This Week
The New England Patriots host Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the AFC Conference Championship Game.
The Patriots (14-3) are 8-1 at The Razor, 0-1 against the AFC North and 11-2 in the conference. They are the AFC East Champions and the conferences top seed.
The Ravens (13-4) are 4-4 on the road, 1-0 vs. the AFC East and 10-3 against the conference. They are the AFC North Champions and the conferences 2nd seed.
Alberto Riveron is the game referee; this is the 2nd Patriots game he has called this season. He also called Week 16 vs. Miami.
The Line/Prediction
As of Thursday the line on the game from Yahoo! Sports has the Patriots at MINUS 7 1/2. The OVER/UNDER is 50 1/2.
My Prediction is Patriots 31, Ravens, 21. Give the points (Patriots) and take the over. I am 10-6-1 against the spread and 13 of 17 on calling the over/under in 2011.
Tickets
The Patriots are reporting the game as a sell out. It is the 193rd consecutive sell out dating back to the 1994 season opener. The record includes preseason, regular season and playoff games.
Tickets to the game, if available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.
After market tickets are available through the Official Patriots Ticket Exchange where season ticket holders can sell their unused seats to fans on the season ticket waiting list.
Getting to the Game
If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in Foxboro make sure you check out the links.
Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Foxboro MA.
Click for all the game day information including stadium directions, parking information and map and a Gillette Stadium seating chart.
Tailgating
Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgating.com. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good.
And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or theme.
Whether it’s at the game, a bar or a friend’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
CBS in televising the game nationally and Jim Nantz will do play by play while Phil Simms will provide the game analysis. You can look here for your local affiliate.
Here are all the rules on NFL TV broadcasts including explaining the blackout rules, flex scheduling and commercial breaks.
Radio
The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM, 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston. Gil Santos handles the play-by-play, former Patriot Gino Cappelletti does the color and new this year Scott Zolak will man the sidelines. It all starts with Gary Tanguay, Andy Gresh and Zolak with the pregame show at 12 p.m. along the network. The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours along the network.
If you are outside the broadcast are of the stations on the Patriots Radio Network you can purchase NFL Field Pass, which allows you to listen to any game live. You can also pick which teams broadcasters you want to listen to.
All NFL Games are also available on Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio also carries all the NFL games under a special additional package. They usually only carry the home team feed.
The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 86 and XM Channel 226.
The Ravens Radio Network has Gerry Sandusky calling the game while Stan White and Qadry Ismail provide the game analysis via their flagship station of WIYY-FM and WBAL. Their call is available on Sirius Channel 92 and XM Channel 225.
The game will also be broadcast to a national audience by Westwood One Radio Sports. Dave Sims and James Lofton will call the game. Tony Boselli will provide sideline analysis. You can hear the national feed on Sirius Channel 88 and XM Channel 88.
Patriots All Access
Patriots All-Access features behind the scenes looks, interviews and breakdowns with head coach Bill Belichick and in depth features on the team. It’s hosted by Steve Burton of WBZ-TV (Boston) and airs weekly in most New England television markets.
- Boston MA on TV 38 Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Providence RI on WNAC Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Manchester NH on WMUR Saturday at midnight
- Portland ME on WMTW Sunday at 5 a.m.
- Hartford CT on WCTX Saturday at 5 p.m.
- Springfield MA on WFXQ Saturday at 7 p.m.
- Bangor ME on WVII Sunday at 11 a.m.
You can also watch it anytime on the teams website in the media section.
To continue reading the Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots AFC Championship Preview, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
Last Week
The Patriots defeated the Broncos 45-10 at Gillette; while the Ravens beat the Texans at M&T Bank Park, 20-13.
History
- This is the 8th meeting between the Patriots and the Ravens since Baltimore became a franchise in 1996 when the Cleveland Browns relocated. The team was unable to keep the Browns past records, nicknames and colors and was considered an expansion franchise.
- It is the second time the teams have faced each other in the post season.
- The Patriots lead the series 6-1 with the lone loss coming in the 2009 AFC Wild Card Game, 33-14 in Foxboro.
- The Patriots won the last meeting between the teams at Gillette Stadium in Week 6 of the 2010 season, 23-20 in OT behind Tom Brady and recently re-acquired Deion Branch.
