New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens – NFL Playoff predictions 2015
By Dan Salem
NFL Playoff predictions 2015 erupts in the Divisional round over the New England Patriots vs Baltimore Ravens matchup. All-time Greatness vs. Playoff Power. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.
TODD:
Should the New England Patriots be afraid of the Baltimore Ravens?
Prior to the wildcard round, anyone with a rooting interest in New England wanted Baltimore to advance. It seemed like the inferior team. Joe Flacco was mediocre, the defense couldn’t defend the pass and Pittsburgh looked like a Goliath-slayer ready to wreak havoc through the AFC.
Instead, we forgot that once the playoffs roll around, Baltimore becomes invincible. Joe Flacco becomes what Joe Montana wishes he could have been. The pass rush is unstoppable and Terrell Suggs makes old Reggie White clips look quaint.
Not to mention the fact that the Ravens, to quote any TV analyst on any station, “aren’t afraid of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick!”
So should we be giving Baltimore more credit here than it deserves based off of its regular-season performance? Or are we not giving enough credit based on how this franchise performs when the games matter the most?
Last week, I would have said the Patriots cruise to a victory over the Ravens if the matchup materialized. Now, I’m not as confident.
The pass rush helped mask the deficiencies in the secondary, and NE should be worried about Suggs, Ngata and company up front. But the Patriots are still the best team in the conference. They have a much better pass defense themselves than what Baltimore or even Pittsburgh were able to muster. They also will be playing at full strength which, let’s be honest, the Steelers without Le’Veon Bell are something completely different.
I don’t feel as good about it just because if Tom Brady gets a ton of pressure around him early on, the offense could sputter. But New England still advances here.
New England 31 – Baltimore 22
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DAN:
The Baltimore Ravens got written off as the season chugged along for two reasons. The first is obvious; they were playing boring football in a division full of anything but. The Steelers were putting up massive passing numbers, while Cincinnati and Cleveland kept flip-flopping week to week from bad to good to great to bad. The other reason is simply our bad as sports fans; the entire AFC North division was very good.
Three of the four teams in the Ravens’ division made the playoffs, so it was easy to overlook the less flashy team. It was also easy to forget that Baltimore turns on the juice come the postseason. Flacco stops throwing turnovers and duck passes, the defense becomes elite, and everything clicks. That’s a Harbaugh coached team for you. Excellent when it matters most.
This game will be the toughest of the playoffs for the New England Patriots. The Ravens will test them, trouble them, and downright annoy the hell out of Tom Brady and company. But on two weeks rest and at home, no one is toppling the Patriots. It’s a scary matchup, but one that New England is built for.
I have to note that a friend of mine who is a die-hard Pats fan almost pooped himself when the Ravens won last weekend. He instantly took to Facebook, writing how this is now the end. There is no way New England can stop the Ravens’ juggernaut and Baltimore has their number. I wish he was just playing the reverse jinx card, but the Ravens have him and Patriots’ nation scared. This will be no easy victory for New England.
New England 20 – Baltimore 16