We're on to Baltimore

[makoute]

Do not turn the ball over. The patriots cannot give the ravens offense extra possessions. This is the reason why you bring revis and browner here, to play defense when it counts.

 

[patriot lifer]

I loove how you Pats fans say that you owned the Ravens before. The only reason you won the year before they beat you was because of a missed field goal by the Ravens...

Special Teams is football too.

 

[102 Pat]

Holy hell I wish it was saturday afternoon already, I hope this week goes by fast. At the rate things are going, I think I'll only be on this site and listen to PFW In Progress. The media hype for this game will probably be unbearable...

 

[SacPete1]

Going into the playoffs, I thought the Ravens would be a tougher matchup than either Cinci or Indi but part of me wanted to play them again since they've won in Foxboro twice in the playoffs. Then after last night I was looking more forward to this game. It really won't take long for Suggs, media to provide some good bulletin board material that BB will use well. We would be huge favorites if it were Cinci/Indi and I always prefer the disrespect card anyway.
That said, whatever is said leading up to the game won't have much impact once the game gets under way and like always, execution and mistakes will determine the outcome.

I for one like an up tempo offense with Vereen either split out or next to Brady depending on Brady's reads.
What this does as much as anything is force the defense to declare their front and in the process limit the communication challenges of protection. I would rather avoid seeing the exotic blitzes that Pees will draw up and running against the Ravens will be much tougher than throwing.
On defense, I'm pretty confident matching up with Smith and Smith and I think the Ravens will try and get the ball to Daniels since TE's have had success against us.

Either way, this should be a fun game.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think the Ravens will try and get the ball to Daniels since TE's have had success against us..

With Collins, Hightower, Chung (hes been better than the NYJ game) and Tavon Wilson more seasoned in this defense, the team is in much better position to deal with TEs then in years prior.

Keep in mind the basic philosophy of this defense is to force Qbs to be patient and take what is available. Leaving a TE in 1:1 coverage 8-10 yards off the LoS is part of that strategy. Good or bad.
At least now the team has better personnel to cover that size of a pass catcher.

 

[PatsGuy]

Owen Daniels is not Dennis Pitta and even then.. a healthy Pitta (which he's not) doesn't cause me to do poopies in my pants

 

[patriot lifer]

Since the NEP haven't played a truly competitive game since December 21, I expect that the Ravens will start out strong in the first portion of the game, as the Pats shake off the rust.

My next prediction is that our game thread will be unbearable during that period.

 

[50-yard-line]

I loove how you Pats fans say that you owned the Ravens before. The only reason you won the year before they beat you was because of a missed field goal by the Ravens...

Well, of course you're going to say that - you KNOW what the Pats do to your pansy team, right?

Still having nightmares about Jonas Gray? Or is Blount still in your head?

Seriously, a Colts fan coming here to talk smack is sort of, well, pathetic.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

I like our chances and feel more confident than before vs Ravens. Our Def is much more improved, we have a running game (when JM uses it) STs with JE breakin one or givin decent field position along with DA. We have a healthy Gronk now. With that bein said, O-Line MUST protect Brady, if he gets time with all our options we will be fine plus No Huddle Hurry Up can be beneficial vs their front line tiring'm out especially playin home this time.

 

[reflexblue]

This is the pats year to exercise some playoff demons.

Beat the Ravens to make up for past losses (also shut up Suggs)
Beat the broncos to make up for last year
Win in Arizona to make up for a lucky catch in February 2008

Pats have a great shot at Lombardi #4

Agree, its on to the Revenge Bowl.

 

[obgod3]

No doubt the Ravens is a tough game, they won't be worried about playing in NE either. As everyone noted the Pats O line is the concern and it should be but pass rush considered they handled better this season, at the time Cincy and Detroit had better pass rushes and they handled those. I think with DC back they will do ok, the Ravens will get to Tom a couple times, that just the way it is.

I think the Ravens have to play NE differently than the Steelers, I think we see Suggs backing out at times to help with Gronk or Hooman etc. that changes the pass rush for them. If Blount and Grey can get a running game going then Ngata has to temper his rush and focus on the run.

