Is It Me or is NE Being Underestimated?

I just hope that JMD does not panic, and chuck the ball 50x this game. NE could be down 3-0 or 7-0 after the 1st. NE does not have the best starts after a buy week. I look for the defense to be even better in the 2nd half like they have done all yr. Flacco just tossing it up again, could be a big day for DMC trolling back there. Again, as long as TB12 stays upright, we should be more than fine. If he can stand there an not worry, he will pick them apart. Also, am I the only one who thinks Wright has a nice game along with Vereen?

Oswlek said:

Yup. Ultimately we're all just pissing in the wind. I could point out all of Baltimore's flaws and why NE should win and NE could just play a bad game, or Baltimore plays better than they have all year. We could equally point out all of Tom's struggles and he could throw for 340 and 3TDs in a blowout victory. Or maybe NE's OL does a fantastic job and Baltimore still slows down the Patriots somehow.

But it's a fun time waster.

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And this is exactly why I stick with the "Rah rah rah go team!" Approach to discussing sports. We can talk all day about matchups or how each team should perform, but ultimately it comes down to the play on the field and that's it. Fans that don't seem to trust their own team just make themselves look like ****s, in my opinion.

One other thing. I think NE depth on the def side is much, much deeper and talented than in yrs past. No more Gregory's, Cole's, Rivera's, White's, Moore', Scott's coming into the game and getting tourched. This can only help. Your s good as your depth, and I think the depth is good.

I can't stop thinking about Saturday and how much I look forward to putting a beatdown on that piece of sh–t organization.

Gronkandez said:

Since the Pats are favored by 7 this doen't qualify as an Eff You game for Brady.

Last year's AFCCG was the last time they were counted out by everyone. People were certainly down on them after KC by they were still favored, albeit by a small margin. They didn't bring their best game at GB this year.

Bottomline is the Pats should win, however if the O-Line can't protect it's going to be a very close game. The good news is the Pats defense should be able to stifle the Ravens offense and subsequently they should win the field position battle.

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Have to disagree, this is certainly a situation that will draw FU mode from brady. The media is all over our OL problems and praising their unstoppable front 7. Pats aren't getting the respect they deserve considering how they crushed the most afc playoff teams this yr.

And lol..Cincy Denver and indy definitely qualify as FU games where pats are getting disrespected as well. Before the cincy gm, media was questioning everything from whether we make the playoffs to should we start our rookie over tb12. Pats responded (and I profited). Vs Denver, we were 3.5 point underdogs, at home? ? Media had all but crowned Denver afc champions after their hot start. Pats responded (and I profited!) At that point I don't understand how we were still underdogs in indy...but pats responded there as well.

I could argue that the pats brought their A game to lambeau, but just got beat by the hottest home team at the time (I mean in lambeau most discussion is about whether Rodgers should come out after halftime, lol) couple big plays made the difference.

Ravens are nowhere near that good. Pats will respond, punch ravens in the mouth and show why we're the 1 and they're the 6 seed

eric5577x said:

Also, am I the only one who thinks Wright has a nice game along with Vereen?

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No, I believe that has the makings of a Tim Wright contribution all over it. He's been used rather inconsistently, so we're not quite sure what kind of contribution that may be, but I definitely think we'll see him being used more than usual.

Welka_fan said:

Have to disagree, this is certainly a situation that will draw FU mode from brady.

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Without a doubt.

This is the postseason. To take it one step further, it's against a team/defense/coach that has gotten the better of N.England and Brady--and stopping their dreams of advancing in the postseason.....at home, to boot.

This is the prime situation for (as you say) FU mode from Tom Brady. He couldn't care less what the hell Las Vegas sets the point spread at. As we've already seen in the past twice vs. BAL in the postseason, Vegas' lines are ******** anyway.

KamikazeKnight said:

And this is exactly why I stick with the "Rah rah rah go team!" Approach to discussing sports. We can talk all day about matchups or how each team should perform, but ultimately it comes down to the play on the field and that's it. Fans that don't seem to trust their own team just make themselves look like ****s, in my opinion.

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I can appreciate where you're coming from, and always have respect for the optimistic fan. I'd like to consider myself about 75/25 homer, although this week has been less due to some concern.

