AFC Championship Game 2012: Ranking the Most Vital Patriots and Ravens Players

Who are the most critical players in the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens?

The power of a team playing as a cohesive unit can never be underestimated, but in every game, some players are clearly more important than others. 

Let's break it down by determining the most valuable guys on each team. 

New England Patriots 

1. Tom Brady

Clearly, Tom Brady is the most important player on the Patriots roster. He's been on fire for the last two months and is coming off one of the "easiest" games he's ever played in his life.

However, this week, he faces an extremely physical and experienced defense that will test all of his pre- and post-snap reads.

2. Matt Light

Life will be just as difficult for Matt Light. New England's left tackle will have to deal with Terrell Suggs and possibly the unheralded Jarret Johnson all afternoon. 

Not allowing the Ravens' edge rushers to make their moves to the inside will be a crucial aspect of Light's technique while blocking. 

Allowing speed to the outside is fine, since Brady's not much of a threat to leave the pocket like that. 

However, if Suggs and company pressure No. 12 when he's looking to step up in the pocket, things could get dicey for the Patriots offense.

3. Aaron Hernandez 

Both Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski are important for the Patriots. We know that. Baltimore will look to bump Gronkowski at the line and will be extremely aggressive with him in the first five yards off the line of scrimmage. He'll still get his catches, though, and all of his production depends on Tom Brady.

Hernandez is a bit different. 

Bill Belichick displayed a wrinkle in which he handed the ball off to the former Florida Gators tight end from the shotgun formation.

If Hernandez is successful on the ground and is capable of making defenders miss in the open field, I like the Patriots' chances to score a lot more points than many expect.

Baltimore Ravens 

1. Joe Flacco

Flacco faces criticism every week, and quite frankly, he deserved it after a mediocre performance against the Houston Texans last weekend. Granted, the Texans have a fine defense, but Flacco often appeared flustered and couldn't make the big throws late. 

He won't need to "outduel" Tom Brady and match him touchdown pass for touchdown pass. However, he must stay away from making hurried decisions that lead to interceptions, especially in the second half.

2. Ray Rice

Rice can almost single-handedly win the game for the Ravens. He's terrorizing on all types of running plays. What's more, he's a favorite target for Flacco, especially when he's pressured. 

If the pesky Rice can pick up third downs on short dump-offs and wear down the defense with his punishing yet shifty running style, Baltimore can score a great deal of points on this Patriots defense.

3. Haloti Ngata

As I alluded to in regards to how tackle Matt Light must block Terrell Suggs and his fellow edge rushers, Tom Brady is not nearly as effective when he feels interior pressure. 

Ngata is one of the league's most disruptive and ferocious defensive tackles. He must beat the Patriots' center and guards to get in the face of Brady, who's best when he stands stoically in the pocket.

4. Ray Lewis

I had to add Ray Lewis. He's simply far too vital to leave out. He's the defensive play-caller and will have his hands full against the Patriots' dynamic "Boston TE Party" (via ESPN AFC East blog).

Last week, we saw him read a short throw and nearly come up with an interception. 

This week, he must be keenly aware of where Brady is looking to throw the football. It's imperative that he wraps up once New England's pass-catchers haul in those quick tosses. 

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