[News] Late For Work 12/9: Can Ravens Upset Patriots? 46 Game Predictions

[BR News]

Oakland loss benefits Patriots. The updated AFC playoff picture. Tom Brady putting Deflategate animosity behind him. Justin Tucker getting NFL MVP love.

View the full article

[whobilly]

Ravens 27 Cheatriots 23

[Ravens Raver]

Article on the Patriots' own site gives advantage to Ravens in 5 of 6 aspects of the game.
http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/12/08/scouting-matchup-inconsistent-ravens-present-problems

[Halshayeji]

Yes we can! And if we play as well as we have the past 2 weeks then we will!

[January J]

If we don't turnover the ball and score atleast 3 TDs we will win no question.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

Funny how everyone is quick to point out a vastly different Pats roster but seemingly overlook a much improved younger Ravens roster. Time for the flock to feast, silence the critics and all of Gillettte stadium. Knocking Brady back down to earth after his record last week is the cherry on top. It's all there for the taking. Time to get er done!

[DaRupp]

Ravens 27 Cheatriots 23

I agree, it'll be something like this. High 20s vs. low 20s. I think think the key is do we score TDs or FGs. If Tucker is doing everything, we may have problems.

[TheRavengers]

Based off the Flacco "fast facts" I'm guessing if the Ravens don't win, they'll at least make the Pats sweat a little and work hard for it. For the most part we tend to not just roll over for the Pats.

[RavenSpain]

Pass rush...without it, it will be just like the last time the two teams met in the playoffs. Suggs, Elvis, and Pees hold the key to beating the Pats.

[bioLarzen]

It's been a common wisdom that the offensive success of the partiots mainly rests on two pillars: their immensively massive playbook, and Brady's excellence in spotting the weakest spot of the opposing D and keep beating it time and again - like he kept throwing at Cary Williams in 2012, or at the middle of the field in 2014...
Ergo, the only way to beat the pats - assuming they have a good day - is for the secondary to play a flawless game. If that happens, and the O plays anything close to their A game, we have a chance. If not, we don't.

[reed20]

Need to establish the run this game especially if it is snowing.

[Bruce_Almty]

Article on the Patriots' own site gives advantage to Ravens in 5 of 6 aspects of the game.
http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/12/08/scouting-matchup-inconsistent-ravens-present-problems

Another fake news story.

[Fastynart]

Of course they can beat the Patriots, BUT, to do so, Flacco will have to be like he was last week instead of how he was the previous 11 weeks. It all starts with him and his performance dictates the results. If he stinks up the place with his check down passes and three and outs, the Ravens will be eaten alive. To beat the Patriots, you MUST keep Tom Brady off the field. I is as simple as that.

[TheConquerorWorm]

Pass rush...without it, it will be just like the last time the two teams met in the playoffs. Suggs, Elvis, and Pees hold the key to beating the Pats.

Exactly. Brady (like Peyton Manning) is only beatable when you hit him. Suggs, Doom, Jernigan & Co. have to get to him or he will pick apart even the very best defenses.

I think given the weaker than normal state of the soft's O-line and the shortage at WR & CB, the Ravens pull the upset.

Ravens: 31
Pansies: 20

[RavenLunatic]

If the Ravens can generate an offense, then they win. If not, the Pats will control the clock as the game wears on and get the W. Simple as that folks.

[CQ1]

We can do ANYTHING- if we continue to progress along with certain others (hello) continuing to step up .
We CAN!

[KidNme]

The Pats and Bilichick are students of game film. I believe that this is a game to pull out some plays and formations we haven't done much of and hope we've practiced and kept a few of those for games like this one. Since we haven't showed we're a running team this year, maybe we should emphasize the run Monday night with a lot of play action passing thrown in. I also believe our pass rush will get to Brady early and often which is always good! The 4th qtr is where it all comes to fruition, as it usually does for us so, I'm hoping we have more gas in the tank in the final minutes of this game. Of course, having a 3 possession lead by the middle of the 4th, would help a lot too! :-)

[bigcatfrank1]

Bad weather usually means lower scoring games and more turnovers. So if the weather is cold and snowing the Ravens should focus on turnovers, don't lose the ball and win the ball when causing one. Also, use the 3 running backs, Juice can be a big help in games like these. He is a sure handed, strong player who offers many play options. Power the Ball down the field just like last Sunday, score on every drive! That will be how the Ravens beat the Patriots.

[robbie29]

  1 hour ago, RavenSpain said:

Pass rush...without it, it will be just like the last time the two teams met in the playoffs. Suggs, Elvis, and Pees hold the key to beating the Pats.

Exactly. Brady (like Peyton Manning) is only beatable when you hit him. Suggs, Doom, Jernigan & Co. have to get to him or he will pick apart even the very best defenses.

I think given the weaker than normal state of the soft's O-line and the shortage at WR & CB, the Ravens pull the upset.

Ravens: 31
Pansies: 20

"Brady is only beatable when you hit him."

