Loading Login

AFC Playoff Picks: Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots

You are here

ravens @ patriots nfl divisional predictions

With the Wild Card round in the books, four teams have been eliminated from the 2014 NFL playoffs, while eight teams live to fight another day. Two of those teams will be meeting at Gillete Stadium, when the New England Patriots host the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens (11-6) vs. New England Patriots (12-4), Saturday, January 10, 4:35 PM. ET. NBC.

The Ravens and Patriots have sort of started a mini rivalry in the playoffs, and met in the AFC Championship game in 2011 and 2012, splitting the two meetings. The Ravens have a 2-1 edge in their three playoff meetings, which have all come at Gillete Stadium, and has led to a few people wondering if the Ravens have the psychological edge going into this game.

Tom Brady has already addressed the questions about their losing record at home against Baltimore, and has said the game is between the 2014 Ravens and Patriots, because a lot of the players from those teams are either retired, or gone from the respective teams.

Another reason Brady and the Patriots aren't losing any sleep is the fact that the Patriots went 7-1 at home this season, with their only loss coming in week 17, in a game where they rested a lot of their starters. The Patriots always have their eyes on making the Super Bowl, but they have lost in the AFC Championship game for the past two seasons, and signed Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner to help bolster their defense, and help them get back into the championship game.

New England will be trying to put an end to all the questions about Baltimore's success in their stadium, by getting a big win against the visiting Ravens on Saturday. The Patriots have had a lot of success running the ball in the second half of the season, but might not need to run it as much, because the Raven's pass defense is ranked 23rd in the NFL, and they have allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for 248 yards per game against them, so the Patriots will likely find more success going through the air.

Baltimore's running game was shut down against Pittsburgh, but they were able to gain yards through the air, thanks to the big plays Joe Flacco received from Steve Smith, who went over 100 yards, and tight end Owen Daniels, who had a big game with 70 yards, which matched the season high that he had against Indianapolis in October. They will need to get Justin Forsett back on track against New England, because running the ball gives them the best chance to win this game, due to the fact that the Patriots have a very good pass defense.

On defense, the Ravens are very stout against the run, holding opponents to 88 yards per game, but their secondary was exploited last week by Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for over 300 yards. The Ravens will have to figure out how to play the pass better, like they did in their final four games of the season.

Game Line: The Patriots are favored to win by 7 points, the Over/Under is 47 points.

Personal Pick: The Ravens always play well in the playoffs as underdogs, and will pull off a close win in this game.

As Featured by

Contact us at 1-877-717-7747
Check our sign-up bonuses to start with a boost!
Call now to get in touch with an account manager