Monstah Keys to Patriots winning the AFC Championship

Ok rabid readers first things first. I have heard in emails and on twitter all week about how we all want a rematch with the Giants how Patriot nation wants revenge for our ruined ride to perfection. Can we win Sunday first? Yes this Sunday we have a game to play against a team that is no joke, This Ravens team gave up an average of only 16.8 points a game this season, some of that can be attributed to playing the AFC north but there is more to it than that. Take into consideration the fact that they also have lived in opposing teams backfields, totaling 48 sacks this season that’s Patriot kryptonite.  So forgive me if I don’t look ahead to the Super Bowl and get to what needs to be done Sunday.

Keep Tom in the Pocket and standing tall. Don’t be fooled by last week. The Ravens love to bring pressure. What Harbaugh did last week was smart. He sat back and let the rookie QB make mistakes, he wont be of that same mind this week. He will be sending people from every conceivable angle to disrupt upset and knock Tom Brady on his ass as often as possible. What the Pats need to do to offset the Ravens relentless pursuit of happiness is three fold. Fist Run the ball, and run it directly at Suggs all day long, let him try to find Woodhead in a pile and BGE behind a blocker. Second toss screens to our backs keep the rotation in the backfield humming and the plays coming at a rapid fire pace. Let the Ravens LB’s chase Ridley until their legs feel like they weigh 200 lbs a piece Exhaust Suggs and Lewis so by the second half they both feel as old as they look. Finally get them in nickel situations. then use Gronk Hernandez and Welker to exploit the middle of the field in chunks of fifteen and twenty yards. We need to keep this clock moving and D on the field and ours off it. Run the ball well and give Brady a pocket he can step up into.

Flaco thinks he has something to Prove. Let Him. Ray Rice is my worry, Rice had a dreadful week by his standards against the Texans, and he will be looking to rack up yardage Sunday. This we can’t let happen. We can’t go the bend but don’t break rout this week, Rice is a beast anywhere on the field but in the red zone it’s almost like its personal with him. He has gone into the end zone 15 times this year. And with 367 combined touches on the season he has only fumbled twice. Stopping Rice is the primary objective for the front seven.

Win the Turnover battle. As I said before Rice doesn’t lose the ball often but Flaco has tossed 12 interceptions this year and will get the ball get slapped out of his hands if you get to him. He has 9 fumbles. We need to jump out and score make Flaco drop back and try to catch up. Go after the ball while he is trying to find open receivers and we can win this battle.  

Lastly Brady needs to play fast and loose, forget about his place in history and concentrate on the here and now. It seems Tom has been chasing his forth ring since our last super bowl his first loss. He wants it as much as we all do. what he has to do is forget that and just play football.  

That’s it people those are my keys to the AFC title.

Butchie has come up with a final for you

Patriots 33

Ravens 17

Go Pats Go