NFL Playoffs: Predicting the divisional round
By Evan Massey
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots
The Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots have a history of having extremely entertaining games, and they shouldn’t disappoint once again this year. It is going to be a very intriguing game, and the Ravens are looking to shock the NFL once again after knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Obviously the Patriots are going into the game as the favorites to come out with a win, but Joe Flacco has proven himself to be one of the best postseason quarterbacks in the league at 10-4 with a Super Bowl win. Both defenses ranked in the top-10 against the run, but both defenses also have weaknesses against the pass. Tom Brady and Flacco are both capable of coming through with big games, and each quarterback has dangerous weapons.
This game is going to come down to which team makes the key mistake down the stretch of the game. It isn’t likely that either team will blow the other out, but there is a possibility that one of them could get hot.
It’s hard to throw out a prediction on this game with the history that the teams have, but the Patriots are once again an elite football team. Having Brady on their side with a healthy Rob Gronkowski makes them the favorites, and they should come out on top if they play their game.
Next: Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks