Fans finally get Monday night game that matters
Seems every time the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens square off in Foxborough, Mass., there’s a lot on the line.
When they meet Monday, both teams could improve their prospective playoff positioning with a victory.
New England enters with a 10-2 record, comfortably ahead in the AFC East Division. With a win, the Patriots not only would own the best record in the conference but they’d clinch a first-round bye with a Miami loss or tie or a Pittsburgh loss or tie next week.
Baltimore (7-5) needs the win to remain in a first-place tie with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North at 8-5.
The Ravens are quietly fielding one of the NFL’s best defences. They entered Week 14 ranked No. 1 in total defence (allowing 296 yards per game) and defence against the run (allowing 74 yards per game).
New England ranks No. 2 in both total offence and rushing offence.
Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees said if there’s any team in the NFL that can remain effective after the loss of an All-Pro pass like tight end Rob Gronkowski (back injury), it’s the Patriots.
“There’s nobody that does a better job with personnel than the Patriots,” Pees said.
If the Patriots can’t run it against the Ravens’ fierce front seven, they don’t care if they have to throw it 60 times if that’s what victory requires. New England head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have proven time and again a run/ pass balance means little to them as long as one facet is humming.
The Patriots’ running backs arguably have been more productive than any other unit in the league. LeGarrette Blount leads the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns, while James White is tied for the lead among RBs with eight receiving touchdowns. And don’t forget Dion Lewis — a scintillating dualthreat playmaker last season — has returned from an ACL injury.
Baltimore’s hopes for victory are buoyed by a resurgent offensive attack over the past three weeks. Quarterback Joe Flacco now seems more confident and effective than he has been in maybe two years.
Still, the Ravens can’t rely on Flacco and Co. to score more than about 20-24 points. Baltimore needs its defence to force the Patriots to kick more punts than they’re used to.