that he came up small in big games and that he gave Brady a false sense of security.

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It's not a feeling, it is actually what happened, all those who keeps saying how they hope the offensive line can hold up, and how this is a game were Mankins will be missed, tend to forget, that Mankins played in all of those playoff losses, and not only that, in key spots he was the one getting beat.

Big-T said:

Fully expecting to hear holding/illegal contact/pass interference #39, defense called a lot.

The worst thing about how the Ravens do it is that it's clearly coached into them - Torrey Smith got a call yesterday where he engaged contact on the DB by hooking him but because the DB didn't have his head turned he got called!

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How about the 2011 AFCCG? Smith got away with dragging McCourty to the ground and into the end zone on his TD.

Jump Ball Joe.. lmao I see the pre excuses have started already.

Mack Herron said:

We are thinking the same Sup, but it seems to me that predicting that the Pats will establish the run to protect Brady is like betting to an inside straight. In order to assure this plan coming to fruition I will voice an alternative. Josh will put the ball in Brady's hands and rely on his strength--the short passing game. Get the ball out fast, an occasional run (if it goes well), and mix in play action (which somehow works even when we aren't running). I expect Vereen to get most of the snaps at RB but mostly to spread the D.

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This is how I see it as well. The best way to neutralize the Ravens front 7 is to make their LBs cover and wear down the DL. You run at them once you have worn them down. Additionally their secondary v is garbage so once the front seven is sucking wind they will fold.

Raven007 said:

Jump Ball Joe.. lmao I see the pre excuses have started already.

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No excuses necessary. The Patriots are winning this game, period. The Ravens suck on the road and they are playing with this years team, not 2012s.

makoute said:

It's not a feeling, it is actually what happened, all those who keeps saying how they hope the offensive line can hold up, and how this is a game were Mankins will be missed, tend to forget, that Mankins played in all of those playoff losses, and not only that, in key spots he was the one getting beat.

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He struggled with quickness. Still remember Dr. Z calling Justin Tuck's domination of him in his SB 42 preview. One of the great prognostications of all time. I think he predicted 20-17 Giants and basically described how it eventually went down.

Revis will take care of Steve Smith and Browner will take out Torrey Smith. The Patriots have faced better offenses and won all year, not too worried about this one. The Ravens had better come out smoking because NE shuts everyone down in the second half.

Ivan said:

No excuses necessary. The Patriots are winning this game, period. The Ravens suck on the road and they are playing with this years team, not 2012s.

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Um yeah they suck on the road huh.. Joe has 10 playoff wins. 7 of which are ON THE ROAD. mmmkay

Raven007 said:

Um yeah they suck on the road huh.. Joe has 10 playoff wins. 7 of which are ON THE ROAD. mmmkay

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What has happened in the past has no bearing on this game. Baltimore has not been a good team this season and needed help just to get in. If they into Gillette and get the win then they will deserve it, if v they lose I have no doubt Raven fans will scream and cry as they always do. Biggest crybabies in all of sports.

Ivan said:

What has happened in the past has no bearing on this game. Baltimore has not been a good team this season and needed help just to get in. If they into Gillette and get the win then they will deserve it, if v they lose I have no doubt Raven fans will scream and cry as they always do. Biggest crybabies in all of sports.

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Now that is rich. A boston fan using the word crybaby. HAHA

Raven007 said:

Now that is rich. A boston fan using the word crybaby. HAHA

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Sorry dude, it has been a well documented pattern of the Ravens.

Ravens and their fans like to talk more than average, that's for sure. Maybe that's the lasting influence of toe sucker on the team?

Raven007 said:

Um yeah they suck on the road huh.. Joe has 10 playoff wins. 7 of which are ON THE ROAD. mmmkay

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The only thing your QB is good at is throwing deep to get PI calls. Can't even move the ball like a real QB(Brady,Manning,Rodgers)