To say the New England Patriots 2012 season was a disappointment would be a testament to how spoiled and accustomed Patriots fans have become since beating the Rams 11 years ago. The Patriots lost in the AFC Championship yesterday, 28-13, to the Baltimore Ravens - a team led by a much maligned quarterback and a hall of fame linebacker. The loss - in Foxborough nonetheless - was a complete and utter shock.
On the heels of averaging more than 34 points per game and becoming one of the most efficient offenses of all time, the Patriots were able to score multiple ways, often in dominating fashion. Rob Gronkowski's injury in Week 11 was a bit of a hiccup, yet the team persevered for the most part, exhibiting a hurry up offense that simply overwhelmed most teams.
Yet, with the season on the line and facing a Baltimore squad not intimidated by playing the Patriots in Foxborough, no one in the blue and silver could make a game-changing play.
This Baltimore squad reminds me a bit of some of those old New England teams. Bernard Pollard shares many of the same qualities that Rodney Harrison had - punishing hitter (questionably dirty at times) who always has a nose for the ball. Ed Reed is in the Ty Law mold - a veteran who may stay quiet for the majority of a game, but make a game-changing pick in the fourth quarter. Ray Lewis is the ultimate camera hog, but his ability to lead, communicate, and get the best out of teammates is much like Teddy Bruschi was in his playing days. Tom Brady was never maligned the way Joe Flacco has been, yet, there was a time when Brady was unfairly criticized for being a system a quarterback; someone lucky to have a great coach and defense.
The Ravens have yet to win a super bowl with this squad, so equal comparison to those truly dominating '03-'04 teams would be asinine. Perhaps the key to attaining success lies in the true character of a player, and fans credited Brady a bit too much, when it was the great supporting cast around him that made the plays when they mattered most.
The Ravens earned last nights victory (although, the Gronkowski and Talib injuries didn't help). No one stepped up on either side of the ball for the Patriots, and the Ravens were eager to smack the Patriots in the mouth. Much like the way the New York Jets beat the New England a few years ago, they were able to bunch up the line of scrimmage, funnel everything to the middle, and unload on anyone who had possession of the pigskin. Brandon Lloyd, brought in to be the teams deep threat, was no such thing this season, and so the team had no one who could stretch the defense.
Considering the NFL's insistence on protecting quarterbacks, receivers, and creating a 7-on-7 environment, it is interesting that the two representatives this year sport punishing defenses, eager to make opposing receivers sprout alligator arms and think twice about catching that next pass over the middle of the field.
Sort of like the way the Patriots used to play.
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