Next up : Patriots

[Guest]

I think this is a close game.  I give a slight edge to the Pats being at home and having a defense now.  I don't see either team scoring 30 points in this artic freeze (game time temps in the teens).  Score prediction = 28 to 24.  Or 28 to 27.

that post was far too lengthy to quote in entirety

not certain who will be the Raven receiving stars but am quite confident Brandon browner will not play the whole game...he'll be removed fairly quickly due to ineffectiveness

the only real addition to this secondary is revis and we'll see how he does. the other guys we've all toasted before.

the score is of signifance...not seeing an abundance of pat points....they think gonk is gonna add 14 more points but not seeing it...really content with Will Hill and Elam laying the wonk on gonk....see this as a 20-13 game Ravens.

[darklight1216]

It could come down to special teams. Field position, punt returns, field goals, kick off returns cannot be overlooked as a possible major contributing factor in the final results. 

I don't think any Ravens fan could possibly overlook special teams play after that AFC game in 2011.

[DomMcRaven]

Remember when Skip said that the Ravens scare "his" Patriots the most? Well he picked them to win and get this: 32-13.

[harfordravenfan]

Like the fact that I hope Brady gets utterly pummeled all game, BUT lives to see another day. That makes me respectable

+35

Absolutely agree with this post

[Guest]

Now for "Bold Predictions" ...

mine is that multiple starting pats will not finish this game because it is going to be physical and grimy

candidates to watch from the infirmary are:

brady

gonk

edlemann

lafell (granting hes already hurting)

Vereen

blount

gray

browner

[beanfigger]

With all due respect, I don't think you truly understand what a complex offense is.  There isn't one NFL analyst who says the Ravens use a very complex system.  You as a Ravens fan should know this.  The Ravens built their team on smash mouth football, ground and pound, ball control, wearing out teams with the run and then eventually throwing it down field, that's why they have Torrey Smith a down field threat.

 

All due respect to you, but you said Flacco doesn't spread it around. He has hit the same amount of targets as your boy Brady, with the same amount of receivers catching at least 20 balls, and the same amount of receivers catching TD passes. In fact, his distribution is much more evenly spread out than Brady's this season. If you think he can't spread it out and pick apart defenses like you say, I'd advise you to watch any of our wins this season. He is the motor that drives our team to leads and hits 8 or 9 receivers per game (even per drive, ask Miami) while he does it. For you to think we have some amazing defense and run game that allows him a huge margin for error that can be overcome and win a game scoring 10 points is completely ignorant of the way we've played games for the better part of the last 4 seasons. Our running game has been nice, but in wins we typically still use it after we get the lead and need to grind out minutes later on. Our defense has played well, but to think we can win without scoring a bunch of points shows a staggering lack of understanding about what we're about.

 

You must be watching replays of the beatdown we gave you guys at the '09 season, but you may want to update your research to this decade.

[ratedr]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000455920/In-Depth-Flacco-vs-Patriots

 

Good video essay about Flacco. Mark Kriegel (from NFL Network) is a guy who used to be a Flacco hater but has openly admitted he was wrong, unlike clowns like Barnwell and Heath Evans.

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

I hope we smack the piss out of those smug [guys]...They think they are all that...Those smug Baashstaan pinheads....i am really ready to see some deconstruction of that town....we lost 41-7 last time and that just doesnt sit well with me...they need a beatdown

[Tank 92]

I hope we smack the piss out of those smug [guys]....They think they are all that...Those smug Baashstaan pinheads....i am really ready to see some deconstruction of that town....we lost 41-7 last time and that just doesnt sit well with me...they need a beatdown

Go

[ratedr]

the ravens had one the worst defenses in playoff history to win a super bowl the year joe carried this team witha horrible d all the way to a super bowl victory.

It's funny too, Brady hasn't won a SB without a top defense, and Rodgers's defense was #2 overall when the Packers won it. In fact since the SB year Rodgers's only playoff win has been against the Joe Webb led Minnesota Vikings.

