Look out for the pats in afc

[scottcarter]

remember this a couple years ago?

I look forward to the rematch

 

[Willie99]

it's all about the Gronk, somebody who didn't play in their post season losses

and their defense is pretty darn good too, one of the best in the league

 

[lt56]

no doubt the ravens will have a tough time up against that CB pairing of Mike Haynes and Aqib Talib

sorry Mr. perfect. i meant Browner and wrote Talib because he just left NE. your posts show what in depth knowledge of the game you have. Browner and Revis have made that defense good. thanks for contributing nothing, as usual.

 

[lt56]

and I lean Pats and will be on them, but I disagree w this angle that after a big win over a rival, that any team will not get up for its next playoff game…this isn't the regular season. this "let down after a big win" angle absolutely does not apply here...

if you read my post and took away from it that i made that "my angle" or even was a big reason i liked the Pats, i would suggest you take a reading comprehension course.

 

[Romanowski]

Pats best play of the weekend.

 

[PrinceoftheCity]

Pats best play of the weekend.

full out agree. I'll just copy and paste from a different thread just a few of the reasons why I think the Ravens won't cover or win in this spot:

What is good about this Ravens team? The pass rush I would say, the Quarterback, and the running back can run a little bit, good coach as well.

The pass rush?

All i have to say is look at the three games the Patriots played at home this year, versus teams with BETTER pass rushes than the Ravens, BETTER overall defenses, and even better offenses...

Denver, Detroit, and Miami (who arguably has the best pass rush when all healthy) all lost by an average of 25 points, and all lost in blow out dominant fashion.
All three teams are very good, the first two being clearly on a higher level than the Ravens this year. Miami would have made the playoffs instead of the BAL had BAL lost the last week. Anyway the Patriots clearly figured out how to protect Brady v. a great pass rush after that debacle v. KC in the first month of the season.


Next Flacco won't have anyone to throw to most of the game. Smith and Smith will be shackled by Revis and Browner most of the game, they may get open here and there but not much. On top of that Jamie Collins is definitely a top 5 cover LB in the league, he's a complete player - he will take away OD the TE who has been getting loose.

Next Forsett had a good year this year but slowed considerably past few weeks, less about him than it is about the NE run D. 3.9 YPC for the year however 3.4 YPC down the stretch here. Really tightening it up.

There is simply not much Flacco/Harbaugh can do with the severe disadvantage they are at in this game. On the road, against a team that is far superior on all 3 phases, and is on a mission. The Ravens already accomplished their mission last week in winning @ PIT, in a huge playoff game, night road game. This NE team has been waiting years for this moment, millions spent, tons of draft picks spent on that defense just so that they can get homefield advantage for this playoff run.

Patriots -7
Patriots ML

certified both ways: I didn't even mention the huge psychological advantage the Patriots have in this being a HUGE revenge spot for them, and a let down spot (a little bit) for the Ravens - though I still think Ravens play a good game as best they can I see Patriots covering and winning too lopsided of a match up.