you’re forgetting the ESPN 11th commandment…the Patriots have the most wretchedly horrid defense since the dawn of time…this group collectively stinks like a hot bowl of week old Rex Ryan odor eaters stew…nothing any football fan has ever seen comes close to the pathetic inability of a team of supposed athletes to execute and perform…their gross failures at all levels will go down in sports annals as the most ill-conceived attempt at professional sport…now, lets talk about that total fraud…   

holding the opposition to 10 points in a playoff game would make one question your view point- yes, it was the broncos and tebow, but that didn’t stop the ‘vaunted’ steeler D from losing the game– the Pats D was ranked 13th or 14th in terms of points allowed, certainly not pretty, but they got the job done, sounds like you have been reading too many media reports and not paying enough attention to the actual product on the field

if the Ravens go through with playing man to man coverage, they won’t have someone to match up well with Gronkowski.  And if they double team him that means there’s still Welker and Hernandez to look out for and they may be covered as well.  Then you have to watch out for the deep threat.  Could Ochocinco be a huge factor in this game?

why let the facts or what our eyes see on the field get in the way, when we’ve got ESPN Patriot-hating  guru’s like Ditka, Jackson, Carter and Hodge telling it like it is - c’mon man   

ha- good one gray!

ocho got on the field for 1 snap last week, i don’t think brady or bb trust him at all, just don’t see him being a factor

The biggest issue is not Ray Rice running the ball it will be (at least I think)Ray Rice catching the ball out of the backfield.  He has had some big plays this year as a receiver out of the RB spot.  He is going to be isolated on a LB while coming out of the backfield.  Hopefully they give him the Marshall Faulk/Ladanian Tomlinson  treatment and just smoke him every chance they get and do not let him get into his pattern from his RB spot.    

I’m surprised ditka/hodge and carter (I intentionally spell their names in lower case)  hasn’t drawn a link yet between the Pat defense and Al-Queida.

It’s all on the Patriots “O” line, their biggest test of the year…if they give Brady time…Super Bowl time…then same deal against the Giants, protect Brady + win

2012: The Year of Redemption (in the eyes of fans)

[x] Sweep Jets and watch them fall apart (’11)

[x] Beat Broncos for Jake Plummer game (’05-’06)

[  ] Beat Raven in AFC Championship (’09-’10)

[  ] Beat Giants in Superbowl with Randy Moss flipping coin (’07)

…

And where’s the game played?

[  ] … At Lucas Oil Stadium, with Peyton Manning in attendance.

PATS 2012 CHAMPS.  Plan the parade Mr. Mayor!

don’t know about all that, but Brady does appear to be obsessed and on a mission right now…as I’ve never seen before…he and the Pats will need to maintain this high intensity to win next 2 games…

Of course you if concentrate on points allowed (what determines wins and losses) instead of yards allowed (what you and the media like to dwell on), their defense is middle of the road and not the picture you just painted. Couple that with an incredible offense and you have a team that goes 13-3 during the regular season and is in the AFC championship game. Take care Pat hater.

Well said Bagoon.

please direct your venom at ESPN (Ditka, Jackson, Carter + Hodge)…the real Patriot haters…been a Pats fan over 50 years now…just exposing the ESPN rank bias against the Pats with a bit of sarcasm…c’mon man

No to mention 23 ints and a +17 turnover margin.

Pay Back is a Mutha Fer………………….GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The year of REDEMPTION.

How’s my arse taste.

GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom is on a mission…..Gisele said no more BJs till you win another SB.

Here’s a copy of what I posted to another good story last night on WEEI.com as to why the Pats are in a much better position this week than they were 2 years ago when they suffered their only loss ever to the Ravens;

