WILD – CARD Ravens – Patriots Preview

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This Sunday’s wild-card round is the first playoff meeting ever between the Baltimore Ravens (9-7) and the New England Patriots (10-6).However,the Patriots are 5-0 all-time against the Ravens.

Tom Brady has a pedestrian 82.5 passer rating in three games against Baltimore,throwing for 687 yds and 3 TDs with one interception,and his 54.0 complition percentage is the lowest versus any opponent.

Those numbers may not be so bad when you face one of the best defense of the league in the last decade.Brady and the Pats,anyway, always found a way to beat the Ravens,including a 27-21 home-win October 4.

Despite having won the AFC East,New England didn’t rest any of its key players last Sunday in a 34-27 loss at Houston,and they unfortunatly paid the price.They lost Wes Welker,one of their top offensive threats,for a knee injury in an insigficant game.

Welker,the league leader with 123 receptions is out for the playoffs.Coach Bill Belichick doesn’t want to dwell on the loss of Brady’s favorite target.“We’re over and done with that.We’re onto Baltimore” he said.

Welker excelled as a slot receiver,and will now be replaced in that role by rookie Julian Edelman who has similar skills.In the two games that Welker missed during the season and at Houston,Edelman had a total 21 catches for 221 yds.

However,Welker is a terrible loss for the Patriots,and Randy Moss will see a lot of double coverage from the Ravens defense.Moss has 83 catches for 1,264 yds and finished in a three-way tie for the league lead in touchdowns with 13.

Tom Brady has thrown for 4,398 yds and 28 TDs,but has been suffering from injuries to his ribs and a right hand finger in the past few weeks. “Everyone breaks bones over the course of the year,”he said “I’m feeling pretty good.It’s the best I’ve felt in a while.”

Baltimore’s Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed will see limited action on Sunday,as hip,groin and ankle injuries have kept him out of four December games.The Ravens also got DT Jared Gaither back against Oackland after he missed a month due to a foot injury.

“I think they both looked pretty good”coach John arbaugh said “Obviously,it’s tough to just go out there and play for the fist time in four weeks.They haven’t had a lot of practice.I think they’ll get even better.”

Even with QB Joe Flacco making progress,the Ravens remain commited to running the ball.Ray Rice has been outstanding in his second season,rushing for 1,339 yds and 7 TDs while leading the team with 78 receptions.His backup Willis McGahee took the game over against the Raiders with 167 yds and 3 TDs in 16 carries.McGahee has 12 TDs and is averaging 5.0 yds per carry this season.

Like last year,the Ravens had to win their last regular-season game to get in the playoffs as a wild-card team.They lost in the AFC championship game to Pittsburgh last January. In 2000, Baltimore won its only Super Bowl after getting in the postseason also as a wild-card team.

The Patriots are playing very well at home,however,with Brady hampered by injuries and Welker out, Baltimore has a good opportunity to break the five-game losing streak

It should be a good tough game,I would give a small edge to New England who hasn’t lost a game at home this season,and has never lost to Baltimore.However,this is their first meeting in the playoffs,eveything is different,and the Ravens have proved they can slow down Brady and the Patriots offense.

Take your pick for this game and check the action for the NFL’ wild-card weekend at BetPhoenix.com Sportsbook.

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