NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Expect Weather to Be Non-Factor in Patriots-Ravens

One of the biggest advantages the New England Patriots hold at Gillette Stadium over the years has been their ability to overcome extreme weather conditions.  

January in Foxboro is not pleasant. During the Tom Brady era there have been plenty of memorable snow games, including the infamous “Tuck Rule” affair.

Saturday night the frigid temperatures seemed to have an effect on Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow, who was playing in one of the coldest temperatures of his life.

This Sunday, the forecast bodes well for the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship.

With a high of 44 and a low of 29, the temperature is not going to have much of an effect on a Ravens team that normally plays in this mild sort of weather. It’s a factor in the game that looks to be eliminated.

That’s a tough break for a Patriots team that is already going to have their hands full with the best defense remaining in the postseason.

Jan. 10, 2010 is a day the Pats still have not forgotten, either.

That’s the day Ray Rice ran for an 83-yard touchdown less than 30 seconds into the game. It was 24-0 Ravens by the end of the first quarter en route to a 33-14 drubbing.

Tom Brady and Co. already got the “no wins in the postseason since early 2008” monkey off their backs, but another home postseason loss to the Ravens would not bode well for this veteran bunch.

They need to have a repeat performance of Saturday’s 45-10 win over Denver from the defensive line. They made life miserable for Tebow and it led to turnovers. Ravens QB Joe Flacco is just as susceptible, if not more so.

The Ravens narrowly beat the Houston Texans, 20-13, Sunday because of their lack of penalties and turnovers. If you pressure Flacco, he will make poor mistakes and allow an opportunistic Patriot to take advantage.

2012 NFL Schedule for Conference Championships:

AFC-Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots: Sunday, 3:00 PM EST

NFC-San Francisco 49ers vs. TBA: Sunday, 6:00 PM EST