Ravens spend the day defending Flacco after Ed Reed says he looked a bit rattled.
On one hand the Ravens needed a game plan to beat Houston last week. So I would suspect they didn't want Flacco taking too many risks and give Houston a game changing turnover. Essentially...let our defence handle the rook QB, and don't give them any points. A plan that the Ravens were able to execute. Plus the Texans defense did play really well. It's not like the completions Flacco made were easy throws.
This week I imagine it's a different plan involving a more aggressive passing game, and a passing game with more screens. The Ravens know they'll need to put up more than 24 points to win and will plan accordingly. Whether they execute is another matter.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
The best part about the Patriots and Giants playing in a rematch of the 2008 Super Bowl is that there will be no "18-1" to deal with for the next 4 years.
I really like the way that the Ravens match up against the Pats. Mattering on how that Ravens O can move the ball against a weak Pats D will decide the game.
The Patriots have perhaps the easiest road they've ever had to the Super Bowl this season. Baltimore's defense will certainly be a test for the high-powered New England offense, but the defense's limited passing yards against is also a reflection of the lack of good quarterbacks the Ravens have faced throughout this season. The Ravens didn't face Tom Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford or Matt Ryan. They did, however, face Andy Dalton twice, Seneca Wallace, Dan Orlovsky, Matt Hasselbeck, Blaine Gabbert, Tavaris Jackson and Kevin Kolb.
The best part about the Patriots and Giants playing in a rematch of the 2008 Super Bowl is that there will be no "18-1" to deal with for the next 4 years.
16-3, Baby.
Did I miss something? Don't the Pats and Giants have to win this weekend first?
I realize no one is giving the Ravens much of a shot... but then again no one expected the Arizona Cardinals to make it to the Superbowl a few years ago either.
I realize no one is giving the Ravens much of a shot... but then again no one expected the Arizona Cardinals to make it to the Superbowl a few years ago either.
Everyone has a shot in a one game playoff. But it's hard to get excited about the Ravens when they can't move the ball against the Texans. The Pats D, at times, is no slouch. If you can't move the ball, even if you can slow down the Pats offense a bit, you still are not going to get good field position. Playing at Gillette is a big plus to the the Pats, same field, same vision and sight sightlines.
Everyone has a shot in a one game playoff. But it's hard to get excited about the Ravens when they can't move the ball against the Texans. The Pats D, at times, is no slouch. If you can't move the ball, even if you can slow down the Pats offense a bit, you still are not going to get good field position. Playing at Gillette is a big plus to the the Pats, same field, same vision and sight sightlines.
Not many teams can, the Texans have one of the best defenses in the league.
Everyone has a shot in a one game playoff. But it's hard to get excited about the Ravens when they can't move the ball against the Texans. The Pats D, at times, is no slouch. If you can't move the ball, even if you can slow down the Pats offense a bit, you still are not going to get good field position. Playing at Gillette is a big plus to the the Pats, same field, same vision and sight sightlines.
Yes the Pats D is a slouch almost all the time. That Texas defense you mentioned is one of the best in the NFL this season. The Patriots have had one of the easiest roads to the Superbowl, still not beating an over .500 team all season. The Patriots Offense is the real deal and in a very watered down NFL season, they have to be the favorites going into Sunday, but the Ravens do stand a chance with how good they can run the ball against an awful Pats D and a defense that can make big plays.
If they can jam the TE's at the line and the weather isn't good, it will be very hard for Brady to stretch the field.
I don't know about that...the Patriots excell when the weather gets bad, especially in Foxboro. Offensive players know where they're going with their routes, and the Patriots run very precise routes...defenders have to react to the offensive players, and when the track is slick, the offensive guy has the advantage knowing where he wants to go.
Now if it's a cold crisp day, where receivers can struggle to catch a hard slick ball...maybe that brings on a few drops like the Packer receivers had last week.
I think it's a fascinating matchup...Bellichick loves to throw with this offence, but if he see's that the Ravens will give him some running yards, they'll adjust and take the running yards they're allowed. The Ravens didn't record a single sack on T.J.Yates last week and had the Texans run the ball pretty effectively against them. Houston does have an elite offensive line, as do the Patriots. But did the Ravens plan to stop the run enough, and keep enough guys in coverage to force T.J. Yates to throw some picks? Or did the Texans keep the pass rush at bay enough to keep their QB out of trouble? If it's a case of the latter, than the Patriots will have no problem with the Ravens defence.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
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I don't know about that...the Patriots excell when the weather gets bad, especially in Foxboro. Offensive players know where they're going with their routes, and the Patriots run very precise routes...defenders have to react to the offensive players, and when the track is slick, the offensive guy has the advantage knowing where he wants to go.
Now if it's a cold crisp day, where receivers can struggle to catch a hard slick ball...maybe that brings on a few drops like the Packer receivers had last week.
I think it's a fascinating matchup...Bellichick loves to throw with this offence, but if he see's that the Ravens will give him some running yards, they'll adjust and take the running yards they're allowed. The Ravens didn't record a single sack on T.J.Yates last week and had the Texans run the ball pretty effectively against them. Houston does have an elite offensive line, as do the Patriots. But did the Ravens plan to stop the run enough, and keep enough guys in coverage to force T.J. Yates to throw some picks? Or did the Texans keep the pass rush at bay enough to keep their QB out of trouble? If it's a case of the latter, than the Patriots will have no problem with the Ravens defence.
You kind of hit on the issue an offense faces in bad weather indirectly there. If your offense runs a lot of routes that require a lot of precision and timing bad weather is a huge issue. Sure the receiver knows where he's going, but the cuts are slower, guys fall down, and the overall timing of the offense is ruined. Brady's good enough to make up for a lot of that, but it could certainly be a big issue.
__________________
When you do a signature and don't attribute it to anyone, it's yours. - Vulcan
If they can jam the TE's at the line and the weather isn't good, it will be very hard for Brady to stretch the field.
Edit: In the NFL networks 2 part series called Bill Belichick: A football life, they showed BB talking to Brady right before this game started, and Belichick asked Brady how he felt about this weather. Brady responded by saying something along the lines of "i love this weather, there's no way they will be able to get pressure on me with all this snow." Brady then went on to throw 5 TD's in the first half.
I really don't think bad weather will help the Ravens at all.
I don't know. It's not like the Ravens haven't gone into Foxboro, with relatively the same team, and knocked out the Patriots before. In fact, I'd argue this year's Ravens team was better than the '09 version, and this Patriots team is worse.
I don't know. It's not like the Ravens haven't gone into Foxboro, with relatively the same team, and knocked out the Patriots before. In fact, I'd argue this year's Ravens team was better than the '09 version, and this Patriots team is worse.
No Welker, Hernandez, Gronkowski in 09
Im gonna go out on a limb and say both the offense and defense is better this year than 09.
Shawn Springs starting CB
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