OWINGS MILLS – Did the New York Jets provide the blueprint for how to topple the New England Patriots during their upset victory earlier this season?
The answer is a bit complicated.
Yes, the Jets demonstrated that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady can be flustered if the pocket collapses around him. He was hit several times and his lateral movement was a bit suspect as he tried to avoid the pass rush.
And no two football games are identical.
So, the Baltimore Ravens (3-0) can’t simply copy Jets coach Rex Ryan’s aggressive game plan and expect to easily defeat the Patriots (2-1) on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
“Every team is different,” Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “A couple of years ago we thought the Eagles had the blueprint, and that didn’t work, we didn’t work, and they ended up going undefeated. We just have to go out there and do our job. We have to play some football.”
Suggs said that he won’t consult with Jets linebacker Bart Scott, the former Ravens defensive standout, this week.
“No, I’m not going to talk to Bart this week because they already have the victory and we need to get ours,” Suggs said. “So, we’re going to really focus on us versus the Patriots.”
Plus, the Ravens don’t have a shutdown cornerback like Jets star Darrelle Revis to frustrate Patriots star wide receiver Randy Moss.
One thing is for sure: This game should be more of a litmus test for how good the Ravens are than what they learned about themselves during a 34-3 rout of the Cleveland Browns.
"You’ve got to respect them, then you’ve got to attack them," Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "You’ve got to go out there and play your game plan.
"The history, the Super Bowls that they’ve won, we respect it all. But we feel like we have to go up there to play a game."
A victory over New England on the road would reinforce the Ravens’ status as a prime contender to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
"Obviously, they’re among the greatest franchises of any sport," wide receiver Derrick Mason said. "But we’re not playing their franchise. We’re not playing their history or their legacy. We’re playing the New England Patriots of this year, and they’re damn good."
INJURY UPDATE: The Ravens added Mason to the injury report Friday as he was limited in practice with an illness that has been going around the team.
The Ravens also listed linebacker Tavares Gooden (concussion) as questionable as well as backup quarterback Troy Smith (illness).
Smith said that he has a cold, but predicted he’ll be able to operate as the No. 2 quarterback behind Joe Flacco on Sunday.
“It was a bad cold, but I’m good,” Smith said.
Smith didn’t practice all week, but was present at the training complex for the first time since getting sick.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that players have avoided getting too close to Smith.
“I noticed no one went near him,” Harbaugh said. “It was like a ring of fire.”
Harbaugh said that the Ravens will think about using John Beck as their second quarterback with Smith being used as the emergency third quarterback.
“We’ll see how it goes,” he said. “That is a consideration.”
Gooden said that he has been cleared medically and predicted he would start Sunday.
“I’m ready to play,” he said.
Linebackers Ray Lewis (concussion), Jarret Johnson (left shoulder) and Antwan Barnes (shoulder), tight end Todd Heap (back), wide receiver Kelley Washington (groin), defensive tackle Justin Bannan (left knee) and defensive end Trevor Pryce (illness) are listed as probable.
Patriots’ wide receiver Wes Welker (knee) is questionable as well as nose guard Vince Wilfork (ankle) and offensive tackle Nick Kaczur (ankle).
Linebacker Jerod Mayo (sprained knee) is doubtful, but can be counted as out.
Moss (back) was removed from the injury report as well as cornerback Shawn Springs (knee), wide receiver Matthew Slater (elbow), cornerback Jonathan Wilhite (groin) and cornerback Darius Butler (thigh).
Quarterback Tom Brady (right shoulder), running back Laurence Maroney (thigh), cornerback Leigh Bodden (thigh) and defensive tackle Mike Wright (shoulder) are20probable.
HOMECOMING: Ravens kicker Steve Hauschka grew up rooting for the Patriots as a native of Needham, Mass.
Now, he’ll be trying to control his nerves at Gillette Stadium on Sunday as he takes on his hometown team.
“I’m really excited about it obviously,” Hauschka said. “I’ve never been there before. I’ll try to treat it just like another game. I don’t think it will feel too much different.”
Hauschka has obtained 25 tickets for family and friends.
And he said he thinks that he won’t be too nervous.
“I think I’ll be able to control my emotions,” Hauschka said. “I just have to make sure I have the right mindset as a kicker. You don’t want to be too pumped up. You want to be relaxed and feel focused and make the kick.”
HE’S BACK: During two seasons with the Patriots, Ravens wide receiver Kelley Washington caught just one pass for three yards while excelling on special teams.
Playing behind Moss and Welker, there was essentially no role for Washington in the Patriots’ passing game.
Now, he has emerged as a vital part of the Ravens’ offense with a dozen receptions and one touchdown while averaging 13.9 yards per catch.
He’s not consumed by trying to prove something, though.
“It’s always emotional when you play against your old team,” Washington said. “Catching balls is fine with me, but I was able to do some good things on special teams there.
“Whether it’s receiver or special teams, I like to go out and make plays. I’m not looking for revenge or to show them anything. I’m going to go out and try to make plays and do my assignments.”
RELIEVED: Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata received good news about his family that lives in Tonga, which was ravaged by a tsunami this week.
“My family is fine,” Ngata said Friday. “It’s a big relief. It hit the island hard, but my family is okay. It’s terrible what happened to so many people.”
Defensive tackle Kelly Talavou’s family has been accounted for safely, too.
TRYOUT: The Ravens had punter Glenn Pakulak in for one day as a tryout player for the second time this year. He’s left-footed, so he helped the Ravens prepare for Patriots lefty punter Chris Hanson.
QUICK HITS: There’s a 20 percent chance of rain for Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. “We pack everything," Harbaugh said. "I don’t think we’ll have the parkas up there yet. But it could rain. It’s not like we’re studying every second. We work with wet balls. We practice in the rain. We think we’re ready for any condition." … Special-teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo, who was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording an interception and a sack against the Cleveland Browns, said he has learned a lot from Ray Lewis, Zach Thomas, Brian Urlacher, Junior Seau and Lance Briggs. “You take a little something away from each one of their games,” he said. “Like what did they do best, you try to incorporate that into your game and you learn from the things that they do.” … Tight end L.J. Smith (hamstring) is no longer on the injury report. “I feel pretty good now,” he said. “We’ll see how the game plan goes and we still want to be smart with it. I’ll probably be in for a couple more plays this week, but I really can’t say for sure.”
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