[arnie_uk]

It's funny too, Brady hasn't won a SB without a top defense, and Rodgers's defense was #2 overall when the Packers won it. In fact since the SB year Rodgers's only playoff win has been against the Joe Webb led Minnesota Vikings.

so basically no QB can carry horrible d's to superbowl victories except January Joe?

[ratedr]

so basically no QB can carry horrible d's to superbowl victories except January Joe?

Joe and Eli (Giants D in 2011 was bottom 10). Yet when both names come up it's "he sucks it was the defense."

 

Ray Lewis doesn't help either, he's very happy to accept all the credit.

[arnie_uk]

Loved nfln's piece on Joe flacco there.

[jimmypowder]

Loved nfln's piece on Joe flacco there.

Yeah it was good . I can't believe all the love they gave him .

What's up with that crewcut loser the NFL Network has that called Flacco just a lucky QB ? Said it last night .

[JoeyFlex5]

First time poster here and a Pats fan.Forgetting all the BS, we both have great franchises to root for. I love the organizational excellence both  franchises have shown to continually be in contention year after year. Alot of posters on both sides like to throw slings and arrows but I for one respect your owner, gm and coaches for fielding solid teams. Tomorrow will be decided on the field by whichever team can impose it's will on the other. This game will be decided in the trenches, Ngata vs Stork is a critical matchup in my opinion. If he wins the battle in the middle it opens up everything to pressure Brady and throw him off stride. I see Dean Pees as a big asset for you. If the Pats can control the LOS I think we have a good shot. Flacco has been incredible in post season but I do feel our D is the best we have had in 10 years. Here is hoping for a well played, well officiated, hard hitting game.

refreshing to see a respectful pats fan, i honestly love this rivalry and when the brady and bellichick era ends, this rivalry will end with it, and it will be a sad day for the league, i also think this rivalry is overall bigger than the ravens and steelers because the games tend to be so much more dramatic and so much more meaningful. also i just wanna point out, that stork likely wont be facing ngata, he is a 3-4 DE, stork will be blocking williams for the most part, and in obvious pass situations he will likely be taking on mcphee, having a rookie center is a huge advantage on the ravens part, because in obvious pass situations dean pees becomes an evil genius, he can dial up stunts and interior pressure designs that will make the most veteran elite centers scratch their heads. i am on the other hand, worried about how press coverage can hold up to contain the dink and dunk game and allow our rush to put brady on his back, it will be a chess match and i dont see any real game defining matchup in this, i think 11 vs 11 is how this game will be decided, unlike the steelers game where there was a key formula to winning, either team will need all 53 to show up and execute to win.

[PeRK82]

Oh man, 3 more hrs. Cant wait.

 

Lets not forget on our s.b. run, that our secondary was our weakest link during the whole season but they Completely turned it up on that s.b. run. And this secondary is clearly playing better than the middle of the season. 

 

Lets also not forget that our Run game was non nonexistent in our s.b. run. ( it actually hurt us ), in the second half of the PATS game in 2012 ,we became a throw first offense that set up the run.

I think we need to do the samething. Yes they have Revis but he wont be playing all of our Wrers.

 

This time around, we dont have Boldin but now we  have Steve Smith in turn ( Bolding was better imo) but now T.Smith is playing alot better from 2012 ( catching and route running). Instead of T.Doss we now have M.Brown ( without a doubt, clearly a giant step forward) And instead of just having Pitta, we now have  Owen Daniels and Gilmore ( who i really feel is our own version of Gronk, clearing Gronk is one of a kind but still).   

 

I think our Offense is soooo much more deadlier, we dont have to rely as much on our DEF. 

And Lastly , lets not forget how mobile Joe can be.

 

Feeling very confident in this team, still nervous as heck but thats a given on gameday.

[jimmypowder]

Joe and Eli (Giants D in 2011 was bottom 10). Yet when both names come up it's "he sucks it was the defense."

Ray Lewis doesn't help either, he's very happy to accept all the credit.

Ray was horrible in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago . He was getting beat like a drum .