Patriots Team Notes
Here is the Patriots roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
2011 Patriots Schedule/Results
The Patriots overall franchise record is 414-366-9. They are 22-15 in the post season and have won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in six appearances. They last appeared in the playoffs in 2010 when they lost at home to the New York Jets in the AFC Divisional Playoff, 28-21. They last appeared in a Super Bowl in 2007 losing to the New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII. They won the AFC Conference championship that season with playoff wins over Jacksonville and San Diego.
This season they defeated Denver in the AFC Division Game.
The Patriots are dedicating the 2011 season to the memory of Myra Hiatt Kraft, the late wife of owner Robert Kraft. Every Patriots player and coach will honor Myra’s memory by wearing a patch with her initials on it in recognition of her lifelong contributions to the local and global community and her influence on the charitable mission of the entire Patriots organization. The patch will be worn on the left chest of every player throughout the season.
The Patriots are the defending AFC East Champions they have won the division 9 of the last 11 seasons and 3 years in a row.
New England is the top seed for the second consecutive season and 4th time overall.
They are the first AFC team to have the top seed two years in a row since Buffalo in 1990 and 1991.
This is the 9th straight season the Patriots have had 10 wins or more and 10th time in the last 11 years.
Since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, New England is 75-15 at home including the playoffs.
This is New England’s 8th AFC Championship Game appearance, they are 6-1 in the game with their lone loss coming after the 2006 season at Indianapolis.
The 8 appearances are the 3rd most in the conference tied with Denver. Only the Oakland/LA Raiders (11) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (15) have more.
7 of the 8 AFC Championship Game appearances have come since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994.
This will be the 4th time (1996, 2003, 2007, and 2011) the Patriots have hosted the AFC Championship Game.
The Patriots are 16-5 all-time against the AFC North including the postseason.
The Patriots are 12-3 at home in the playoffs all-time. They are 8-2 in the post season at Gillette Stadium.
Overall in the playoffs they are 22-15.
PATRIOTS PLAYOFF RECORD BY ROUND
- First Round 0-1
- Wild Card Round 4-3
- Divisional Round 8-6
- AFC Championship 6-1
- AFL Championship 0-1
- Super Bowl 3-3
The Patriots will have four honorary captains on Sunday representing the 1996 AFC Championship team. They are former WR Troy Brown, former CB Ty Law, former LB Tedy Bruschi and former QB Drew Bledsoe.
The New England defense sacked Denver QB Tim Tebow 6 times in Saturdays 45-10 win and caused him to fumble once.
New England is MINUS 1 in playoff turnover differential. The offense gave up 1 INT and 1 fumble, while the defense had 0 INTs and 1 fumble recovery. They finished the regular season as a PLUS 17.
The Patriots were 3 of 6 in 3rd down efficiency with no fourth down attempts last week against Denver.
New England was 5 of 6 in the red zone and 1 for 2 in goal to go against the Broncos last week.
The Patriots will be heading back to England on October 28th to take on the St. Louis Rams. It will be a home game for the Rams.
Patriots Staff Notes
This is the link to head coach Bill Belichick’s Wednesday press conference on the Ravens.
Bill Belichick coached teams are 5-1 vs. Baltimore all with New England.
Overall in his NFL career Belichick is 175-97 in 16 NFL seasons. He is 139-53 with New England and 36-44 with Cleveland. He is 16-6 in the playoffs, 15-5 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season. When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 191-103.
Belichick’s 191 wins are good for 9th all-time. Chuck Knox, who coached the Rams, Redskins and Seahawks, is 8th all-time with 193.
He is the first coach in NFL history to have his teams win 10 games or more in 9 consecutive seasons.
Belichick is one of five head coaches in NFL history whose father (Steve Belichick) played in the league. The others are former Kansas City head coach Todd Haley (Dick Haley), former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan (Dick Nolan), former Cincinnati head coach David Shula (Don Shula) and former NY Jets head coach Joe Walton (Frank Walton).
New England has only failed to make the playoffs three times under Belichick in 2000, 2002 and 2008.
