Divisional Predictions: Ravens at Pats

I thought the Ravens would get the woodshed treatment in Pittsburgh after the way they looked in the final three weeks of the regular season, so what the hell do I know?

Everything about this game also tells me the Ravens aren’t winning.  New England has essentially been resting for three weeks (given that half the starters didn’t play and no one tried in their final home game against Buffalo)…they didn’t lose a home game all year when they WERE trying and they are now good on defense and in the secondary, something they WEREN’T two years ago when the Ravens won the AFC title game there.

So, I keep looking at the game and thinking, “Well, if the Patriots show up and the Ravens show up, who wins?”  And the answer is, “The Patriots”.

I’m taking the Ravens 24-22.  ~Drew Forrester

I thought Pittsburgh was a tougher match-up for Baltimore than New England is, because of their downfield attack, Ben’s pocket presence, and James Harrison’s quickness and power.

Similar to last week, I think the key for the Ravens this week is their pass rush and Flacco’s moxy. Flacco in particular will be tested by New England’s secondary, but Steve Smith, Sr. is as determined and fired up as they come, and Torrey Smith is becoming more physical and savvy, himself.

I think Bernard Pierce can make some game-breaking plays Saturday night. He’s my x-factor.

Ravens 26, Patriots 21.~Mike Fast

Unlike the “Good Joe” – “Bad Joe” scenarios I painted last week this game will revolve around the Ravens Front Seven and how they affect the play Brady and Gronk.  If the Ravens don’t put Tom Brady don’t on the ground or get him out of his comfort zone on a routine basis, he and Rob Gronkowski will eat them alive.

Gronk was a spectator the last two time the Ravens have played in Foxborough and he is the X factor in this game.  I look for Dean Pees to put a couple of spies on him, maybe C.J. Mosley and a defensive back, to keep him honest. I hope that works.

Assuming it does, I predict another close slobber-knocker, Ravens 24. Patriots 23.~Fran Vojik

With the Patriots coming off the bye, and the game in Foxboro  – they should be the favorite that they are.

I do like the Ravens getting back Monroe, and Jernigan. I do think the worry some Ravens fans have about Revis, and Browner is overblown. If Baltimore wins, we know what the game will look like. They will be able to run enough to help establish the play action game. The Front-7 will do damage vs. the Patriots Offensive Line. The offense will convert in the red zone, and defense needs will hold the Pats to 3 when New England has their own opportunities. The Ravens will be looking for field position wins, and a strong showing from their Special Teams. Scheme wise, you are going to try and keep New England in-front of you, and it helps that there is limited worry about being beat over-the-top.

I think the Patriots are one of the 2-3 best teams in the league this year. I don’t think that makes them great / elite. Meaning what I mostly see is a number of good teams, each with their own flaws. The Ravens can win in New England and advance to another AFC Championship – but I’m not going to pick it. I didn’t pick Baltimore last week, and enjoyed being wrong. Hoping to enjoy being wrong again tomorrow.

24-21 New England.

As an aside….  Isn’t it more fun doing the hunting, and being the ‘bad’ guy? Baltimore, MD vs. The World… Let’s go!~Chris Stoner

Nothing about this game says to me that the Ravens will win, except that that is what they do at this time of year in these types of games when it’s least expected (outside of Baltimore, at least).

With NE’s improved secondary, the Ravens will need big games from Justin Forsett and Owen Daniels.  If they are up for it, that will allow Flacco to take his shots.

On D, the pass rush needs to get to Brady and force short passes. If they can get sustained pressure, the D (Will Hill) can come up and hammer the receivers after short gains – remember how Welker pretty much stopped playing in 2012?

Keeping my theme going:

Head says: Pats 30, Ravens 20

Heart says:  Flacco overcomes some early turnovers and leads a furious comeback win – Ravens 34, Pats 31~Brian McFarland

I want to believe, I really do, but I just don’t like the matchups. Flacco and the offense played well last week but the Steelers defense is seriously flawed; the Patriots defense isn’t.

The Ravens have struggled against good defenses.

Revis will take away one of the Smiths and the Patriots have athletic linebackers that I can’t see Owen Daniels and Crockett Gilmore beating them often enough.

To me, the key to this game is time of possession, the Ravens need to keep Brady off the field as much as possible, and that’s not something they’ve had a lot of success with this year, even last week against the Steelers they were beat soundly in that category. I hate to say it, and I could easily be wrong but I see this one being over by the end of the 3rd quarter.

Patriots 35-17~Ryan Jones

I could easily see this game getting out of hand in either direction, but I don’t think it’s going to.

With the Patriots biggest weakness on offense being the offensive line, they gameplan to get the ball out quickly, and Tom Brady is sacked 2 or fewer times.

The Ravens’ biggest weakness, the secondary, plays extraordinarily well and intercepts Tom Brady at least twice.

