John Fox not worried about Ray Lewis and Ravens

December 30, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos head coach John Fox during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens are riding one of the greatest waves of inspiration and momentum through out these playoffs. That of course is the fact that this post season run is Ray Lewis’ last ride as a Baltimore Raven. And the Ravens travel to Denver to take on familiar AFC foe Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Ray Lewis once said that no team has film on you, becuase you’re a different animal then you were 5 minutes ago. John Fox disagreed with that saying on KOA in Denver on the Dave Logan Show. He told him he had already watched and compared film and even gave a brief synopsis of his analysis of the Ravens.

“Just changes in depth chart, they’ve kind of retooled their offensive line. Their receivers have stayed the same,” Fox said “That’s been the biggest difference is the adjustments they’ve made on the offensive line. The skill people all played against us, so that part should be the same.”

This of course inevitably brings up the usual NFL playoff debate of whether it is beneficial to have a first round bye in the playoffs. Fox however isn’t buying any of that.

“I think, really, it doesn’t have much to do with anything,” Fox said. It kind of is what it is as far as having a bye. It’s like, ‘What’s your record coming off a bye? What’s your record before a bye?’ I’ve always been of the belief that it’s who you are and who they are and that’s why you play the game.”

But if it does come to a battle of momentum Fox was adamant that Denver is just as excited to play Baltimore as the Ravens might be to play the Broncos.

“We’re real excited and I’m sure Baltimore’s very excited,” Fox said. “You get to this point in the season and they’re all good teams. You’re not going to be able to float through a playoff run by any stretch, and that’s what makes it so exciting.”

The other hurdle for the Broncos is that this will be the second time they play Baltimore in a short period of time. Another NFL cliche is that makes it significantly harder to beat the team for the second time.

“I don’t necessarily believe it. I think every one of these games takes on its own personality, even the same team,” Fox said. “I’ve been in seasons where we’ve played a team three times in one season. Obviously with division opponents, you play everybody twice. I don’t think the first game has anything to do with the second, or even the case of playing them the third time, I don’t think anything changes there, either. It’s whoever executes best on that particular day, and this will be no different than, probably, ever.”