What To Watch For: AFC Divisional Playoffs: Patriots vs. Ravens

Email to a friend Permalink

Friday, January 09, 2015

Matt LaPan, Go Local Sports Reporter

The NFL Playoffs are finally here. The New England Patriots will welcome the Baltimore Ravens into Gillette Stadium this Saturday for the Divisional Round of the playoffs. This will be the third time in four years that these two teams will meet at Gillette Stadium in the playoffs with the teams splitting the previous two meetings. 

This meeting is far different than the past meetings. The Patriots defense comes into this game vastly improved from the previous meeting in the 2012 AFC Championship game. The Ravens passing game, and quarterback Joe Flacco are also improved.

Although the Patriots enter the game as the favorites, the team knows that the John Harbaugh-led Ravens are a tough opponent in the playoffs. Who holds the advantage? What are some of the key matchup to watch? Will the Patriots advance to their fourth consecutive AFC Championship game, or will the Ravens play spoiler?

Key Matchups

Nate Solder & Sebastian Vollmer vs. Terrell Suggs & Elvis Dumervil

The difference between a win and a loss in this game will come down to keeping Tom Brady upright. The Ravens pass rushers are well known in Foxboro. Both Suggs and Dumervil have caused chaos along the Patriots offensive line in the past, and will look to do so again on Saturday.

The Patriots allowed just 26 sacks on the season, but Baltimore finished second in the NFL with 49 sacks on the season. While Solder has struggled at times in 2014, he will be getting Dan Connolly back at his side. With Connolly in the lineup, Solder has been at his best. He draws the every-down duty of keeping Suggs away from Brady, which has proved extremely tough in past years. Suggs is a physical player with great speed and holds the slight advantage over Solder. Volume is a technician and will be taking on the much smaller Dumervil, giving him the advantage.

Advantage: Ravens 

Darrelle Revis & Brandon Browner vs. Steve Smith Sr. & Torrey Smith

The Patriots went after Browner and Revis in the offseason for this time of year. In previous years, players like Aqib Talib, Marquice Cole and Kyle Arrington have failed to stop the deep ball against Flacco. Now they have a tremendous duo of cornerbacks to counteract Flacco.

That will not be easy when he is throwing the ball to two of the better deep ball pass catchers in the NFL. Torrey Smith runs great routes and does a good job finding the ball. He also does a great job readjusting to the ball and drawing pass interference calls against opposing cornerbacks. Smith Sr. is a more physical receiver but runs very good routes. Although he is not the receiver he once was, he can still take the top off the defense. As a team, nobody drew more pass interference calls than the Ravens. They will likely use this against Browner, who led the NFL in penalties for a single player, despite missing seven games.

The real difference in the matchup is Revis. He is still the elite cornerback in the NFL and can effectively take any receiver out of any game. He will likely play on both Smith’s at some point, and lock them down while he is on them.

Advantage: Patriots

Matthew Slater vs. Jacoby Jones

Both Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh know how important special teams are, especially in playoff games. Both the Patriots and Ravens are known for having some of the best special teams units in the NFL every year.

The Patriots have the premier special teams player in the NFL in Matthew Slater. The perennial Pro Bowler has become the name when it comes to making plays on special teams. On punts and kickoffs, there is not a better coverage man in the league.

He will face the one man who might be close to the same level in the return game. Jones is big, fast and sees the field extremely well. He is not afraid to return kicks from anywhere on the field, even taking a kickoff back for a touchdown in the Ravens Super Bowl win in 2012. Jones also gets terrific blocking in front of him.

While Jones is elite on returns, Slater’s ability to dominate special teams is undeniable.

Advantage: Patriots

Patrick Chung vs. Owen Daniels

While the Patriots are stout on the outside, their interior pass defense has been one of the major weak points throughout 2014. Although Owen Daniels is not the threat he once was, he can still run good routes and is a great check-down option for Flacco.

The main option to cover Daniels will likely be Patrick Chung. While Devin McCourty is the better coverage option, he will be helping make sure the deep ball is not the downfall of the Patriots. Chung has been very good in run support this season, but has never been a good coverage safety. Travis Kelce, Scott Chandler and others have torched Chung throughout the year and Daniels is a candidate to do the same.

