New England Patriots (14-3) vs. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
The Baltimore Ravens came up to Foxboro just two years ago and they sent the Patriots home with a 33-14 defeat. The Patriots have been waiting for a shot at revenge and it will come this Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. Here is a look at the matchups in this game:
When the Patriots have the ball: The Patriots are going to come out passing the ball against the Ravens. The key for the Patriots is going to be keeping DE/OLB Terrell Suggs away from Tom Brady. If Brady keeps his uniform clean, I think he’s going to have a good game. The passing game will likely be kept short with the idea of letting the WRs and TEs get yards after the catch. TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are going to be a problem for the Ravens as Ed Reed is a little dinged up right now and Bernard Pollard’s game is defensing the run. WRs Wes Welker and Deion Branch are going to have tough matchups with CBs Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. The Patriots aren’t going to run the ball too much, but I see BenJarvus Green-Ellis getting most of the work as he protects the ball a lot better than rookie Stevan Ridley does.
When the Ravens have the ball: The Ravens are going to try to play smash mouth football with Ray Rice and Ricky Williams pounding away at the front seven of the Patriots. That might backfire on them as the Patriots shut down the vaunted running game of the Broncos last weekend. That being said, Joe Flacco is a much better QB than Tim Tebow is. The Patriots’ corners will likely need help with coverting WR Torrey Smith deep as he is a blazer. Anquan Boldin is still a good receiver and Lee Evans could be the Ravens’ secret weapon this weekend. Flacco also likes to throw to his TEs alot on the short stuff and Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta are decent receivers. The problem for the Ravens in this game is that Joe Flacco NEVER steps up in the playoffs.
PREDICTION: PATRIOTS 31, RAVENS 20
