Patriots To Face Ravens In Divisional Playoffs
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots need to wait no longer to find out who they're playing, as it will be the Baltimore Ravens flocking to Foxboro next Saturday afternoon.
The Ravens defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night, 30-17, and as the No. 6 seed in the AFC they will move on to face the top-seeded Patriots.
The Ravens and Patriots have quite the history, though they did not face each other this year.
New England did face Baltimore during last year's regular season, and Bill Belichick's team won handily, 41-7. Tom Brady did not have to do much in that game, as he threw for just 172 yards and one touchdown on 14 completions. LeGarrette Blount carried much of the load, gaining 76 yards and scoring twice. Rob Gronkowski did not play due to injury. For Baltimore, Joe Flacco completed 22 of his 38 passes, throwing zero touchdowns and two interceptions. The Patriots' defense came up with three interceptions total -- two by Logan Ryan, one by Tavon Wilson.
The previous meeting to the 2013 game came in January of that same calendar year. The Ravens visited Foxboro for their second consecutive AFC Championship Game. The Patriots had won the previous year's game, thanks in large part to Billy Cundiff's missed field goal at the end of regulation, but they exacted some revenge this time around.
The Ravens shut out the Patriots in the second half, turning a 13-7 halftime deficit into a 28-13 victory. Brady was forced to throw 54 times, completing 29 of them for 320 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Gronkowski also did not play in this game due to injury.
Joe Flacco threw for three touchdowns on the day -- two to Anquan Boldin and one to Dennis Pitta. Neither player will be playing for Baltimore this time around. Ray Rice, who ran for a touchdown that day at Gillette, likewise won't be suiting up for the Ravens this year.
In terms of common opponents in 2014, the Patriots and Ravens both played Cincinnati, Indianapolis, San Diego and Miami. The Patriots went 4-1 in those games; the Ravens went 1-4.
The Patriots and Ravens will kick off at 4:35 p.m. on Saturday.
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