Advantage: Ravens

Josh McDaniels vs. Dean Pees

The Patriots offensive coordinator vs the Ravens defensive coordinator who spent time working for the Patriots. This is not a traditional matchup to watch, but the chess match between the two could be the difference. 

McDaniels is the innovator of the current Patriots offense and is known for his unique passing attack and ability to attack the weakness of any defense.

Pees is known for his pressure schemes and strong defensive fronts. This Ravens team is no different. A great pass rush and stellar front seven should give McDaniels’ and Tom Brady’s quick passing game plan. In the end, McDaniels has Tom Brady on his side, helping him elevate a good game plan to a great game plan.

Advantage: Patriots

Quarterback Comparison

Tom Brady versus Joe Flacco. On paper, the matchup is a no-brainer. Advantage Brady. Upon further inspection, however, the matchup is a lot closer than many think when it comes playoff time. 

Since 2008 (Flacco’s rookie season) Brady has appeared in the playoffs five times, only missing the 2008 playoffs after a knee injury ended his season in Week 1. He has appeared in nine games. Brady has gone 218-355 (61.4%) for 2,470 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 touchdowns. That breaks down to a per-game average of 24-39 for 274 yards with two touchdowns and one interception per game.

Flacco has competed in 14 games in that time, missing the 2013 playoffs. He has gone 225-402 (55.9%) for 2,931 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. That breaks down to a per game average of 16-28 for 209 yards with one touchdown and less than one interception per game. It is Flacco’s last five games that makes this a conversation, however. Flacco is 5-0 and has thrown for 1,399 yards with 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions. These gaudy numbers helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl in 2012 with Flacco as the MVP.

Brady, on the other hand, is 2-3 with 1,415 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. The once immortal playoff performer has come back down to an average playoff ranking while Flacco’s game has seriously elevated in the postseason.

Even with all of these factors, it is hard to pick against Brady in any playoff or pressure situation. While Joe Flacco has ascended to one of the best playoff quarterbacks in the NFL, Brady’s history gives him the slight advantage.

Advantage: Patriots

Final Prediction

The Patriots and Ravens have become one of the top playoff matchups in the NFL. From a pair of top coaches to two primetime playoff performers at quarterback, this game has everything football fans are looking for. Even though the Ravens are one of the toughest opponents for the Patriots, this year’s matchup is different than years past. Expect the Patriots to attack the weak Ravens secondary with an up-tempo attack. Expect Rob Gronkowski to dominate the middle of the field and the Patriots to come away winners.

Prediction: Patriots 27 Ravens 17

---

Related Slideshow: Fun Places in Central Massachusetts to Watch Football

Related Articles

• What to Watch For: Patriots vs. Jets
• Brady Leads Patriots Over Bills In AFC East Clash
• Jones Helps Patriots Survive Thursday Night Scare
• 5 Good Things That Happened To The Patriots This Weekend
• Report: Patriots Bolster Roster With Two Moves
• What To Watch For: Patriots vs. Bills
• Patriots Silence The Doubters - Dominate Bengals 43-17
• Defensive Dominance Gives Patriots Blowout Win in Minnesota
• What To Watch For: Patriots vs. Raiders
• Patriots Survive Home Opener, Top Raiders 16-9
• Patriots Blown Out By Chiefs In Kansas City
• What to Watch For: Patriots vs. Bears
• Patriots Maul Bears Behind Gronk’s Huge Day
• Patriots Dominate Dolphins—Take AFC East Title
• Patriots Have The Wright Stuff—Shut Down Detroit 34-9
• Starters Get A Rest, Patriots Topped 17-9 By Bills
• The Brady Restructure — What It Means For Patriots
• Patriots Set To Take On Ravens In Divisional Round of Playoffs
• What To Watch For: Patriots vs. Lions
• NEW: Patriots Bring Back Blount
• Patriots Acquire LB Jonathan Casillas in Trade with Tampa Bay
• Patriots Offense Stays Hot In Cold Weather—Blow Out Manning, Broncos
• Patriots With A “Touch Of Gray” In Blowout Of Colts
• Former Patriots Named Hall of Fame Semifinalists

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink