NFL Power Rankings: Why Baltimore Ravens Are Superior to New England Patriots

While there is no question that the undefeated Green Bay Packers are the toast of the NFL at the moment, there is quite some debate as to which team most closely follows them.

It has been thought to be the Detroit Lions, but that likely is no longer the case after dropping their first game last week to the San Francisco 49ers.

With that said, a pair of AFC teams in the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots would seem to be next in line. Both teams have only one loss and they have each been very impressive in the early going of the 2011 season.

Both squads obviously have their strong points, but I think that one side clearly has the advantage over the other. Here are three reasons why the Ravens are superior to the Patriots.

Toughness

I wouldn't suggest that the New England Patriots aren't tough, because they are in some respects, but no team in the entire league is tougher or more physical on either side of the ball than the Baltimore Ravens, and that has been true for quite some time.

The Ravens have long been known for their defensive excellence, and that continues to hold true this season. Baltimore is in the top seven defensively against both the pass and the run and has been generally dominant.

No player better exemplifies the toughness of Baltimore's defense than linebacker Ray Lewis.

Lewis is the heart and soul of the team and instills an underlying sense of toughness in it. The Ravens are even tough on offense as they are capable of ragdolling opposing defenses on the ground, and even quarterback Joe Flacco is extremely physical in that he can absorb punishment and still make plays with defenders hanging off him.

Offensive Balance

Perhaps only the Green Bay Packers can match New England's passing game, but when push comes to shove, it remains to be seen if the Patriots can run the ball effectively. They have showcased the run a bit over the past couple weeks, but they are ultimately a pass-first team.

While the Ravens have a solid passing offense behind Flacco, they are perfectly capable of pounding the rock against opposing defenses. If the Ravens want to, then they can line up against most defenses in the league and out-muscle them while Ray Rice runs wild.

At the same time, they can engage in a shootout with a very good aerial attack. When push comes to shove, I don't believe that New England has that type of versatility on offense, and I think it will come back to bite them at some point.

Defense

There is no question that the main difference between the Ravens and Patriots is defense. Baltimore has perhaps the best defense in the league and can certainly play in and win low-scoring, smash-mouth games.

New England, on the other hand, generally needs to engage in shootouts because of its defensive shortcomings. The Pats have been passable against the run, but the opposition has absolutely killed them through the air this season. There is no question that pass defense is New England's Achilles heel.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, things tend to tighten up come playoff time, so while other teams may be able to slow down their passing attack a bit, it remains to be seen if New England will be able to do the same.

At this point, the Patriots secondary is absolutely hemorrhaging yards through the air, and that will have to be rectified if they are to be Super Bowl contenders.

Mike Chiari's Week 7 NFL Power Rankings	Previous Week's Ranking
1. Green Bay Packers	1
2. Baltimore Ravens	4
3. New England Patriots	5
4. San Francisco 49ers	8
5. Detroit Lions	2
6. San Diego Chargers	7
7. New Orleans Saints	3
8. Pittsburgh Steelers	12
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	14
10. New York Giants	15
11. Buffalo Bills	6
12. Oakland Raiders	9
13. Houston Texans	10
14. Atlanta Falcons	14
15. Cincinnati Bengals	19
16. New York Jets	18
17. Tennessee Titans	16
18. Dallas Cowboys	13
19. Washington Redskins	11
20. Philadelphia Eagles	23
21. Chicago Bears	20
22. Seattle Seahawks	22
23. Cleveland Browns	24
24. Carolina Panthers	21
25. Kansas City Chiefs	25
26. Jacksonville Jaguars	26
27. Denver Broncos	28
28. Arizona Cardinals	29
29. Indianapolis Colts	30
30. Minnesota Vikings	27
31. Miami Dolphins	31
32. St. Louis Rams	32