New England offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien has accepted the head coaching job at Penn State University, he will remain with New England through their playoff run.
The Patriots have hired Josh McDaniels as an offensive assistant for the remainder of the season. McDaniels was the offensive coordinator in St. Louis this season but was available when ownership said they wouldn’t hold him to his contract after firing head coach Steve Spagnuolo. McDaniels will be the offensive coordinator starting with the 2012 season replacing O’Brien, who had replaced him.
Special Teams Coach Scott O’Brien worked for the Baltimore Ravens as the Special Teams Assistant.
Patriots Possible Starters
Offense:
LT: Light
LG: Mankins
C: Connolly
RG: Waters
RT: Solder
TE: Gronkowski
TE: Hernandez
WR: Branch
WR: Welker
QB: Brady
RB: Green-Ellis
Defense:
DE: Ellis
DT: Love
DT: Wilfork
DE: Deaderick
LB: Mayo
LB: Spikes
LB: Ninkovich
CB: McCourty
CB: Arrington
S: Chung
S: Ihedigbo
Patriots Players Notes
This is Tom Brady’s 12th NFL season. He is 4-1 vs. Baltimore in his career including playoffs.
Overall Brady is 124-34 as a starting QB and is 15-5 in the playoffs for an overall record of 139-39. Brady is a 6 time Pro Bowl QB; two time NFL MVP and has won 3 Super Bowls while twice being named the games MVP. He is also listed as the 21st Greatest Player in the History of the NFL according to the NFL Network.
Including the post season Brady is 100 games above .500
He is now 15-5 in the post season. He second all time in post season wins behind his idol, Joe Montana who has 16.
Brady has the 3rd most post season TD passes all-time with 36. Brett Favre is 2nd with 44 TD passes in the post season. Montana is first with 45.
Brady set a NFL record with five TD passes in one half of a playoff game.
He also tied Daryle Lamonica and Steve Young with 6 TD passes in one playoff game.
WR Wes Welker now has catches in 99 consecutive games including playoffs, 82 as a Patriot. The last time Welker did not have a catch in a game was 12/24/05 as a Dolphin.
On Wednesday New England listed 18 players on the injury report. QB Tom Brady (left shoulder) did not practice. CB Lyle Arrington (foot); C Dan Connolly (groin) and WR Matthew Slater (shoulder) were listed as full participation. The following were listed as limited participation WR Deion Branch (knee); T Marcus Cannon (ankle); S Patrick Chung (knee); LB Dane Fletcher (thumb); TE Aaron Hernandez (concussion); S James Ihedigbo (shoulder); DT Kyle Love (ankle); G Logan Mankins (knee); LB Rob Ninkovich (hip); T Nate Solder (concussion); LB Brandon Spikes (knee); T Sebastian Vollmer (back/foot); WR Wes Welker (knee) and LB Tracy Waters (abdomen).
On Thursday the only change to the Patriots injury report was Brady participated fully. All others were unchanged.
The Patriots have five New England natives on the roster they are LB Niko Koutouvides (Plainville CT); TE Aaron Hernandez (Bristol CT); OL Donald Thomas (New Haven CT); S James Ihedigbo (Northampton MA) and DE Ron Brace (Worcester MA). They have 12 players who played for a New England school or a Big East Conference member. They are WR Deion Branch (Louisville); WR/TE Dorin Dickerson (Pitt); S James Ihedigbo (UMass); CB Nathan Jones (Rutgers); C Dan Koppen (Boston College – IR); CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers); NT Vince Wilfork (Miami), OL Donald Thomas (UConn); DE Mike Wright (Cincinnati – IR); DE Ron Brace (Boston College); WR Tiquan Underwood (Rutgers) and DE Alex Silvestro (Rutgers – Practice Squad).
The Patriots have 7 retired numbers: 20 – Gino Cappelletti, 40 – Mike Haynes, 73 – John Hannah, 78 – Bruce Armstrong, 79 – Jim Lee Hunt and 89 – Bob Dee.
