Ravens vs. Patriots: Ranking Most Dangerous Threats on Offense

The AFC Championship Game between the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots is filled with tons of talented players, but its the stars on offense that each should worry about the most. 

While the Ravens are the best defensive team left in the playoffs, they too have some athletes on offense that New England is paying close attention to. The Patriots have one of the best offenses in the NFL this season, so you know Baltimore has been thinking of ways to try and stop them. 

The offense for both teams will be on point this Sunday, and these three players are the most dangerous threats on the field of play.

Tom Brady, QB 

The best player on gridiron this weekend in none other than the best quarterback in the NFL. After throwing five touchdown passes in a half last week, it's easy to see that Brady is the most powerful force on offense that the AFC Championship game has to offer. 

Having thrown for over 5,000 yards and 39 touchdowns this season, Brady is on a mission to win another Super Bowl. He's the leader of the offense that scored 513 points during the regular season, which was by far the most of AFC team.

To put in perspective how dangerous Brady is compared to his counterpart of this game, Joe Flacco, these stats just might blow your mind. In eight career postseason games, Flacco has thrown six touchdown passes. Brady threw six in one game last week. 

Sure, Brady has had more chances, but the Patriots QB has also thrown 20 touchdown passes to one player, whereas Flacco has thrown 22 touchdown passes this entire season. 

Brady is the biggest offensive threat on the field, and if the Ravens want to win, they have to find a way to stop him. 

Ray Rice, RB 

Baltimore's most dangerous player comes from any of the stars on defense, but its biggest weapon on offense comes out of the backfield.

Rice is a difference-maker for the Ravens, having rushed for over 1,300 yards and also brought in over 700 yards receiving, scoring a total of 15 touchdowns.

He'll burn you on the ground and in the passing game, which makes him so tough to stop.

Since the Patriots have arguably the worst defense in the NFL, they're going to have a hard time stopping this versatile running back.

If the Patriots want to build a strong lead then they'll look to Brady, but if they want to keep that lead, they'll need to make sure Rice doesn't explode for a monster game. 

Rob Gronkowski, TE 

At the beginning of the year, few people would have imagined that the third-biggest threat on offense in the 2012 AFC Championship Game would be a tight end. 

Well, that is the case, and the Ravens are well aware of this. Gronkowski has been unstoppable this season, and Baltimore will be throwing at all the stops to try and limit his production. 

Gronkowski is second on the team in receiving yards and receptions, reeling in 90 catches for over 1,300 yards. However, the tight end is a touchdown machine, leading the team by far with 17 during the regular season. 

He caught three more this past weekend as the Patriots blew out the Broncos. Gronkowski is 6'6", 265 pounds of pure strength, and seven times this season he scored multiple touchdowns in a game. 

Expect the Gronk to get a ton of looks this Sunday, and for the Ravens to struggle in slowing him down.