Brady and Pats Look for Revenge After '09 Playoff Drubbing

New England and Baltimore face off this Sunday in Foxborough.

The table has been set and we're ready to eat, now bring on the meat and potatoes!  The AFC Championship game goes this Sunday in New England and it's shaping up to be a dandy.  There's a revenge angle, aging superstars on both sides looking for possibly their last kick at glory, young guns making their first appearance and even a bit of animosity inside some locker rooms.

The mighty New England offense and the fierce Baltimore defense are set to do battle in the AFC Conference Championship game with the winner advancing to Indianapolis to play for the Super Bowl.  With a convincing win over Denver the Pats waltzed into this weekend riding high and hoping to continue piling up the points.  The Ravens put on a defensive show in the second half and smothered the Texans in defeating them last week in Baltimore.  Both teams strengths showed up, both teams advanced.  However, someone is goin' home this Sunday.

Every week leading up to Sunday is a media frenzy while both teams prepare for battle.  The microscope only increases as we narrow the field and the pressure mounts.  So every miscue, every interview and every bump and bruise is nearing apocalyptic proportions at this point, so take everything with a grain of salt.  However, we've seen a couple of pretty interesting things in the recent days since this matchup was set.

First off, Tom Brady missed practice yesterday with what they are calling a left shoulder injury (that's his non-throwing shoulder).  Granted it was only Wednesday and frankly Brady looked like he could throw an anvil 40 yards through a hula hoop last weekend, but it is something to keep our eye on.  Brady returned to practice today and reports are positive saying it was mainly precautionary as we are nearing the end of a long season, yet if there is anything truly wrong with that shoulder you can bet Terrell Suggs and that defense will find it and exploit it Sunday.

Speaking of the Ravens  D, how about Ed Reed calling out Joe Flacco on the radio Tuesday.  Early reports out of Baltimore were that there was some tension brewing in the Ravens locker room over this as Reed and Flacco are 2 of the leaders of that team, but both have downplayed it and said they have moved on.  Reed made reference to the fact that Flacco got 'rattled' during the Texans game which seems to be a pattern for the young quarterback.  With a plethora of playoff experience in just a short career, Flacco will need to start winning consistently in January if he expects to be put in the upper echelon of quarterbacks.

So to get this matchup underway here are three reasons why the Pats will win this game...

1. First and foremost, Tom Brady.  He is the driving force behind this Pats team and has been for the better part of a decade.  With over 5,200 yards thrown this year the Pats come at you through the air over and over and over again.  They don't hide it, they don't trick you, they just keep throwing the ball and catching the ball.  With 3 Super Bowl rings and an abundance of playoff experience, Brady is exactly the man you want under center with the game on the line.

2. If Brady is the number 1 reason the Pats will be victorious, then Rob Gronkowski is the number 1 reason Brady will be successful.  'Gronk', as he is affectionately called, is plain and simply a beast.  The 6'6, 265 lb tight end had a monster season for the Pats breaking Mike Ditka's record for being the fastest tight end to reach 20 TD catches.  Gronkowski lived up to the billing last week hauling in 10 passes for 145 yards and 3 scores against Denver.  This guy seems to be uncoverable and if it stays that way we should see New England return to the big dance for the first time since 2008.

3. The final reason the Pats will come away with a win this weekend is kind of a 2-for-1 special with the revenge angle meeting the hall of fame coach.  You ever have a bad taste in your mouth and you never forget it?  Well, let me tell you Bill Belichek had a terrible taste in his mouth after the 33 - 14 beating 2 playoff seasons ago against these same Ravens.  The future hall of fame coach is and always has been an x-factor for the Patriots and I expect that trend to continue this weekend.  Belichek doesn't get fooled twice and he should have that Patriots team fired up and properly prepared for the Ravens on Sunday.

So Brady, Gronk and Belichek will be primed and ready for Baltimore in this weekend's AFC Championship matchup, this much we know.  But here are three reasons why the Ravens will turn some heads and come away with their own victory and a trip to Indianapolis...

1. Here it comes again folks: defense wins championships, offense sells tickets.  The Ravens walk into Foxborough with a chance at stopping this offensive juggernaut because of their D.  It's no secret Baltimore lives and dies with Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and the rest of that vaunted defense.  Ranking 3rd in points allowed and 4th in passing defense, the Ravens aren't afraid to play anyone.  Brady has had some trouble against the Ravens getting sacked 12 times in his career by Baltimore.  With Ed Reed and Ledarius Webb patrolling the field turnovers can also be at a premium so Brady better be careful with the rock.

2. As weird as it sounds, the second reason for a Ravens win is Joe Flacco.  With all the trials and tribulations Flacco has gone through in his short career, it's time for him to step up and take Baltimore to the next level.  This Ravens offense isn't exactly a pushover with Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin, so if Flacco is able to exploit a weak New England secondary and the Ravens D can hold Brady to a reasonable amount of points, Baltimore has a shot.  The key for Flacco is to take Ed  Reed's advice and not get rattled.  Come on Joe, you've been here before, get it together.

3. The final reason we may see the Ravens in the Super Bowl is fate.  Yes, I said fate.  If anyone is able to hold down Tom Brady in his own house, stop the great Gronk on his mission and pull the wool over coach Belichek's eyes twice in 3 years, it must be a Harbaugh.  For those of you sentimentalists, we've got a shot at seeing brothers clash in this years Super Bowl if Baltimore and San Fran come away with wins this weekend.  John and Jim Harbaugh are head coaches of both the Ravens and 49ers respectively and have taken the league by storm this season.  If fate will have it, we may see a family affair in Indy.


Well there you have it, 3 foolproof reasons why both these squads come away with a win in Foxborough.  Trouble is, somethings gotta give.  Let's be honest with ourselves though, my final reason for the Ravens was fate, did anyone buy into that?  I didn't think so.  Frankly, I can't see an aging Ed Reed and Ray Lewis muster up the ghosts of playoffs past and stop the Brady mobile from reaching top speed.  Throw in an angry Bill Belichek and a frightening Gronk monster and you have a recipe for disaster.  Pats end up in the Super Bowl for the first time since the pre-Burress jail time era.

Prediction: Patriots 31 - Ravens 23