Wes Welker Not the Biggest Key to Early Playoff Exit for Patriots

As Wes Welker was taken off the field in pain in the first series of the final regular season game against the Houston Texans, every football fan thought the worst: a knee injury.

Welker’s injury turned out to be just as severe as most predicted. And as Tom Brady’s favorite target was declared out for the remainder of the season, many still thought the New England Patriots would plug somebody into the position and continue to be successful.

Such was not the case in the Patriots’ 33-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the opening round of the NFL playoffs, but even Welker at full health couldn’t have saved the Patriots on Sunday.

From Ray Rice’s first carry—an 83-yard touchdown scamper—to the Ravens’ physically dominating defense, Brady and company ended the season and an amazing decade with a very bad taste in their mouth.

Rice, along with Willis McGahee, ran all over the New England defense and made quarterback Joe Flacco hand off and watch his backs go. In fact, Flacco only completed 10 passes for a whopping 34 yards—and his team still won by 19!

With the way the Ravens ran the ball, accumulating 234 yards on the ground, the Patriots stood little chance in winning the game.

The Ravens rely on strong defense, a good ground game, and timely plays by Flacco. The game was a blueprint of what the Ravens always want to do on the football field, and it worked to perfection.

Looking on the other sideline, it is hard to believe the Patriots did not miss Welker.

Not only did Welker have well over 100 catches on the year, he is Brady’s “go-to” guy. With Randy Moss only catching five balls and rookie Julian Edelman doing his best Welker impression, the offense was in over its head against the Ravens’ aggressive defense.

It didn’t help that the Patriots faced a 24-0 deficit after the first quarter, either.

The point is that the Ravens' entire game plan has always been predicated by playing dominant defense and controlling the time of possession.

The Super Bowl team from 2000 contained one of the best defenses in league history, and the team continues to rely on playmakers like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to win games.

Oh, and last I checked, Welker doesn’t play defense.