Ravens vs. Patriots: Breaking Down New England's Game Plan

The NFL playoffs are a different animal. Hits are harder. Yards are tougher. Space becomes difficult to find. When the Baltimore Ravens come to town, it intensifies even more.

With the Ravens winning two recent playoff games (2009, 2012) against the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick and his staff won't be taking anything for granted. Despite a 12-4 record and the No. 1 seed, the Ravens present a real threat.

Here is what New England needs to do to survive and advance.

Patriots Defense vs. Ravens Offense

Much of the focus is going to be on the Patriots' defensive backs stopping the deep ball. With Joe Flacco's cannon launching balls down the field to Steve Smith and Torrey Smith, that is probably a good idea. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia doesn't want to forget about some guys closer to the line of scrimmage:

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I would definitely say it's a huge part of this offense, is the ability to use both their tight ends and the fullback also. He'll be mixed in there as the tight end/fullback in the backfield split out into single back-type of sets also.

It's a combination of different personnel and fronts that they can put you in and try to put you in a bind from a formationing standpoint and also a personnel matchup standpoint. 

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Stopping Owen Daniels and Crockett Gillmore is just as important. If you put a glove on the deep receivers, but give Flacco easy checkdowns all game, you're not going to win. New England cannot overcommit resources to combat the vertical passing game at the expense of playing sound defense.

The key to this will be the play of linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower. Being able to stop the run, rush the passer and cover tight ends and fullbacks will allow Darrelle Revis and company to do their own thing.

Patriots Offense vs. Ravens Defense

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels noted a similarity between the Ravens and Patriots—forcing an opponent to play left-handed:

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They seem to do a good job each week of forcing the offense to do some things that maybe the offense didn't want to do. They have the ability to try to take somebody out of the game with different things that they can do in their scheme. They also have good players that they can just cover and match up with the guys they have without doing anything special.

They've played a lot of good players this year, and really they don't do a lot of exotic things to take them out of the game. They play good team defense. It's one of the best units in the league for a reason.

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If you are going to take someone out of the game for the Patriots, that is Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately, he is one of those players who is open even when he is covered. If the Ravens do devote their energy to stopping a tight end, their patchwork secondary may have some trouble containing Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola.

Use too many nickel and dime packages and Brady will be content to run the ball every down. It is tough to make a team play with their opposite hand if they just happen to be ambidextrous.

Steven Senne/Associated Press

What They're Saying

Ravens coach John Harbaugh gave a glowing profile of linebacker Jamie Collins when prompted by Patriots writers, per Patriots Football Weekly (via Patriots.com):

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This is a special young player. This guy is a budding star. He's a guy that we really liked a lot at Southern [Mississippi]. I thought coach [Bill] Belichick … I know he went down there personally and worked Jamie out and just did a great job evaluating him as a player and fitting him into their scheme.

A lot of scouts didn't know where to play him; that was the hang-up with him. But Bill did, and he's one of the top young players in football.

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Collins may make the splash plays that get everyone talking, but he has played second fiddle to the consistent dominance of Dont'a Hightower. Each has contributed as pass-rushers, in coverage and against the run. If an offense focuses on just one of them, the other is going to have a big day.

Tale of the Tape

Quarterback

Flacco definitely steps his game up in the playoffs, but Brady has been the more consistent performer this year...and century.

Verdict: Patriots

Running Backs 

Justin Forsett has been incredible. He not only replaced Ray Rice, but he has completely outplayed him. The Patriots, however, lead here in versatility and depth.

Verdict: Push 

Wide Receivers

The Smiths from Baltimore are a tough group to cover down the field. Edelman and LaFell match them with their prowess in the intermediate and underneath areas.

Verdict: Push

Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski is the best football player in this game. Daniels and Gilmore are fine players, but they are more on Tim Wright's level than Gronkowski.

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Verdict: Patriots

Offensive Line

The Ravens line has more top-end players, with Marshal Yanda leading the crew. An injury to Eugene Monroe, however, evens the playing field.

Verdict: Push

Defensive Line 

The Ravens' strength lies in their versatile and powerful defensive front. While New England relentlessly does its job, Baltimore is more adept at making plays.

Verdict: Ravens

Linebackers

As well as C.J. Mosley has played this year, Hightower and Collins comprise the best linebacker duo in the AFC.

Verdict: Patriots

Defensive Backs

Baltimore might win up front, but New England's strength lies in its secondary. Rashaan Melvin, Antoine Cason and Anthony Levine aren't going to scare the Patriots receivers.

Verdict: Patriots

Special Teams

These are two of the elite special teams units in the league. Punters, kickers, returners and gunners are top-notch on both sides of the field.

Verdict: Push

Overall: Patriots, 4-1-4

On paper, the Patriots have a slight advantage. However, the Ravens' defensive line has what it takes to keep this game close or flip the script entirely.

Wednesday's Injury-Report Analysis (via Patriots.com)

Out: None

Limited: LeGarrette Blount, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Jonas Gray

Full: Tom Brady

All Patriots were in attendance for the second time in a row, a great sign heading into the playoffs. Having Jerod Mayo, Dominique Easley, Aaron Dobson and Alfonzo Dennard on injured reserve, however, probably wasn't in the cards.

For the Ravens, Eugene Monroe was limited with his ankle injury.

Stats and figures courtesy of NFL.com.