Ravens Team Notes
Here is the Ravens roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
Baltimore’s all-time record is 140-115-1 they are 10-6 in the post season with their last post season appearance coming in 2010 when they beat Kansas City in the AFC Wild Card Game, 30-7. They then lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-14 in the AFC Division Game. They last played for a Conference Championship in 2008 losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game after having beaten Miami and Tennessee. The have won one Super Bowl in their only appearance beating the New York Giants (XXXV).
This season they defeated Houston in the AFC Division Round.
The Ravens along with the Patriots are two of three teams to make the playoffs in five of the last six seasons. The third team is Indianapolis.
Baltimore is 1-4 as the road team in the series, 1-3 at Gillette Stadium and 0-1 in Foxboro Stadium.
Raven Mad: This is a heated rivalry.
Ravens relish the underdog role against the Patriots.
This is Baltimore’s 3rd AFC Championship Game appearance. They are 1-1. They defeated Oakland 16-3 in 2000 and lost to Pittsburgh, 23-14 in 2008.
Would rain help or hurt the Ravens on Sunday in Foxboro?
The Baltimore defense did not sack Houston QB T.J. Yates in Sunday’s 20-13 win.
Ravens defense allowed only 16 Red Zone TD’s this season. The Patriots have scored 47.
Baltimore is PLUS 4 in playoff turnover differential. The offense gave up 0 INT and 0 fumble, while the defense had 3 INTs and 1 fumble recovery. They finished PLUS 2 in turnover differential in the regular season.
The Ravens were 4 for 16 in 3rd down efficiency and 0 for 1 on fourth down attempts last week against Houston.
Baltimore was 2 of 3 in the red zone against the Texans last week.
Ravens Staff Notes
Read what Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had to say to the New England media about the match up.
Harbaugh is in his fourth season with the team, he is 44-20 since taking over and is 5-3 in the playoffs for an overall record of 49-23.
He is 1-2 vs. New England in his career, with his lone victory coming in the playoffs
He has won one AFC North Division title as the head coach of the Ravens and his teams have made the playoffs all four years he has been in Baltimore.
His brother Jim is a rookie NFL head coach with the San Francisco 49ers and he also has his team playing for a conference title this weekend against the New York Giants.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Jerry Rosburg was the secondary coach at Boston College.
Defensive Line Coach Clarence Brooks went to high school in New Bedford, MA. before playing guard at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He was also a coach at UMass.
Offensive Quality Control Coach Jason Brooks, son of Clarence Brooks, was born in Amherst, MA. Brooks, like his father, severed as a coach at UMass.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach John Dunn was born in Great Barrington, MA
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Craig VerSteeg served as the Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers Coach at Harvard University.
Ravens Linebackers Coach Dean Pees served as the Linebackers coach and Defensive Coordinator for New England.
Ravens Players Notes
Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco is 44-20 in his career in the regular season and 5-3 in the playoffs for an overall record of 49-23 in 4 seasons.
Flacco was a 1st round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of the University of Delaware.
He is 1-2 vs. New England in his career including playoffs.
Comparing Flacco to the other playoff quarterbacks.
Flacco took a hit this week, from one of his own teammates, future Hall of Fame S Ed Reed.
Baltimore has no permanent team captains the staff appoints them on a weekly basis.
LB Terrell Suggs needs one more big-time game this weekend against the Patriots.
Suggs was named Pro Football Weekly Defensive Player of the Year.
DT Arthur Jones overcame an injury and the death of his sister to get to the NFL.
Before the Ravens drafted him this past April, WR Torrey Smith thought he was going to a Patriot.
Baltimore has to play better in order to beat New England and go to their second Super Bowl.
On Wednesday and Thursday Baltimore listed only S Ed Reed (ankle) as having limited participation on their injury report.
There are 7 players on the Baltimore roster from Big East Universities and New England based colleges. They are C Matt Birk (Harvard); DT Arthur Jones (Syracuse); RB Matt Lawrence (UConn/UMass); LB Jameel McClain (Syracuse); DB Haruki Nakamura (Cincinnati); RB Ray Rice (Rutgers) and TE Kris Wilson (Pitt)
The Ravens have no retired numbers.
Next Game
If the Patriots win they will face the winner of the New York Giants/San Francisco 49ers game in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis IN on Sunday February 5. Kick off is at 6:30 p.m. on NBC.
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