The Pats are very different than they were 2 years ago in the Playoffs and not just Welker, Gronk and Aaron being on the field this time. 2 years ago, Brady was coming off his knee injury and is a lot more agile in the pocket than he was in that game when he was a sitting duck for the Ravens pass rush. 2 years ago, Branch was still playing for Seattle and he simply has a knack for making the big play in the biggest games. And as someone who has lived in Maryland these last 3 years, I can certainly attest to the fact that both Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were much better players back then as age and injuries have slowed them both down. Speaking of slowing down, look at Flacco’s numbers over the past three years; he actually regresses as he gets better targets to throw to (Boldin) and Cam is one of the worst and most predictable OC’s, tries to “pound” out a yard several times yesterday at the goalline and at the end with an undersized back. Just be prepared for the Ravens’ thuggery and post-whistle hitting when they’re playing from behind as they’ll make Von Miller look like a Boy Scout! But, I’ve come up with some great stats to further prove my point. Everyone knows the Ravens have a good D (# 4 in NFL against the Pass and # 3 in Scoring), but those numbers are deceiving! In their 16 games, they only played 4 against top tier passing teams; San Diego (6), Pittsburg (10-twice) and Tennessee (12) with their remaning 12 games against the bottom half; Cincy (20-twice), Jets (21), Seattle (22), Cleveland (24-twice), Indy (27), SF (29), St Louis (30) and Jax (32). Let’s break down their # 3 scoring defense; 266 total points (16.6 pts/gm), Home; 119 (14.9) and Away; 147 (18.4). Good stats for sure! But how did they do against the # 6, # 10 and # 12 passing teams on the road? Hold on to your seats; 34, 20 and 26 points respectively, for a total of 80 points and a 26.7 average. So, against the only “elite” passing team they played this year (San Diego) they got gashed for 34 points on 17 for 23 and 270 yards with no turnovers or sacks by a .500 team in mid December who also threw in 145 rushing yards for good measure. And, it’s the only game in Ravens’ history that an opponent has scored on their first 5 possessions and the Chargers scored on all 6 without ever having to punt! Surprise, surprise!

Here’s a copy of what I posted to another good story last night on WEEI.com as to why the Pats are in a much better position this week than they were 2 years ago when they suffered their only loss ever to the Ravens;

The Pats are very different than they were 2 years ago in the Playoffs and not just Welker, Gronk and Aaron being on the field this time. 2 years ago, Brady was coming off his knee injury and is a lot more agile in the pocket than he was in that game when he was a sitting duck for the Ravens pass rush. 2 years ago, Branch was still playing for Seattle and he simply has a knack for making the big play in the biggest games. And as someone who has lived in Maryland these last 3 years, I can certainly attest to the fact that both Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were much better players back then as age and injuries have slowed them both down. Speaking of slowing down, look at Flacco’s numbers over the past three years; he actually regresses as he gets better targets to throw to (Boldin) and Cam is one of the worst and most predictable OC’s, tries to “pound” out a yard several times yesterday at the goalline and at the end with an undersized back. Just be prepared for the Ravens’ thuggery and post-whistle hitting when they’re playing from behind as they’ll make Von Miller look like a Boy Scout! But, I’ve come up with some great stats to further prove my point. Everyone knows the Ravens have a good D (# 4 in NFL against the Pass and # 3 in Scoring), but those numbers are deceiving! In their 16 games, they only played 4 against top tier passing teams; San Diego (6), Pittsburg (10-twice) and Tennessee (12) with their remaning 12 games against the bottom half; Cincy (20-twice), Jets (21), Seattle (22), Cleveland (24-twice), Indy (27), SF (29), St Louis (30) and Jax (32). Let’s break down their # 3 scoring defense; 266 total points (16.6 pts/gm), Home; 119 (14.9) and Away; 147 (18.4). Good stats for sure! But how did they do against the # 6, # 10 and # 12 passing teams on the road? Hold on to your seats; 34, 20 and 26 points respectively, for a total of 80 points and a 26.7 average. So, against the only “elite” passing team they played this year (San Diego) they got gashed for 34 points on 17 for 23 and 270 yards with no turnovers or sacks by a .500 team in mid December who also threw in 145 rushing yards for good measure. And, it’s the only game in Ravens’ history that an opponent has scored on their first 5 possessions and the Chargers scored on all 6 without ever having to punt! Surprise, surprise!

JB, your comment is the best!

After further review, I realized that I had not included two games Arizona (17) at Home and Houston (18) at Home in my comments, but rest assured, they were included in the aforementioned statistics and analysis.

I guess having Chung/Spikes/Mayo and Ainsworth(less gone) has made a huge difference to this defense. The D has always been good against the run, and if the only offense that Flacid can produce is having Rice run then I like the Patriots chances in this game.  

Considering your dramatic one-man war against those  ESPN clowns (agreed), I still don’t understand why you leave that halfwit shannon sharpe off the list(?). He your brother/

Considering your dramatic one-man war against those  ESPN clowns (agreed), I still don’t understand why you leave that halfwit shannon sharpe off the list(?). He your brother/

I don’t know about Ditka, but TJ and Keyshawn definitely hate the Pats. As for Hoge, he doesn’t even try to disguise his fury, hatred, and loathing of New England. He still hasn’t recovered from Branch’s “Where your towels at?” in the AFC title game a few years back.

