Next Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens travel to Foxboro to face the New England Patriots for the AFC Championship.
Here are 10 Things to watch with New England:
1) Including their 45-10 thrashing of Denver yesterday, New England has won 9 straight. During those 9 games, the Patriots have scored at-least 34 points 7 times. During the regular season, New England scored 513 points, while allowing 342.
2) In 2011, the Patriots ranked 31st in Total Defense, (31st against the Pass, and 17th against the Run). New England was 14th overall with 40 sacks. New England’s offense ranked 2nd overall (2nd in Passing, and 20th in Rushing).
3) Slightly overshadowed this year by Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees; Brady threw for 5,235 yards with 39 TD’s, and 12 picks. His QB rating was 105.6, and his ESPN QBR was 76.6 (3rd overall, behind Rodgers, and Brees).
3a) In last year’s 23-20 Patriots OT win over the Ravens, Brady was 27 of 44 for 292 yards, 1 TD, and 2 picks.
3b) In the 2009 Ravens playoff win, Brady was 23 of 42 for 154 yards, 2 TD’s, and 3 picks.
3c) In the 2009 regular season Patriots win, Brady was 21 of 32 for 258 yards, and a TD.
4) Eight different Patriots were selected to the Pro Bowl, including LG Logan Mankins, and RG Brian Waters. LT Matt Light is a 3x Pro Bowl selection, 1x All-Pro. The RT is the 6’8 rookie Nate Solder, who the Patriots selected with the 17th overall pick of the 1st round. New England allowed 32 sacks, tied for 22nd in the league. The Patriots tied for 20th in the league with 4 yards per carry.
5) The leading NE rusher is the ‘law-firm’ BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who had 667 yards. Green-Ellis averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, and only had 9 receptions. Yesterday against Denver, he had 28 yards on his 13 carries.
6) In October, Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald told us that when Hernandez and Gronkowski were both healthy, the Patriots were using them on the field together 80% of the time. Seeing how their numbers ended, I would guess that percentage did not change much. Gronkowski had 90 catches, 1,327 yards, and 18 TD’s (1 rushing). He averaged 14.7 yards per catch, and 7.4 yards after the catch. Hernandez had 79 grabs, 910 yards, and 7 TD’s. He averaged 11.5 ypc, and 6.8 yards after the catch.
6a) Grownkowski, Hernandez, Dickson, and Pitta were each selected in the 2010 draft. Gronkowski went 42nd overall, in the 2nd round. Hernandez went in the 4th round, 113th overall. Dickson went 70th overall, in the 3rd round. Pitta went in the 4th round, 114th overall.
6b) The Sun’s Ed Lee reported today that the Ravens have been one of the stingiest units against tight ends in the regular season. Baltimore surrendered the second-fewest yards in the NFL to tight ends (665), the second-fewest touchdowns (three) and the sixth-fewest receptions (62). No tight end gained more than 73 yards against the defense this season.
7) When the Ravens won in Foxboro two years ago, a lot was made of the Patriots playing without Wes Welker. Understandable as Welker had 123 receptions in his 14 games that year. This year Welker has had 122 more, for 1,569 yards, and 9 TD’s. He had 9 games with at-least 7 receptions. For his career, Welker has averaged 11.1 yards per grab, and 5.8 yards after the catch. This year, he averaged 12.9 per reception, and 6.2 yac.
7a) Opposite of Welker is Deion Branch. Branch 51 catches, for 702 yards, and 5 TD’s.
7b) Ochocinco was an after thought all year, with just 15 catches for 276 yards.
8) New England’s Andre Carter, and Vincent Wilfork both were named to the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Carter tore his quadriceps tendon and was placed on IR. Wilfork is listed at 325 lbs, but he is likely 50lbs or more heavier. Along with Ngata, and Suh, he is deserving of consideration for the best interior lineman in the league. 2x Pro Bowler Shaun Ellis came over from the Jets this year, and helped as a reserve. Another former 1st rounder, Gerard Warren, is in the rotation. A name deserving of more attention, is DE Mark Anderson. Anderson had 10 sacks for NE this year.
9) At MLB is Brandon Spikes, who the Patriots selected out of Florida in the 2nd round of the ’10 draft. Spikes has yet to make much of an impact at the NFL level, though he did have 16 tackles against Baltimore last year. LOLB Rob Ninkovich established a new career high with 6.5 sacks. Opposite of him is Jerod Mayo who was an All-Pro last year, a Pro Bowl reserve this year, and has recently signed a 5 year extension.
10) When you allow the pass yards that the Patriots allowed this year, all of the defense has to be culpable. It will be interesting to read the Boston papers this week, and see what their current thoughts are on the New England Secondary. At one corner is Devin McCourty, who the Patriots took in the 1st round last year. Opposite of him is MD native Kyle Arrington, who just completed his 3rd year in the league, as an un-drafted player from Hofstra. Jamaican native, and 2009 2nd rounder Patrick Chung starts at FS. Prior to the start of the season, New England cut Pro Bowler Brandon Meriweather, and James Sanders.
Bonus: Matthew Slater was named to the Pro Bowl for his work on Special Teams.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.