Eliminating Deep Ball Key to Patriots Victory over Ravens

It is no secret that the Baltimore Ravens like to use Joe Flacco's cannon arm to propel the ball down the field. However, with the way the NFL is set up right now with regards to pass interference rules, the Ravens receivers sometimes don't even have to catch the ball.

Doug Kyed from NESN.com did the math on the pass interference penalties for Baltimore and New England:

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The Patriots will need to keep Flacco in check if they hope to win Saturday night, and they have to be disciplined. The Ravens were the top beneficiaries on pass interference penalties this season, drawing 15 flags for 315 yards. The Patriots were flagged the fourth most among NFL teams for pass interference with nine penalties for 148 yards.

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Expect the Patriots to pay extra attention to the deep ball this week and not just due to the penalties. Bill Belichick stated that Flacco is one of the best deep passers in the league:

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I think you see an offense very similar to what you saw in Houston, but I'd say Flacco being one of the best deep ball passers in the league with good deep receivers, especially [Torrey] Smith, but [Jacoby] Jones, they've got a bunch of them – Steve Smith – they can get the ball down there to several different guys.

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They know what they are up against, so how will the Patriots take the deep ball away? 

Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Devin McCourty are all important facets of the defensive game plan this week. Revis and Browner will likely split time against the Smiths, with McCourty keeping a watchful eye from his deep safety spot.

Even players of their caliber can't be asked to cover talented receivers down the field time after time. The Patriots plans will need to start at—or even before—the snap of the ball.

If you truly want to stop the vertical passing game, you can't give the routes time to develop.

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

The "A-gaps" between center Jeremy Zuttah and guards Kelechi Osemele and John Urschel will be the soft points in the Ravens blocking scheme. Rookie James Hurst looks ripe for the picking at left tackle—if he starts—but he will likely get help throughout the game. Attacking the interior with quick—rather than big—defenders will force Flacco to make quicker reads.

Linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower have both proven to be adept at blitzing up the middle and putting consistent pressure on quarterbacks. They'll need to be quick to get around the interior linemen, but their weight and power will help get them past talented pass-blocking running back Justin Forsett.

Even the threat of the two linebackers blitzing may be enough to persuade Flacco into changing the play. Checking to a run or shorter pass plays right into the Patriots' strengths. Get Flacco thinking and the Patriots are in the driver's seat.

If the Ravens are going to win on Saturday, they'll do it by making big plays—few teams can march consistently down the field against the Patriots defense. If New England can limit the amount of attempts they take down the field—either by pressure or the threat thereof—they should emerge victorious.