Grayesun, your sarcasm is too subtle for some.. haha

I’m a little nervous about this game.  The Ravenettes have the ability to execute at a very high level on defense and Flake-O sometimes manages to impersonate an effective QB.  Counterpoint to that is the resurgence of the Patriots D with the return of Chung and Spikes.  This will be a GOOD GAME to watch…..  Pats win.

I would expect BB is probably leveraging that early home exit/loss last season, during practices this week. Great timing for the defense to get healthy (Chung & Spikes, etc.), too. I like that Brady is obsessed about getting back to the SB.  Is this win guaranteed? No. But I believe the slight edge goes to the Pats. I also believe 7-pts. is a bit much too. Try -3.

glad somebody brought that up sharp has been spewing his hatred for the pats for years. wish someone had called him when the pats were killing the broncoes last week !

add the Cowboys, Giants and Colts to the list of Superbowl win or nothing. just sayin’.

You know that Grayesuns answer was sarcasm?

Its funny you mention all these stats about the Ravens, what about the Pats? Did they play one team with a winning record this year? The Giants and the Steeler’s and they lost. Second of all they played nobody, and still had one of the worst defense’s in football. How the Ravens do the last time in foxboro? It was a beatdown. The Ravens have played 7 teams that were in the playoffs this year, there record against those teams 7-0. The patriots beat denver, probably the worst team ever to make the playoffs. All it take is one hit on Brady and this game is over. Before everybody makes plans for a super bowl they have to beat one good team first. The Ravens. You know what really deceiving the Pats aren’t that good 

The last time in Foxboro as in the playoffs/  Do you know that their are only 3 defensive starters on this Patriots team from that year?  Did you know that the Patriots didn’t have Welker, Gronkowski, or Hernandez that season?  To be saying that a game played two seasons ago somehow is indicative of what will happen on Sunday is plain foolish.  It has absolutely nothing to do with this game.  Once again and I know you won’t respond because you don’t get it and you have no response, the Seahawks got in the playoffs last season with a losing record probably worse than the Broncos don’t you think?  Also again yipee 7 and 0 against playoff teams did you know they were 4-4 on the road?  You keep mouthing off like the team can’t be beaten because of their record against playoff teams but you conveniently skip the horrible losses to teams like Jacksonville and Seattle on the road, not to mention a game down the stretch against the Chargers that could have helped them keep the number one seed but they couldn’t get the job done…against San Diego!  Going to be a tough game but most Pats fans would certainly fess up to the fact that the Ravens are a good team but for some reason you can face up to the fact that the Patriots are a good team as well what’s with that?

Buffalo Bills beat the Pats too!!! what’s your point

THAT is my point!  You can’t do the this team beat that team, record against playoff teams all that is a bunch of garbage at this moment.  It is about who plays the best Sunday, one team has a very good defense, the other team has a very good offense, they are both good teams (note I said BOTH) we will see but to say the Patriots aren’t that good yet they are in the AFC Championship game is either you just trying to goad people or you not knowing a thing about football.

Am I late for the Patriots circle jerk?

yes but you can be pivit man

Nope…just wish you brought a more impressive piece of equipment…

and some Pats fans will never forget the rants by Sharp in Foxboro about calling for the National Guard cause the Patriots needed help…Sharp and Cowher have softened over the years as Patriot loathers as has Marino…but Carter, Jackson, Ditka and Hodge wear it right on their sleeves…not like I care…just saying 

Try judging points scored by opposition and the turnover differential before you compare the Pats D to anything associated to Rex Ryan.

was just hitting on ESPN for now, we know Bradshaw, Cowher, Sharp and Marino have always been Patriot bashers…but ESPN…well they’re obsessed…  

Do you want to be at the game this Sunday? Well here’s your chance to be Vince Wilfork’s Guest at the AFC Championship game! Winner and a guest will receive 2 tickets to the AFC Championship game and ALL PRO Celebrity Tailgate Party Passes to a tailgate party hosted by WEEI’s Glenn Ordway, Fred Smerlas and Steve DeOssie. Raffle tickets are only $2.00, what do you have to lose?http://secure.celebritiesforcharity.org/raffle/vince-wilforks-afc-championship-game-raffle

If I don’t miss my guess, you’re no spring chicken, like me. Which means that I’m actually LOVIN the hatred, after decades of just being pitied, as Sox and Pats fans.

If I don’t miss my guess, you’re no spring chicken, like me. Which means that I’m actually LOVIN the hatred, after decades of just being pitied, as Sox and Pats fans.