We’re down to the final eight teams in the NFL season and the second week of the playoffs kicks off with a huge grudge match when AFC heavyweights the New England Patriots host the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on Sunday morning.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:30am AEDT for all the big hits, spectacular catches and incredible athleticism.
These two powerhouses have built up a rivalry in the last few years as this will be their fourth playoff meeting in the last six years with the Ravens holding a 2-1 advantage.
It all starts with the quarterbacks. For the Ravens, it all rests on the fortunes of their enigmatic quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco this season threw for 27 touchdowns and just under 4,000 yards.
Not a bad set of stats but there were occasions where he has struggled with consistency, the last two games of the regular season in particular. But as he did in Baltimore’s Superbowl winning season in 2012, once the playoffs start, Flacco seems to find another level.
That season Flacco threw for just 22 touchdowns in 16 regular season games but then had a career defining breakout in the four playoff games throwing for 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
He is 10-4 win/loss record in playoff games and last week in the wildcard win over the Steelers he once again stepped up.
His record against the Patriots is similar. 1-3 in regular season games, 2-1 in playoff games. He’ll need to be on his game on Sunday when he fronts a strong Patriots secondary led by free agent signings Brandon Browner and one of the league’s best cornerbacks, Darelle Revis.
Of course the biggest task for the Ravens will be to stop the Patriots future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. 37 year old Brady has had another excellent season throwing for 33 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards with just eight interceptions.
He’s done it with a less than average running game.
The Patriots rank 18th in the league running the ball and against the Ravens fourth ranked rushing defence, the onus will once again be on Brady and his favourite target, tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski is a six foot six, 120 kilogram behemoth and the league’s best tight end and pivotal to his team’s chances.
Injury has robbed Gronkowski of any meaningful contribution around playoff time and it has cost the Patriots badly, lacking any alternatives. For the first time in three years he enters the playoffs fit and coming off another excellent season with twelve touchdowns.
Brady and Gronkowski will be facing a Ravens secondary that has been inconsistent and shaky most of the season, especially since they lost key defender Jimmy Smith to injury half way through the season.
The Ravens’ pass rush which was excellent last week against the Steelers. Led by Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, they will have to be at the top of their game to pressure Brady. If they give Brady time, he will tear their secondary to shreds.
Prediction:
The Ravens will cause the Patriots headaches in the lead up to this game with recent playoff losses fresh in the Patriots’ minds. Flacco’s playoff record is also imposing and the Ravens vaunted coaching staff is coming off a brilliantly executed win over the Steelers last week.
However the Patriots at home are a formidable force. Since 2002 when Gillette Stadium first opened, they have a 99-19 win loss record.
They have had an excellent season and with Brady and Gronkowski in great form. If their strong secondary can negate Flacco’s influence and restrict the Ravens receiving threats Torrey Smith and Steven Smith, they should be able to notch their 100th victory at Gillette Stadium, but it will close.
Patriots to win 31-24.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Thanks JohnK, was a great game to call. thanks for joining in.
Johnk
Guest
Awesome game, had so many twists and turns, and pretty much went down to the wire! Great call on the game Lou!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Great game with lots of highlights. Great effort by the Ravens but they let go of a 14 point lead twice during this game. They caught the Pats out early in the game for a 14-0 lead. Then a TD early 3rd quarter by the Ravens gave them a 28-14 lead. Pats however went 21-3 from to win the game in the end. One of the highlights had to be the trick play by the Pats where wide receiver Julian Edelman threw a TD pass to Amendola late in the 3rd qtr that tied the scores at 28-28. It was all on the Pats passing game today, as they ran the ball only 13 times for a paltry 14 yards. Tom Brady threw for 367 yards and 3 TDs. Tight end Rob Gronkowski was huge with 7 catches for 108 yards and 1 TD. For the Ravens QB Joe Flacco was huge again in a playoff game with 292 yards and 4 TDs. He did however throw 2 interceptions in the 2nd half. Running back Justin Forsett gave them great balance with 129 yards from 24 carries. In the end though the Patriots were able to contain the Ravens after the initial 14 point onslaught, enough to allow Tom Brady help orchestrate a famous comeback victory. Thanks for joining theRoar today.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Pass incomplete and the Patriots win the game 35-31. They will host the AFC Championship game next week against the winner of the Broncos/Colts game.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
4 seconds left and Ravens get the ball back. Need a miracle hail mary pass!!
Johnk
Guest
Wow! What a game!!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
2nd & 5 and Flacco goes deep to Torrey Smith in the endzone...and it's picked off by the Pats Duron Harmon!! Huge interception.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Flacco from the shotgun....waits and completes the pass to Daniels for a crucial 1st down!! 2 minute warning. Ravens will have 1st down at the Pats 42 yard line. 2 minutes and they need a touchdown.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Can they convert? 2:14 remaining......now the Pats take a timeout..on the Ravens own 41. huge play coming up!!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
3rd & 3 on the 41 yd line 3 mins left and Flacco is pressured into an incompletion. 4th down and the Ravens line up for the 4th down. They take a timeout.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
4 mins remaining and Ravens work their way to the Pats 40 yd line.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
That was a 10 play, 74 yard drive by the Patriots.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
5 minutes left in the game and it's the Pats 35-31.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
From the Ravens 22 Brady finds LaFell in the endzone and take the lead for the first time.!!!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
3rd & Goal on the Pats 7 and Flacco looks for Daniels in the endzone...no good. Ravens settle for a field goal. Ravens lead 31-28
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Good run through the middle by Forsett gives the Ravens 1st down on the Pats 10 yd line.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Early 4th quarter and ravens have 4th & 1 on Pats 36. they're going for it......and a short pass to the full back Jusyckz hets the first down!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
3rd & 2 , Flacco goes back but can't find a receiver...gets sacked!! But wait holding penalty against the Pats Darrelle Revis. Second big penalty of the night against Revis. 1st Down Ravens!!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Pats fail to capitalise and go three and out. Just out of field goal range to Pats will punt....and a poor one at that.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
.....ball backon the Ravens 37 yard line.