Fansided

New England Patriots 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

By Mike Phillips

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Running Back Mark Ingram #21 of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball during the second half against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2019, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Running Back Mark Ingram #21 of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball during the second half against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2019, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

4. Home: Baltimore Ravens

The entire tone of the 2019 season for the New England Patriots changed on a Sunday night in Baltimore. The Patriots entered that game with a perfect 8-0 record and were embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens, who had their way with the New England defense.

Prior to that game, there was talk about New England going undefeated, but the Ravens seemingly shattered the Patriots’ aura of invincibility. New England never really recovered from the beating they took in Baltimore, going 4-3 for the remainder of the regular season and losing in the first round of the playoffs.

As division winners, the two teams will meet again this year with the Ravens coming to Foxborough this time. That contest is likely ticketed for prime-time as Lamar Jackson will look to put up another MVP-worthy performance against the vaunted Bill Belichick defense.

There won’t be many people who expect the Patriots to beat the Ravens, making them a true underdog in this game. That factor could work to New England’s advantage since Belichick’s team tend to thrive when people don’t expect much from them.

A win over the Ravens could be an important one for playoff seeding if New England is in a position to win the AFC East again. With only one team getting home-field advantage in the new playoff format, scoring wins over division title contenders is always extremely important.

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