Ravens vs. Patriots: Keys to New England Victory in AFC Championship Game

The New England Patriots are on the cusp of a trip to Indianapolis and being back in the Super Bowl, a scenario with which they are familiar, having gone four times since the dawn of the new millennium.

However, they must first get past a seasoned Baltimore team that has not won it all since 2000.

It’s certainly not going to be easy for the Pats and they could easily squander this opportunity by making crucial errors.

Here are some things they must do to overcome their foe and make the big game. 

Tight End Play

Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez both played key roles during the regular season and in New England’s beat down of Denver in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

There is no one on Baltimore who can match the Gronk's athleticism and Hernandez was effectively used out of the backfield last week in a crazy new look for their offense.

They will need to bring their "A" games on Sunday, as both will certainly be employed in a number of different schemes designed to confuse the veteran Ravens defense. 

Defense

Baltimore without a doubt has a better defensive unit, but New England proved last week they could cause some chaos against an opposing offense.

They limited the Broncos to just 252 yards and fifteen points, allowing just one touchdown. They recorded five sacks and an interception, showing they could get pressure on the QB.

This group will need to repeat that performance in order to ensure that the Patriots advance to the Super Bowl. 

Coaching

Bill Belichick is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in all of football. He is the conductor that has kept this train running smoothly since 2000, when he took over the head coaching duties.

His innovative scheming and constant new looks on both offense and defense have helped the Pats win regardless of their opponent and personnel.

He will be looking for revenge against his counterpart, John Harbaugh, who marched into New England and beat his team in the 2010 Wild Card Round.

Expect a bunch of things we have never seen this season before to be employed on Sunday as Belichick pulls out all the stops.