NFL Playoff Schedule 2013: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots

Game: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots
Date: Sunday, January 20, 2013
Time: 6:30 PM (ET)
Broadcast: CBS (6:30 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Steve Tasker & Solomon Wilcots (Field reporters). Dial Global Radio: Kevin Harlan, Dan Fouts, Mark Malone (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (DGR), 92 (Bal.), 86 (NE). XM: 88 (DGR), 225 (Bal.), 226 (NE).

TEAMS MEET for 3rd time in postseason. Patriots defeated Ravens, 23-20, in AFC Championship Game on 1/22/12.

RAVENS

• Club has 8-5 (.615) all-time road record in postseason, highest win pct. in postseason history (minimum 10 games).
• Looking for second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
• In the past two postseason games, quarterback Joe Flacco has five touchdowns and a 120 passer rating. Flacco registered 5th career playoff road win last week, tying Eli Manning for most in NFL history. Tied NFL single-game postseason record for most touchdown passes of 30+ yards (70, 59, 32) last week. Passed for most yards (331) in franchise history in single-postseason game last week.
• Flacco is the first quarterback in Super Bowl era to win a postseason game in each of his first five seasons.
• In his past three games against New England (incl. postseason), Flacco has completed 77 of 110 passes (70 pct.) for 973 yards with seven touchdown and two picks for a 110.9 passer rating. Has 7-4 postseason record, including. two AFC Championship appearances. Had a career-best 3,817 passing yards in ’12, second-most in a season by Raven. Incl. postseason, Bal. is 31-3 (.912) when Flacco has 100+ passer rating.
• Running back Ray Rice (131) posted second career 100-yard rush game in postseason last week (159 vs. NE on 1/10/10). Rice is averaging 123 scrimmage yards per game in ’12 postseason. Rice (1,621) reached 1,600 scrimmage yards for 4th season in row. Led AFC running backs with 61 catches in 2012. Rookie running back Bernard Pierce is averaging 6.5 yards per carry in postseason (18 att., 117 yards).
• Wide receiver Torrey Smith has five receptions for 129 yards (25.8 avg.) with two touchdowns in 2012 postseason. In two career games vs. the Patriots (incl. playoffs), Smith has nine catches for 209 yards (23.2 avg.) with three touchdowns. Smith averages 24.4 yards per catch in four career postseason games (9 receptions, 220 yards). Smith had career-best in receiving yards (855) & TDs (8) in ’12.
• Wide receiver Anquan Boldin is averaging 108 receiving yards per game in two playoff games in ’12. Ten of Boldin’s 11 receptions in ’12 postseason have been for first downs. Boldin (145) registered most receiving yards in postseason game in franchise history in Wild Card vs. Colts. For career in postseason, Boldin has 41 receptions for 642 yards (15.7 avg.) with 4 TDs. KR-WR JACOBY JONES had 2nd-longest postseason TD reception in franchise annals last week (SHANNON SHARPE, 96). Ranked 1st in NFL with 30.7 KR avg. in ’12. Tied league-high with 3 kick-return TDs (2 KO, 1 PR) this season.
• Incl. postseason, tight end Dennis Pitta has two touchdowns in past two vs. NE. Pitta (7) tied Todd Heap (7 in ’05) for most touchdowns receptions by a tight end in franchise history this season
• Defense has seven interceptions in the past four games against the Patriots.
• Linebacker Rey Lewis has played in 19 career postseason games (12-7, .632).
• Safety Ed Reed has eight career postseason interceptions, tied for fourth-most in NFL history.
• Safety Bernard Pollard generated a team-high 98 tackles in 2012.
• Cornerback Corey Graham became the fourth Raven to register two interceptions in playoff game last week.
• Linebacker Terrell Suggs has 12 career postseason sacks, tied for 3rd-most since sacks became official statistic. Has 3 sacks in past 4 vs. NE (incl. postseason).
• Kicker Justin Tucker converted a 47-yard game-winning field goal in overtime last week, tied for 3rd-longest OT FG in NFL postseason history and longest ever by rookie
• Club had six players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (KR Jones, fullback Vonta Leach, Defensive Tackle Haloti Ngata, Reed, Rice, G Marshal Yanda).

PATRIOTS

• Club is 14-3 (.824) at home in postseason.
• Patriots have 7-2 all-time record (4-0 at home) in Conference Championship Games.
• Seek second consecutive Super Bowl berth and 8th overall.
• Head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady (17) have the most postseason wins by QB-head coach duo.
• Belichick (18) surpassed HOFer Joe Gibbs (17) for 3rd-most playoff wins all-time last week, trailing only HOFers Tom Landry (20) and Don Shula (19).
• Brady’s 17 postseason wins are most playoffs wins by a quarterback in NFL history. Brady (5,629) has fourth-most passing yards in NFL playoff history. Brady (41) joined Montana (45) & Brett Favre (44) as only QBs to reach 40 postseason touchdown passes all-time. Brady (524) has most career postseason completions all-time. Has 17-6 (.739) playoff record, best postseason record as starting QB in NFL history (min. 15 starts). Brady has five postseason games with 300+ passing yards, trailing only Peyton Manning (8), HOFer Joe Montana (6) and Kurt Warner (6).
• RB Stevan Ridley rushed for 82 yards on 15 att. (5.5 avg.) with touchdown last week. Ridley (1,263) is fifth player in franchise history to reach 1,200 rush yards in season.
• Last week running back Shane Vereen joined Roger Craig and Ricky Watters as the only players in NFL postseason history with two touchdown TD catches and TD run in same playoff game.
• Vereen totaled 124 scrimmage yards last week (83 receiving, 41 rushing).
• Wide receiver Wes Welker (61) has most career postseason receptions in club history.
• Welker (131) posted second 100-yard career receiving game in postseason last week.
• Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (108) and Welker (142) each posted 100+ receiving yards in last meeting against Ravens (9/23/12). Lloyd posted a touchdown reception in first career playoff game last week. Wide receiver Deion Branch (836) has most career postseason receiving yards in Patriots history.
• TE Aaron Hernandez posted six catches for 85 yards last week.
• Linebacker Jerod Mayo led club with 147 tackles in ’12.
• Linebacker Brandon Spikes has sack, INT, FF and FR in five career postseason games.
• Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork generated a sack in the AFC Championship Game vs. Baltimore last season.
• Defensive end Rob Ninkovich posted his first career interception in playoffs last week.
• Club had seven players selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl (QB Brady, TE Gronkowski, guard Logan Mankins, LB Mayo, WR Matthews Slater, WR Welker, DT Wilfork).