What time is it? GAME TIME!

       So this is the first of undoubtedly many posts regarding the Ravens and their quest for their second Lombardi Trophy.  I am going to operate under the assumption that all of you reading this have been following the NFL religiously this season, and I will trust that you watched the entire wildcard round of the playoffs this last weekend.  Ok, now let's get down to the important stuff.
       I have had several conversations over the course of the last week with fans of many different teams almost everywhere I go.  I can attribute this at least partially to my tendency to wear black and purple as often as my laundry will allow.  I plastered my cubicle with Ravens decals and magnets the day after starting my new job to make sure that there is never any question as to the placement of my gridiron allegiance.  One major thing stuck in my mind after my conversations with fans of various different teams: most people doubt the Ravens' chances of beating the Patriots in Foxborough.
        Beating the Patriots in Foxborough (or anywhere for that matter!) always proves a daunting task.  Not only are they well coached, but they are stocked with enough offensive fire power to put double digit points up against just about anyone.  This year, however, they lack one thing that proves critical to post-season success year after year...DEFENSE.  The Patriots have not only allowed the most passing yards per game (293.9) in the AFC, they have also allowed more points (342) than every other AFC playoff team except their next opponent, the Broncos.  The Broncos, however, have a valid excuse for allowing 390 points during the regular season: they lost HALF OF THEIR GAMES.  During the Harbaugh/Flacco era, the Ravens are 1-2 against the Patriots.  All three of the games played between these two teams during that span have been played in New England.  The Patriots, however, have never beaten the Ravens by more than 6 points, and the Ravens have actually outscored the Pats 74-64 over the course of those three recent meetings.  For the sake of comparison, let's have a look at the two most recent of these games, shall we?

January 10, 2010 The Playoffs

The Ravens came out swinging with an 83 yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.  That set the tone for the rest of the game as Ed Reed and the Ravens defense intercepted Brady 3 times and held the future hall of famer to 154 passing yards.  The Ravens, as I'm sure you all will recall, won 33-14. 
         What the Ravens did right was run the ball right down the Patriot's throats all day.  Ray Rice averaged 7.2 yards per carry and he had two touchdowns while Willis McGahee added another.  Terrell Suggs terrified Tom Brady to the point where Brady actually collapsed to the ground and it appeared as though he was ready to curl up in the fetal position if he thought it would have protected him from the wrath of  T. Sizzle.  The Ravens did not need Joe Flacco to throw the ball much, but when he had to do so, he connected with Mark Clayton on a critical 3rd down conversion to help run out the clock and seal the Patriots playoff doom.


October 17, 2010 Regular Season

At their most recent meeting, the Ravens appeared to have everything in the bag going into the final 10 minutes of the game.  They led the Patriots 17-10 and had looked dominant on both offense and defense all game long.  The Patriots, however, battled back during the latter 2/3 of the 4th quarter to send the game into overtime.  Overtime began with one 3 and out after another for both teams with little progress in either direction.  It was not until Tom Brady connected on 3rd down with a newly re-signed Deion Branch that the Patriots got within field goal range to win the game. 
        What the Ravens did wrong in that game was to stop bringing pressure on Brady late in the game.  If you recall, Greg Mattison was a huge proponent of dropping many players into coverage and employing a 3-man rush during the 4th quarter of games.  This was ironically termed a "prevent defense".  This horrendous strategy failed time and again last season and ultimately led to the end of  Mattison's short lived career as the Ravens' defensive coordinator. 

     What have we learned from all of this?  The Ravens dominate teams when they score early, run the ball successful, and bring plenty of pressure to opposing quarterbacks.  The Patriots have shown that they cannot stop Ray Rice and the Ravens' rushing attack.  The Ravens will undoubtedly run the ball on the Patriots, but in light of the Patriots' horrendous pass defense this season, the Ravens will also utilize their new young receiving options in Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta, and Ed Dickson to compliment Anquan Boldin and the ever-present dump-off option to Ray Rice.  The major question that remains is whether or not the Ravens can stop the likes of Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, and Deion Branch.  They will increase their chances of doing so with a strong showing from Lardarius Webb (who will undoubtedly be lined up across from Wes Welker), Cary Williams, and Jimmy Smith.  Ed Reed has shown a great ability to read Tom Brady, and Brady will most certainly avoid frequently throwing over the middle of the field.  The Ravens' front seven will also be fresh and healthy and ready to manhandle an injured and broken Patriots' offensive line. 

What's that you say? The Ravens have to play the Texans at home first?  Yes I know that, but I was simply addressing the topic of discussion that seemed most prevalent in every conversation I've had in the last week regarding the NFL playoffs.  The Ravens will, of course, first have to handle their business against T.J. Yates and a team that the Ravens already beat earlier in the season, but I have full faith that they will remain unbeaten at home this season.  I expect all of you Ravens fans to wear purple and black when at all possible and appropriate all week.  GO RAVENS.