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GIFs That Defined Patriots AFC Divisional Win Over Ravens

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This was a back and forth game, with nearly constant swings in momentum. The Patriots dug themselves out of two fourteen point holes and we found ourselves in a tie game at the start of the fourth quarter.

So it’s no surprise that all of these GIFs come from that fourth quarter, with the game on the line. This is where the big plays had to be made, and these four are the ones that got the Patriots the win.

We begin with a third-and-goal early in the fourth, with the Patriots defense having yet to get a red zone stop the entire game. This was a strength of the defense this year, and here they came through in the clutch, which is all that matters.

It should’ve been no surprise that Flacco looked to his tight end in the middle of the field. The Ravens have scored a bunch of touchdowns on this route, including one earlier in the game that the Pats had pretty well-covered. Daniels’ stutter step is enough to open some space behind Collins, but Chung comes through, getting just enough of a hand in to break it up. Forcing a field goal here opened things up for the Pats to finally take their first lead of the game.

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Next we have the Patriots on their very next drive after holding the Ravens to a field goal, facing a difficult third-and-6 outside of field goal range. Danny Amendola has gotten plenty of criticism this year, but this play, where he fights off two tacklers to pick up the first down is nothing short of amazing. He should’ve been stopped. The Pats should’ve been punting. But he wasn’t and the drive continued.

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Now, after two plays that haven’t gotten much attention, we have two that have gotten plenty. First up is Brady’s game-winning touchdown to Brandon LaFell. I was excited for LaFell in this game all week but he was relatively quiet until this huge play. Just an absolute dime from Brady, who’s long distance accuracy has been fodder for criticism constantly the past five years. Just a money play to the best free agent outside wide receiver acquisition since Randy Moss.

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Lastly comes the final interception that all but sealed the game. Duron Harmon has shown great range in his first two seasons and it’s on display here. Credit also has to go to Jamie Collins, whose pass rush forces Flacco to throw off his back foot. That was the ball game.

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Find all of the regular season GIFs The Defined… articles here.

After watching Flacco and Luck go mostly untouched in the previous round, how can the Patriots generate some pressure this week? Is it scheme, design or just winning individual matchups?

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As I touched on a bit with my Pats Posits, I think part of the problem with the pressure was the Pats’ concern with the Ravens run game. But another big part of it was that Chandler Jones had a fairly below-average game. I said it during the game and Mike Reiss said it in his wrap up of the AFCDG today that this was the kind of game where you want a guy like Dominique Easley was drafted to be. An interior guy who can win one-on-one matchups. So much of the Pats failure of pass rush has been when they play Wilfork and Siliga in the middle for run protection and then Jones/Ninkovich don’t win their one-on-ones. If pass rushers can be blocked with one blocker you’re dead meat. This is why we’ve seen more disguise with linebacker and some cornerback blitzes.

As for the Colts, I think it’s a better matchup for the Pats. I think we’ll see more of Ayers this week as well. But really Chandler Jones needs to have his “hello” playoff moment. Some more Chris Jones will help as well, he’s the best interior rusher they have now, unless they put in Ayers at end and slide Chandler inside.

Overall I think the best players on the Pats defense were up-and-down at best, and definitely nowhere near to dominating the Ravens. At least they should be motivated to make up for their inconsistencies this week.