The Ravens destroyed the Patriots yesterday with defense and a punishing running game on offense.  The Ravens jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first quarter before choking out the Patriots the last three quarters.  Joe Flacco didn’t do much yesterday as he completed only 4 of 10 passes for 34 yards with 1 INT.  Ray Rice was on fire running the ball for the Ravens carrying the rock 22 times for 159 yards (7.2 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Willis McGahee pitched in with 62 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.1 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 1 pass for 13 yards.  Le’Ron McClain also got in on the action with 4 carries for 8 yards (2.0 ypc) with a TD run.  The Ravens finished up with 268 total yards on offense (234 rushing, 34 passing) as they possessed the ball for 32:21.

The defense was outstanding for the Ravens yesterday as Ray Lewis led the way for them with 13 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 2 QB hits.  CB Domonique Foxworth (10 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and safety Dawan Landry (10 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 INT (67-yard return)) really played well for the Ravens against the Patriots yesterday.  Ed Reed (INT), Chris Carr (INT) and OLB Terrell Suggs (fumble recovery) all made huge plays to help the Ravens dominate this game.  The Patriots finished up with only 196 total yards on offense (64 rushing, 132 passing) yesterday.  The Ravens will now play the Colts in Indianapolis this Saturday Night.

The Ravens have a tough task ahead of them tomorrow in Foxboro.  The Patriots were 8-0 at home during the regular season while the Ravens were only 3-5 on the road.  The Ravens will likely try to control the clock with the running game and they should have some success.  The front seven of the Patriots don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.  After all, the Patriots have allowed 110.5 yards rushing and 4.4 yards per carry this season.  If the Ravens can control the game running the ball it will open up some play action passes down the field to Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton.  The Patriots will likely double Mason on almost every play forcing the action passing wise to Mark Clayton and TE Todd Heap.  Heap will cause problems for the Patriots’ safeties as he is tough as nails and he rarely drops a pass.  The Ravens also have a mis-match with Ray Rice and Willis McGahee going for passes out of the backfield.

Defensively the Ravens will have their hands full.  The Patriots will likely be more balanced than usual tomorrow with the play calling.  That is because Tom Brady is banged up physically and the Patriots will be without Wes Welker.  The Patriots will likely try to spread the ball around in the passing game as the Ravens will likely double cover Randy Moss from the second he steps on the field.  My gut feeling though tells me that Benjamin Watson, Julian Edelman and Kevin Faulk will have huge roles in the passing game. 

PREDICTION:  PATRIOTS 21, RAVENS 20