For the second year in a row--and the last time with Ray Lewis on board for Baltimore--Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will duel at Foxboro, Mass., with the Baltimore Ravens for the right to go to Super Bowl XLVII.
This Sunday's AFC Championship Game will feature several major storylines between these two re-matching rivals.
First, the Last Ride of Ray Lewis leads back to New England, where his season ended with a heartbreaking loss to the Patriots that sent them home while the Patriots went on to the Super Bowl.
With Lewis having announced that he would retire immediately after the NFL Playoffs conclude, the legendary NFL linebacker has been playing on a tear since being reactivated for the playoffs, having netted 17 tackles during the Ravens' 38-25 thrilling double-overtime win against the heavily favored Denver Broncos and MVP candidate Peyton Manning.
The Ravens would love nothing more than to send their cornerstone player out in style with a trip to the Super Bowl and a final shot at another world championship for Lewis, who will have one last shot at beating superstar quarterback Brady.
Next, Baltimore had to swallow a bitter pill last year during the AFC title game when ex-Baltimore field goal kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal that would have sent the game to overtime, losing 23-20 to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Baltimore is relishing the chance for a rematch with their hated rival.
"I think we personally kind of wanted to play the Patriots again," Baltimore defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said. "If we go to the Super Bowl, it would be great to go through Foxborough."
Third, New England, playing without injured star tight end Rob Gronkowski, has still not forgotten the bitter taste of losing a nail-biting, memorable Super Bowl last year to the New York Giants, who were surging into and through the playoffs then just as the Ravens are surging now.
It's been nine years since Brady and the Patriots last hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of the 2003 NFL season. To get to the Promised Land one more time, Brady, Wes Welker and their well-oiled offensive machine are going to have to withstand a rejuvenated Ravens team that looks like they have Lady Luck riding on their side.
Latinos Post breaks down the Road to Victory for both the Patriots and the Ravens:
Ravens' Road to Victory
1. Ray Lewis and the Defense Must Get to Tom Brady
It's all about getting to Brady. If the three-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback--one of the most dangerous postseason players in NFL history--is allowed to get hot, it will be the end of the Ravens' postseason run. However, the defense hit Denver hard, totaling 82 tackles and three sacks during Saturday's game, while cornerback Corey Graham netted two interceptions, including a key interception in the second overtime period that led to the game-winning field goal that sent Baltimore to the AFC title game for the second straight year.
With Rob Gronkowski out of the picture, veteran Aaron Hernandez and the speedy Wes Welker are going to be the key targets for Brady. Somehow, Baltimore must find a way to neutralize them. The defense did an admirable job in knocking Brady off his game last season under the same circumstances; can they do it again?
2. Ray Rice must have a Big Game
Rice ran for 131 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries during Baltimore's improbable win over the Broncos last weekend. But the powerful 5'8", 212-pound Rice will have a tough day trying to get past New England's defense, which is one of the best teams in the NFL when it comes to stopping the run. Rice will have to work hard to get some traction going and get some of the pressure off of Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco.
3. Joe Flacco must continue his stellar postseason
An often-underrated quarterback, Flacco was worth his weight in gold on Jan.12 against Denver, completing 18 of 34 passes for 331 passing yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Baltimore wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, combining for 9 catches and 169 receiving yards on Saturday, will have to be sharp to give Flacco that edge in passing that he needs, but if they can be as efficient as they were against Denver, Flacco might have the offensive pieces he needs to get to his first-ever Super Bowl.
Patriots' Road to Victory
1. Tom Brady must be Tom Brady
On Jan. 22, 2012 in the first Patriots-Ravens matchup, Brady played like anyone but the QB of myth and legend that he has grown to during his storied career in New England. He completed 22 of 36 passes for 239 yards, but threw no touchdown passes and two interceptions, and yet, the Patriots still managed to eek out a thriller for their fifth AFC Championship in the Tom Brady era.
But he was looking much more like the Brady of old against Houston on Sunday in New England's 41-28 shellacking of the Texans, completing 25 of 40 passes for 344 passing yards and three touchdowns. If his offensive line can give him enough protection against the ferocious Baltimore defense, Brady can make things happen. And that could mean a second straight Super Bowl appearance for the Pats.
2. Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker must step it up
The loss of Gronkowski will hurt the Patriots, but they still have several weapons at the ready. Tops on that list are Welker and Hernandez, who combined for 14 catches and 216 receiving yards against Houston. They have the moves, and they had the playoff experience between them. Can they get it done for New England one more time?
3. New England's defense must bring it's "A"-game
New England's defense had a strong showing against Houston last Sunday with 76 tackles and a sack. The key here-stop Ray Rice and Baltimore from building any momentum on the running game while forcing Flacco to throw often and long. Despite Flacco's recent hot streak, Baltimore's biggest offensive weapon is the running game. If the Pats can neutralize that, then Baltimore's chances of reaching the Super Bowl will ride solely on Flacco's ability to perform under pressure in a game that he has yet to win. And if you're a Patriots fan, you've got to like those odds.
TV Info and Schedule
Game Time Starts at 6:30 p.m. EST on CBS. For more game information, visit the NFL's official website.
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