AFC Championship Game: Ravens vs Patriots

The AFC Championship Game is definitely a contrast in styles, but I love the matchup between the Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots. Clearly the two best teams in the AFC this season and each deserving of a Super Bowl berth, but only one of them will.

This will be a close and very exciting game to watch because their styles are so different. The Ravens play an ugly and physical style of football while the Patriots have a wide open attack led by quarterback Tom Brady that can rack up points in a hurry.

I really like the Ravens defense and think it will keep them in the game and give them a chance to win if the offense can do their part. Ray Lewis is still playing at a very high level and keeps the defensive unit in check and on point.

Opposing quarterbacks must always be careful and aware of ball hawking safety Ed Reed who is tied for fourth place in NFL history with eight postseason interceptions. He and Lewis are both aging, but still very dangerous and capable of making game changing plays at any moment.

The Ravens also have one the NFL’s premier pass rushers in Terrell Suggs who had 14 sacks during the regular season, but only one in the past four games. Suggs can be a very dominant force when he’s on top of his game and had three games with three sacks this season.

Offensively the Ravens have play makers at wide receiver with Anqaun Boldin and rookie Torrey Smith, but running back Ray Rice is the straw that stirs the drink on offense. Rice had a huge season with over 2,000 yards rushing and receiving combined.

I’m still not sold on quarterback Joe Flacco, but he’s solid if unspectacular and you can win games with him. Flacco’s better than the guy who was playing quarterback for them back in 2000 when they won a Super Bowl, Trent Dilfer.

The Patriots are 8-1 at home this season and the Ravens are 4-4 on the road, but they have won a playoff game at Gillette Stadium before. The Patriots will need their defense to slow down Ray Rice and force Flacco into converting third and longs to beat them.

The Patriots offensive line will be facing a better defense than what the Denver Broncos put on the field against them last week. They must give Brady time to throw the football if they want any chance of winning this game and moving on.

My Pick: Patriots 24  Ravens 20