Bradhsaw vs. Stabler.
Favre vs. Young.
Manning vs. Brady.
Brady vs….Flacco?
That last one doesn’t quite seem the same as the first few, but the fact is that when they meet for the fourth time in the postseason on Saturday afternoon, Tom Brady and Joe Flacco will tie the record set by those other three sets of legendary QBs (that Brady is already in one of them is a testament to just how often he’s made the playoffs during his career).
January Foxboro football is nothing new for Flacco and the Ravens. They’ll look to improve their record in such games to 3-1, which would be a masterful accomplishment.
Let’s take a look at the quotes, stats, and more, courtesy of Conrad’s Seafood.
RAVENS PLAYOFF HISTORY
KNOW THY ENEMY
A FAMILIAR PLAYOFF FOE
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks on the Ravens’ Wild Card Win at Pittsburgh:
“Granted, these Ravens never make it easy on themselves in the regular season. But they definitely know how to play in January. And John Harbaugh’s battle-tested club knows what it takes to win on the road in the playoffs, silencing even the most hostile crowds with the kind of effort that hushed Heinz Field on Saturday night. … Baltimore specializes in surviving in the regular season, then thriving in the postseason. Once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen, and usually does. The Ravens hang around all year, then scratch and claw to advance once the stakes are their highest.”
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley on John Harbaugh as Coach of the Year:
“[John] Harbaugh deserves to be in the conversation for NFL Coach of the Year after all the distractions and injuries that the Ravens have endured. The players point to Harbaugh when asked how they have remained focused through the Ray Rice scandal, the Jimmy Smith season-ending injury and the suspension of [Haloti] Ngata. He sets the tone in team meetings and at practices.”
HEY, YOU LOOK FAMILIAR! ~ Key Connections
Baltimore general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome began his front office career as a special assignment scout with the Browns in 1991, when Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was at Cleveland’s helm. Two years later (1993), Belichick promoted Newsome to assistant to head coach/offense/pro personnel.
Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees spent six seasons (2004-09) in New England, including his final four years as defensive coordinator. Under Pees, the Patriots’ “D” was the NFL’s only unit to finish in the Top 10 in scoring defense in four-consecutive seasons.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s first NFL coaching job was with the Baltimore Colts in 1975 as a special assistant to then-head coach Ted Marchibroda. Baltimore finished 10-4 that season and was crowned AFC East Division champion.
Patriots special teams coach Scott O’Brien held the same title with the Browns from 1991-95 and made the move to Baltimore with the franchise in 1996, spending three seasons coaching the Ravens’ special teams (1996-98).
Ravens WR Kamar Aiken spent time on New England’s practice squad and active roster during the 2012-13 seasons.
Patriots RB Jonas Gray was on the Ravens’ practice squad in 2013.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was the Broncos’ head coach from 2009-10, when Ravens ILBs coach Don Martindale was Denver’s LBs coach (2009) and defensive coordinator (2010), and OLB Elvis Dumervil posted his first 17-sack season in 2009. Dumervil and Patriots DT Sealver Siliga were Broncos teammates in 2012.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was raised in Annapolis, MD. Belichick played football and lacrosse at Annapolis HS, where he is currently enshrined in the Hall of Fame. His father, Steve, coached at the U.S. Naval Academy for 33 years.
Patriots CB Kyle Arrington is from Brandywine, MD. He attended Gwynn Park (Prince George’s County) HS, where he led his team to a regional championship in 2004.
Several Ravens are natives of Massachusetts: Defensive line coach Clarence Brooks (New Bedford), secondary/assistant head coach Steve Spagnuolo (Grafton) and assistant general manager Eric DeCosta (Taunton).
LAUGH OF THE WEEK AT EXPENSE OF RAVENS’ OPPONENT
