Ravens vs. Patriots: Can Baltimore Stop New England's Tight Ends?

The New England Patriots enter today's game with a pair of tight ends that have become household names among NFL watchers. Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski have set the NFL on fire this season to the tune of a combined 170 receptions, 2,200 yards and 25 touchdowns. Against Denver last week, they continued their regular season dominance, accounting for over 250 yards and four touchdowns.

I think it is safe to say that it has been a very long time, if there has ever even been such a time previously, since a team relied on getting such a massive portion of their production out of the tight end position. 

In his own way, Bill Belichick has reinvented the wheel one more time, and given opposing defenses fits with his two overgrown wide receivers. Gronkowski, in particular, has proven to be virtually uncoverable at times.

So as the Patriots bring their behemoth passing attack to the AFC Championship Game today, the Baltimore Ravens will be trying to figure out what, if anything, they can do to slow down Hernandez and Gronkowski, keeping in mind that quarterback Tom Brady also still has Wes Welker, who Baltimore can't exactly afford to ignore, either. A lot of that effort will be handled not in coverage, but in pressure, as the Ravens will relentlessly try to get after Brady and knock him out of his comfort zone.

It's a battle of strength on strength really, as the No. 2-ranked passing offense meets the No. 4-ranked pass defense. I think Baltimore will approach the matchup with a good understanding that trying to lock down these two tight ends with double teams or jamming them at the line of scrimmage can only get them so far against two physical freaks who are catching passes from an elite quarterback. 

If the Ravens, and by Ravens I mean primarily Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata, cannot penetrate the Patriots' offensive line and get some shots on Brady, we will likely see the Pats win in another rout.

If the Ravens are to have any chance at beating the Patriots today, it will be because they were able to at least slow down the Patriots' two star tight ends, and keep them from blowing the game open like they did against Denver. Stopping Gronkowski and Hernandez is not enough to win this game for the Ravens, but it’s where they have to start.