With two strong defenses matching up, the total score is right around 40.

The Patriots offense comes out extremely rusty, but they eventually move the ball. However, they fail to put the ball in the endzone on more than one red zone opportunity and are held to only 1 touchdown.

Ravens win 21-19~Tyler Lombardi

With a wind chill around 5 degrees at kickoff and both teams sporting very good defenses, after saying that the magic number last week was 30, this week I’ll say it might be more like 24. The Pats are rested, sure, but they also haven’t played a meaningful down of football since December 21. If the Ravens can start fast, I like their chances. They can’t afford to get into a game of catch-up against that Pats secondary. First team to 24 wins.~Derek Arnold

If the Ravens want to win they need to get their second options heavily involved.  Owen Daniels, Michael Campanero, Kamar Aiken and Jacoby Jones.  Great blocking on screens from Torrey and Steve Smith Sr will be essential because the Ravens top 2 receivers will be blanketed all game.  The running game will need to be able to find space off-tackle.  Brandon Browner has the tendency to commit PI’s so Kubiak can dial up the long ball BUT it should be saved for single coverage situations.

Please, please, please!!!  I beg of you Dean Pees, do not allow, at any point in time, Matt Elam to be covering Gronk.  And if Frankenstein does get the ball in his hands…  Hang on to the bolts sticking out of his neck and ride him until he falls!!!!  I fear a moment where one of our secondary tries to ram their shoulder pads into Gronk’s waist and we watch him stomp them into oblivion.

The Ravens record at Gillette in the playoffs will even this Saturday. Patriots win 28-24~Matt Constantini

Protecting the A gap is pivotal for the Ravens offense line in this one. Jeremy Zuttah needs to play his best game of the season in order to give the Ravens a chance to win. On defense, the Ravens need to move Brady off his mark as he is known to throw blindly to avoid getting hit. The Ravens with their backs again against the wall do enough to squeak by the Patriots 28-24 for an appearance in the AFC Championship Game.~Brian Bower

The Ravens have given up 13 points on average over their last five games and while they haven’t really played a prolific offense other than the Steelers during that time, the secondary, despite being a patchwork group that you may have found at Goodwill back in October, has really started to gel as has the play of S Will Hill. They will be up to the challenge of Tom Brady and A Gronking to Remember.

Joe Flacco has earned the title of January Joe and he’ll be tested by a tough and opportunistic Patriots defense. The Pats are +12 in turnovers this year and they’ve capitalized on that differential.

But teams that have been off for as long as New England (keep in mind they mailed in their season finale v. Buffalo) seem to start slow. Look for the Ravens to lose the coin toss but get the football and do something they rarely do — start fast against a team that hasn’t played at game speed for 3 weeks. They will maintain the lead throughout…

This one will be a relatively low scoring battle decided by a field goal. In the end it will be the Ravens winning the turnover battle and flip the score from the 2011 AFC Championship Game winning 23-20. They’ll then head to Denver for Mile High Miracle Part II. ~Tony Lombardi

I figured the Ravens would be unable to outlast the Steelers last week, but they proved me wrong in impressive fashion. If the same team that showed up against PIT comes to play at New England – which I believe will happen – then the Ravens will be back in the AFC title game.

Joe Flacco will have 200+ passing yards with 1 TD and zero interceptions. Forsett and Pierce combine for over 100 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens prevail thanks to a strong pass rush that sacks Tom Brady three times.

Ravens 24-23. A late defensive stand keeps the Pats from attempting a potential game-winning field goal.~Kyle Casey

• Jernigan returns and the Ravens are able to deactivate a defensive lineman who would start for a number of teams (Tyson).
• The firm of DSmith, Mosley, Suggs, and McPhee are consistently effective running down the screen passes the Pats use to foil pressure.
• Pocket compression in the middle works effectively for the Ravens on both sides of the ball.  Jernigan and McPhee get pressure versus 3 blockers (combined) allowing Suggs and Doom the opportunity to win 1-on-1 on the outside.  Wilfork is handled effectively with help from Yanda and Osemele.
• Will Hill will make at least 1 big play in coverage of Gronk.
• The Ravens run an offense which relies heavily on the TE and slot receivers.  At least 3 of Brown, Daniels, Juszczyk, and Gillmore all make receiving contributions.~Ken McKusick

It is going to take another big game from the Ravens in order to beat the Patriots Saturday night. The Ravens will have to get after Brady. The secondary needs to be physical and not allow the big play. The offense needs to move the ball all game and start fast. Forsett has got to have room and keep the D honest for the passing game.

My wife and all of my in-laws were born and raised (and most still live) in New England, so this game means more to mean than the Steelers game. I NEED the Ravens to win, so I am doing everything the exact way I did it last week, from my clothes to meals to my pick. So, because of that, my pick: Ravens lose 24-17. (Please be wrong, please be wrong, please be wrong)~Joe Polek