Brandon McGowan celebrates after the Ravens failed to convertof 4th down at the end of the game while in the Patriots red zone down 6.
A review of the key points going into the game:
5. Can the Patriots stop the Ravens smash-mouth rushing attack? (Check) Ray Rice (11 rushes for 103 yards) and Willis McGahee (5 rushes for 11 yards) did combine to be a decent rushing attack for the Ravens. However, they ran the ball 16 times total compared to 47 pass attempts. Besides the 50-yard run the Pats gave up to Ray Rice, they essentially were able to force the Ravens into passing more often than not because they had the lead.
4. Can the Patriots maintain a consistent ground game against the swarming Ravens D? (Check) Not including the kneel down to end the first half and at the end of the game, Brady, Maroney, Morris, Taylor, and Faulk combined to rush the ball 28 times for 87 yards (3.1 yards per carry) and two TDs. The yards per carry is a bit low, but the team did exactly what they wanted to do on the ground. First, the Patriots were able to spread the work-load on the ground between Maroney (7 carries for 6 yards yikes), Morris (6 for 21 and a TD), Taylor (7 for 25), Faulk (5 for 22), and Brady (3 for 13 and a TD). This goes a long way in saving the mileage on these backs, especially against a hard-hitting Ravens team. Second, the Patriots were able to get two scores on the ground against a Ravens team that hardly gives up any rushing scores. Also, 28 rushes compared to 33 pass attempts is exactly where the Patriots wanted to be. That is a great distribution, and the balanced attack kept the Ravens D guessing. Last, each back had one catch with the exception of Morris who had five. This gave the team options out of the backfield no matter who was back there.
3. Who will win the time of possession battle? (Check) This goes back to the previous two points. The Patriots were able to run the ball a lot, and the Ravens were not. As a result, the Patriots won the time of possession 34:56 to 25:04.
2. Rex Ryan is gone, but can the Patriots not be victimized by this ball-hawk D? (Check) Well not necessarily an A, but they passed. The lone big play for the Ravens D came on on a strip sack by Terrell Suggs that ended up in the end-zone and was recovered by Baltimore for a score. The play brought Baltimore within seven points. Otherwise, the Ravens got to Brady for two more sacks. However, the Ravens D did not dictate game at all (not like the Jets D did).
1. Will the Patriots fix their correctable red zone woes? (Check) The Pats went 3/5 on red zone conversions for touchdowns. The other two went for short field goals by Gostkowski. Had the team correctly executed their fake FG attempt, they would have had a new set of downs within the 15 yard line. They did a good job of stuffing it in the end zone today and their woes inside of the 20 should be less of a problem going forward.
The Patriots executed all of the key points of the game very well, but it almost wasn't enough if not for some good fortune. Another key to today's victory were the Ravens' penalties (9 for 85 yards) that resulted in first downs for the Patriots on atleast four different occasions.
Even more was the Patriots ability to put pressure on Joe Flacco. The team had only two sacks (both by Mike Wright), but they continuously sent blitzes at the young QB and our athletic secondary made play after play to prevent really big pickups for the Ravens. Two key players in the secondary were Brandon Meriweather, who had some good hits and a key deflection on a big throw by Flacco that approached our goal line, and Leigh Bodden, who made a crucial interception in the red zone looking like a WR getting his feet in.
The Patriots head to Denver next week for a 4:15 game. Josh McDaniels has his new team rolling at 4-0 after today's win over the Cowboys. We've struggled in Denver in recent years, so this should be yet another good match-up.
Very exciting game! DA
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