[Guest]

Ray was horrible in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago . He was getting beat like a drum .

everyone was getting beat that game, especially after Ngata went out.

its not proper to beat up on Lewis for all he contributed to the Ravens, even that year. He was playing in an arm brace. Check his tackles from the Denver game.

it took a year to recover from the loss of those veterans...we've got mosely playing like a vet. he was a tremendous selection to replace Ray.

[Inqui]

With all due respect, I don't think you truly understand what a complex offense is. There isn't one NFL analyst who says the Ravens use a very complex system. You as a Ravens fan should know this. The Ravens built their team on smash mouth football, ground and pound, ball control, wearing out teams with the run and then eventually throwing it down field, that's why they have Torrey Smith a down field threat.

Try watching games instead of listening to ESPN and taking their word for it.

[ratedr]

I'm worried about the passing game. I do think Revis will largely lock down Sr., and Torrey has always struggled against physical corners. Pats have decent linebackers too, so even Daniels will likely be will covered. Who will step up?

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

less than 2 hours.

 

 

Bring on Brady!

[beanfigger]

I'm worried about the passing game. I do think Revis will largely lock down Sr., and Torrey has always struggled against physical corners. Pats have decent linebackers too, so even Daniels will likely be will covered. Who will step up?

 

We need the line to step up and provide a solid pocket. The rest will take care of itself.

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000455920/In-Depth-Flacco-vs-Patriots

 

Good video essay about Flacco. Mark Kriegel (from NFL Network) is a guy who used to be a Flacco hater but has openly admitted he was wrong, unlike clowns like Barnwell and Heath Evans.

Good stuff

 

 

Best line is still "I get a car!?!"

[Pats fan]

tom brady atempted 28 more passes than Flacco this year.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/passingYards/seasontype/2

Flacco is also 17th in yards per attempt meaning we don't go deep as often as you think

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/yardsPerPassAttempt/seasontype/2

Get your facts right before you post.

 

 

All due respect to you, but you said Flacco doesn't spread it around. He has hit the same amount of targets as your boy Brady, with the same amount of receivers catching at least 20 balls, and the same amount of receivers catching TD passes. In fact, his distribution is much more evenly spread out than Brady's this season. If you think he can't spread it out and pick apart defenses like you say, I'd advise you to watch any of our wins this season. He is the motor that drives our team to leads and hits 8 or 9 receivers per game (even per drive, ask Miami) while he does it. For you to think we have some amazing defense and run game that allows him a huge margin for error that can be overcome and win a game scoring 10 points is completely ignorant of the way we've played games for the better part of the last 4 seasons. Our running game has been nice, but in wins we typically still use it after we get the lead and need to grind out minutes later on. Our defense has played well, but to think we can win without scoring a bunch of points shows a staggering lack of understanding about what we're about.

 

You must be watching replays of the beatdown we gave you guys at the '09 season, but you may want to update your research to this decade.

 

Two slightly conflicting posts among Ravens' fans.

 

And mind you, the majority of the Ravens wins were against teams under .500.  I don't believe the Ravens have a winning record against teams over .500 this season.

[Edgar]

Bernard Pierce needs to step up and be a factor today.

[arnie_uk]

I'm worried about the passing game. I do think Revis will largely lock down Sr., and Torrey has always struggled against physical corners. Pats have decent linebackers too, so even Daniels will likely be will covered. Who will step up?

same as that. If they didn't have Revis I'd pencil this in as win easily

[Edgar]

I think the key today is patience and clever play calling offensively. We don't want to get into a situation where we are banging our head into a wall.

[ratedr]

same as that. If they didn't have Revis I'd pencil this in as win easily

Forsett has struggled lately too.

[StingerNLG]

Two slightly conflicting posts among Ravens' fans.

And mind you, the majority of the Ravens wins were against teams under .500. I don't believe the Ravens have a winning record against teams over .500 this season.

Steelers fans said the same thing.

[StingerNLG]

Eugene Monroe is active today.