That said, there's nothing wrong with attempting to see things for how they really are at the same time, even if some of those things don't point to one-sided Patriot benefits. The Ravens obviously have some strengths as well, and they matchup well in certain areas.

In the end, we should definitely advance, and be back to the same types of discussions (and concerns) next week versus Denver. I don't personally believe that it will be as easy as some here are predicting, however.

I'm pretty sure they are being misunderestimated........

I don't care what happened in past. THIS Pats Team is way different from others VS Ravens in Playoffs. In those games they had Ed Reed & R. Lewis and they were difference makers or made others that much better. Not this time around their gone. Pats actually have a bonified Defense this time and a healthy Gronk to deal with and can exploit their LBs and DBs open up field for others.
Key here is O-Line holdin up, keepin Brady upright to do his thing and that can be said VS any team we're playin'.

Yes, Ravens have a fierce front 7 to deal with but then again we played some teams that were noted for thier Def- Detroit, Bengals, Jets, Bills, Broncos etc etc etc and we held our own. O-Line healthy I believe can do 'Their Job' and If Josh elects to go No Huddle, Hurry Up and has Ravens D on their heels that will be HUGE.

KamikazeKnight said:

And this is exactly why I stick with the "Rah rah rah go team!" Approach to discussing sports. We can talk all day about matchups or how each team should perform, but ultimately it comes down to the play on the field and that's it. Fans that don't seem to trust their own team just make themselves look like ****s, in my opinion.

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Particularly when the team gives so many reasons to trust, and even more so when you consider that not every failing is bad process. The other guys get paid, too.

I'm the same, though I do dabble in prediction when I feel like the data is overwhelming (like saying KC wasn't a threat for the #1 seed or that Pitt wasn't a genuine playoff threat). Most of my comments are more logic based. I'm fine with any reasonably supported conclusion but my Bat Signal goes up when I see people twisting and distorting reality to make it say what they want it to say. Pedantic Man!

the pats are in such better shape roster-wise to play these playoff than they have been in a long time.

I'm just glad talib is no longer around to be tormented by smith sr.

The pats just need to focus on their own **** and not be too concerned with what the ravens are doing.....if the pats play their 'A' game, there is not a thing the ravens can do about it

I am just hoping for Brady to play a good game in the playoffs .. that is it! Put off all the other crap to the side ..oline problems, no WRs, No Gronk, No RBs, McDaniels play calling .. put all that to the side .. Brady needs to play better .. No more safetys on the first possession, no more interceptions throwing a screen pass .. Just play a solid game .. Also, no goddam bombs away throws on 3rd n friggin one .. no Drew Bledsoe-Esque heaves throwing off back foot, ala Indy before the half ..

BHSL2 said:

I think BAL will play press coverage with a single high and a rover and zone blitz frequently.

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I doubt they will, their secondary is awful, if they try bump and run coverage, they will get murdered. Patriots can roll out guys who can get off the line.

No Pollard - No Problem

if we win......BB gets his 20th playoff victory
if we lose......this board goes into meltdown mode

so i'm either happy or entertained..........

Not here to start any ****, just here to get other teams opinions about their team and the team their playing, kinda like a scouting report. First off, I'm a Ravens fan who has a lot of respect for the Pats, how can you not we've been chasing you guys for years and you have been at the top for over a decade. I think the reason you guys get underestimated is because you guys have a history of being a finess team instead of a power team which make you appear soft especially the past few years in the big games. I'm anxious to see how your defense plays tommorow if its as stout as your fans think it is. The Ravens, they just do what they do, which keeps them in most games till the end, nothing special. Good luck tommorow, just not too much.

This is only game 1 of hopefully 3. If they go all out and beat the Ravens... hope they leave some in the tank for the next 2.

All this hogwash is just the medias hatred of New England manifesting itself. Every time the pats get deep in the playoffs the media and talking heads just point to every weakness of New England and the past while disregarding there strengths and the current. New England is not the same team that lost to the ravens and baltimore is not the same team that beat the Pats. #Facts

Almost everyone is picking the Pats.

Most notable Rave-supporter is Golic

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2015/01/whos_picking_patriots_over_rav.html