Patriots Breakfast Club: AFC Divisional Round, Ravens at Patriots

“ALL ABOARD” 

Today comes the day that most Patriots fans have waited for since last January. Last January the Patriots were injured but still fighting going into their AFC Championship matchup with the Denver Broncos, they ultimately lost that game and what laid ahead was a long offseason of “what if’s” and “what could have been.” But coming into this postseason the Patriots seem to be a completely different team heading into their Divisional Round Playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, for the first time in a long team this team has two things: health, and defense.

The Patriots enter this game the healthiest they’ve been in a few years when you think about it, last year they were without Aqib Talib and a healthy Rob Gronkowski. The same can be said in 2013 when they faced the Ravens in the 2013 AFC Championship Game at Foxboro, Talib left that game with a injury and Gronkowski was missing in action which lead to a Ravens victory and eventual Super Bowl championship. So this postseason for the first time in what seems like a very long time, they enter with their health in tact which is a huge advantage this late in the season. Just having a healthy Rob Gronkowski is enough for the Patriots to be immediate Super Bowl contenders, never mind the additions of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.

Which leads perfectly into the second aspect this team has not had in quite sometime, and that is a respectable defense. Most will look at Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner and credit them with the defensive success we’ve seen this season from the Patriots, however as good as Browner and Revis have been (and trust me, they’ve been great, they aren’t the sole reason), there are others that deserve credit as well. Guys like Vince Wilfork, Rob Ninkovich, and Chandler Jones all deserve credit for the Patriots defensive success as well.

The Patriots defensive side of the football is what is going to be a huge factor in the outcome of this game, if they are able to play like they did during the middle of the season then Justin Forsett and Joe Flacco maybe in for a long day at Gillette Stadium. If the Patriots are able to hold Forrest to limited yardage, then that would not only prevent the running attack from the Ravens but also the play-action pass as well. It’s simple: if the Patriots are able to stop the Ravens on the ground then they can let Browner and Revis to do their job and take away Torrey Smith and Steve Smith Sr.

On the other side of the ball, you obviously have Rob Gronkowsi, Tom Brady, and Julian Edelman on the ball, but its guys like Nate Solder, Ryan Wendell, and Sebastian Volmer who are the keys to the Patriots moving on to the AFC Championship. The offensive line of the football for the Patriots is the key to their success this postseason, with all the healthy weapons that Brady has it boils down to the protection he gets within the pocket. Brady has never been a guy who can escape the pocket and move the ball on his legs, so protecting Brady has to be one of the main components to the Patriots success come Saturday night.

If you think back at the Patriots success this season, against teams like the Lions, Broncos, and even the Packers, the offensive line was able to give Brady enough time to get rid of the ball. If the Patriots want to move on against the Ravens, they are going to have to protect Brady and give him enough time to get rid of the ball. If they are able to hold off the Baltimore blitz (which they are known to do) and be able to take advantage of that, then they should be in great shape but if they fall susciple to that and get into situations where its 3rd and long they may have some trouble. If you just think about that for a second, lets say the Patriots are able to defend against the blitz not only does it give Brady confidence that his offensive line will protect him against almost anything, but it gives him more time and more options.

Listening to local radio stations all week like WEEI and 98.5 the Sports Hub, I heard callers and hosts voicing their concern over the Patriots track record against the Ravens and how the Ravens are not scared of walking into Gillette Stadium. For those people I have one thing to say: FOOLS! Listen those teams you are thinking about (and just for reference, they are the 2009 and 2012 teams) they are completely different teams then the 2014 Ravens team. Let’s just rundown the players who ARE NOT with the Patriots and Ravens:

For the Patriots

• Wes Welker
• Rob Gronkowski
• Aqib Talib
• Stevan Ridley
• Shane Vereen

For the Ravens:

• Ray Lewis
• Ed Reed
• Ray Rice
• Anquan Boldin
• Bernard Pollard

Now lets take a look at who they have added since they last met in the playoffs:

For the Patriots

• Danny Amendola
• Rob Gronkowski
• Darelle Revis
• Brandon Bronwer
• LeGarrette Blount
• Jamie Collins

For the Ravens:

• Justin Forsett
• Steve Smith Sr.

Honestly taking a look at the differences between the two teams, its remarkable that fans and media personalities are scared of this Ravens team. The Patriots have faced better defensive fronts, offensive fronts, better quarterbacks, better running backs, and better overall teams then the Ravens, and that’s why I believe that the Patriots are not only going to win, but win in convincing fashion against the Ravens.

With a healthy Rob Gronkowski, I believe the Patriots are better. With Darrell Revis vs. Steve Smith, I believe the Patriots are better. With Brandon Browner vs. Torrey Smith, I believe the Patriots are better. With Jamie Collins and this defense vs. Justin Forsett and the Ravens offensive line, I believe the Patriots are better. And most importantly, I believe that Tom Brady is still better than Joe Flacco.