The AFC playoff bracket played out as designed, with the two top seeds meeting in the conference championship. The Ravens and Patriots have truly been the two best teams in the AFC throughout the season.
It will be a game that puts strength against strength as the perennial immovable force that is the Ravens defense attempts to shut down the seemingly unstoppable Patriots offense. Can Tom Brady dice up the Ravens defense like all the others he's left in his wake? Can Ed Reed take away the two tight end punch in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez that has been the death of so many opposing defenses this year? Will Terrell Suggs and the rest of the front seven be able to get pressure on Brady after not registering a single sack against the Texans last week? This is the matchup that will be hyped and talked about the rest of the week. The Patriots offense against the Ravens defense. And rightfully so, but I believe this game will really be decided when these two units are on the sidelines.
The Patriots put up an average of 32.1 points per game (3rd in NFL) throughout the regular season, and they're hot right now. Last week they dropped 45 on Denver. They are going to score some points, but not like they're used to. The Ravens allowed an average of only 16.6 yards per game (also 3rd in NFL) this year. Lets say they split the difference, and the Patriots score 24 points. This is where the matchup of the Ravens offense against the Patriots defense comes into play, and here's why I think it will be the deciding factor.