I respectfully disagree. I clearly recall when we beat NE 28-13 in the AFC Championship game in 2012- our defense didn't record a single sack. What our defense DID do during that game was force three turnovers and held Brady to just one TD pass.

Sacks and QB hits are great to see (especially against Brady), but that's not the only way to beat Brady and the Patriots.

[bigcatfrank1]

Bad weather usually means lower scoring games and more turnovers. So if the weather is cold and snowing the Ravens should focus on turnovers, don't lose the ball and win the ball when causing one. Also, use the 3 running backs, Juice can be a big help in games like these. He is a sure handed, strong player who offers many play options. Power the Ball down the field just like last Sunday, score on every drive! That will be how the Ravens beat the Patriots.

Oh and let the Defense play their game and pressure Brady causing him to give the ball up on downs or someone coughs up the "over inflated" ball, ahahahhahhah. sorry I just had to.

[Crusader]

Brady is not going to give the pass rush time to get to him. Just not going to happen. He only been sack 11 times. The Ravens corners need to play "in your face" but they have not done that all year.

[Raven1995]

Pass rush...without it, it will be just like the last time the two teams met in the playoffs. Suggs, Elvis, and Pees hold the key to beating the Pats.

Our Secondary is way better than last time. We had Elam, Hill, Stewart, Rashaan Melvin, and Webb at Cornerback. I think Tavon Young against Julian Edelman will be the key to the game. If he can stop him Brady is gonna freak out.

[lowcountryraven]

The Ravens are the team to beat in the AFC now.  With everyone finally healthy, including Joe getting physically and mentally his confidence back after major Knee surgery just one year ago, the offensive players all getting on the same page with the  new schemes that new OC Marty has put in, and not but least the defense dominating on all fronts.  No team in the AFC is better.  This will be the last game we are the underdogs the rest of the season.  The only reason the Ravens won't dominate this game on both sides of the ball and win handily are the intangibles.  The refs bad calls that come at the most inopportune time that go the Pats way and the strange occurrences that seem to always happen to the visiting teams at Gillette stadium, for instance, head sets not working or play or time clock irregularities or warm soft footballs for Brady to throw. 

Get used to it Raven fans, after Monday night we won't be the underdogs again this year on our way to the Lombardi Trophy.  Ravens 34 Patriots 20

[law215]

On defense , I think the needs need great play from the inside LBs. Pats love to spread things out and work underneath. Stop the run, disguise pressure, and blitz up the middle.

On offense, the pats don't have a great pass rush and big slow LBs. Pitta and RB out the backfield can have a big day and crossing routes should also work.

We can't beat ourselves with penalties or turnovers.

[Bigjon5477]

How about Tucker hits a 62 yd FG to win the game as time runs out!

[runcontrol]

On defense , I think the needs need great play from the inside LBs. Pats love to spread things out and work underneath. Stop the run, disguise pressure, and blitz up the middle.

On offense, the pats don't have a great pass rush and big slow LBs. Pitta and RB out the backfield can have a big day and crossing routes should also work.

We can't beat ourselves with penalties or turnovers.

Mosley and Young could play huge roles in this game.

We haven't seen it too much lately but early in the season Mosley was snatching those balls out of the air and if they attack the middle we might see him get his hands on the ball.

With Edelman being their main receiver and Young being drafted as a slot corner this could be a huge match up.

If those two guys do their job and the front seven stop the running game this could be a good game.

[VermontRaven]

6 minutes ago, Bigjon5477 said:

How about Tucker hits a 62 yd FG to win the game as time runs out!

Why not make it a record-setting 65 yarder just for fun!

[FloridalovesRavens]

Brady is not going to give the pass rush time to get to him. Just not going to happen. He only been sack 11 times. The Ravens corners need to play "in your face" but they have not done that all year.

They really don't need to sack him. Just get in his face. He doesn't like it. It throws his timing off considerably.

[20306cab]

Wow, all the analytical breakdown from all the experts on this site, has me convinced whichever QB plays better, their team will win. Brady 109% rating. FBAJ 84% rating. Suggs comes up big again. Cements his spot as Ravens fourth NFL HOFer.

Edited December 10, 2016 by 20306cab

[PersianRaven]

The Ravens are the team to beat in the AFC now.  With everyone finally healthy, including Joe getting physically and mentally his confidence back after major Knee surgery just one year ago, the offensive players all getting on the same page with the  new schemes that new OC Marty has put in, and not but least the defense dominating on all fronts.  No team in the AFC is better.  This will be the last game we are the underdogs the rest of the season.  The only reason the Ravens won't dominate this game on both sides of the ball and win handily are the intangibles.  The refs bad calls that come at the most inopportune time that go the Pats way and the strange occurrences that seem to always happen to the visiting teams at Gillette stadium, for instance, head sets not working or play or time clock irregularities or warm soft footballs for Brady to throw. 

Get used to it Raven fans, after Monday night we won't be the underdogs again this year on our way to the Lombardi Trophy.  Ravens 34 Patriots 20

We are not a consistent team so if we go to MA and beat the Pats, then I will agree with you.