I think NE wins this, I think it could be a close game but if the defense plays to their capabilities I just don't see the Ravens being able to score enough, don't forget NE's defense is pretty dam good in the red zone also, no TD's in the second half of any game in the last five right. NE breaks out in the second half and wins by 10.

I won't say Baltimore can't win, they obviously have done it before and I think that had a lot to do with coaching but I don't just don't see it this year.

Pats are going to get some PI calls against them we know the NFL officials favor Flacco here, but of they do get them and I'm pointing at Browner, I hope he at least punishes the guy who draws the penalty...Browner = Hanson Triplets and Cam Neely put together. Ravens gets a little of their own medicine.

 

[heavyde050]

Agree, its on to the Revenge Bowl.

People, especially the media and Ravens fans, tend to forget the Gronk injury, Ridley fumble, and Welker brutal drop, but always remember the missed FG and pass break up.

I will give the Ravens 09; they killed the Pats, but that was a bad pats team.

 

[mosi]

People, especially the media and Ravens fans, tend to forget the Gronk injury, Ridley fumble, and Welker brutal drop, but always remember the missed FG and pass break up.

I will give the Ravens 09; they killed the Pats, but that was a bad pats team.

Also, remember in 2012 once Talib went out, that game changed dramatically. The Pats were playing very well defensively but went to pot once he went out.

The key think to remember is that the Ravens will punch you in the mouth, the gut and the eye. You have to be ready and fight back. They beat the steelers up last night.

 

[obgod3]

Also, remember in 2012 once Talib went out, that game changed dramatically. The Pats were playing very well defensively but went to pot once he went out.

The key think to remember is that the Ravens will punch you in the mouth, the gut and the eye. You have to be ready and fight back. They beat the steelers up last night.

Yep but unlike any Pats defense in the last 10 years I think The NE defense can punch other teams in the mouth, literally, Ravens get a very different NE defense than they have "ever" seen.

 

[Tunescribe]

Ravens primer

City of Baltimore: filthy, blighted, crime-ridden hell hole.
Steve Bisciotti (owner): slimy, unethical, disingenuous turdball.
John Harbaugh: insufferably smug, smirking, histrionic douchebag.
Terrelle Suggs: detestable, woman-beating, Halloween freak.
Steve Smith: lippy, self-aggrandizing, paranoid punk.
Joe Flacco: homely, insecure, penalty-baiting dope.
Elvis Dumervil: stupid, dirty, money-grubbing miscreant.

 

[FCB02062]

I definitely will be on media blackout this week as 98.5 will surely be unbearable. My fear this game is the pats lack of any real pass threat more than 20,yards downfield. This allows good defenses to rush 4 and pack the middle. I think we'll see a game similar to the game in NY vs nyj in which Brady was under constant pressure and couldn't get anything down field. I just hope the oline is healthy...go pats...
Oh and I put the radio on this am and it was on 98.5 so I listened against better judgement for about 5 seconds..."steve Smith is not afraid of revis..."....oy vey

 

[reflexblue]

Ravens primer

City of Baltimore: filthy, blighted, crime-ridden hell hole.
Steve Bisciotti (owner): slimy, unethical, disingenuous turdball.
John Harbaugh: insufferably smug, smirking, histrionic douchebag.
Terrelle Suggs: detestable, woman-beating, Halloween freak.
Steve Smith: lippy, self-aggrandizing, snot-nosed punk.
Joe Flacco: homely, insecure, penalty-baiting dope.
Elvis Dumervil: stupid, dirty, money-grubbing miscreant.

I think your should tell the viewing public how you really feel.

 

[zipster9]

Probably already asked in this thread, but...

The Ravens (aka: Dean Pees) had a very good game plan and with the exotic-blitzes, Ben was sacked 5 times.
Steelers OL is not great, but not bad, and the blitzes gave the Ravens the win.

We all know our OL is one of our weakest link. We need TomB to be upright to throw.

How (schemes? play-types? bubble-screens?) can the Patriots counter-act the blitzes (exotic or not) ?

 

[PatsfanTN]

I think we win, but lets hope there have been lessons learned from dealing with a dominate front 7. ( Giants super bowl team ).

 

[JMC00]

We all know our OL is one of our weakest link

Except when all 5 starters are playing and relatively healthy it's not a weak link.