New England Patriots Show How to Play Worst Game Possible and Still Win

In the New England Patriots' victory over the Baltimore Ravens, the AFC champions didn't look particularly good.

Usually, if the Patriots win a game, it was because Tom Brady and the team's offense took off. In this game, that didn't happen.

New England's defense didn't exactly dominate, either.

Last week, Baltimore's offense looked atrocious. This week, it looked better.

The Patriots allowed the Ravens to gain 398 yards. The Patriots gained 330 yards.

Tom Brady played unusually poorly, throwing two interceptions and gaining just 239 yards through the air. No one on the Patriots' offense dominated, and the team barely scored enough points.

Honestly, the Ravens played better in almost every way. Baltimore's offense out-gained New England's, and their defense did a better job of shutting down the passing game. Only a missed field goal by Billy Cundiff kept this game from going into overtime.

Yet, the Patriots won. They stopped Baltimore on one key fourth-down play, and Sterling Moore came through with two huge plays down the stretch. Without those two plays, the Patriots are done.

So what was it that won New England this game?

To an extent, it was defense. Vince Wilfork and the Patriots were able to contain Ray Rice, and the team's secondary wasn't completely picked apart by Joe Flacco.

The biggest factor, however, was New England's timing.

When they needed a fourth-down stop, they got it.

When they needed two key knockdowns, they got them.

When they needed a sack, they got it.

To an extent, this is just random timing. But it is more than that, too.

Coaching absolutely came into play, and the Patriots responded. They knew when it was crunch time.

In almost every category, the Ravens won this game.

Except for the one that matters.

The score.