FOXBOROUGH, MASS. (AP)
The Patriots have cut down on the long completions they allowed early
in the season. The Ravens keep making them.
On Sunday night, New England's progress will be tested against
Baltimore's strong-armed Joe Flacco and his speedy receivers in the AFC
championship game.
Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib saw just how dangerous the Ravens' deep
passing attack can be in their 38-35, double-overtime win over the
Denver Broncos in last Saturday's divisional playoff game.
''That game summed it up, man,'' he said. ''They started the game
taking shots and they ended the game taking shots. So that's what
you're going to do against guys like that, play that deep ball.''
On the Ravens' second series against the Broncos, Flacco threw a
59-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith. On their last series of
regulation, he heaved a 70-yard score to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds
left.
That was the Ravens' longest completion of a season in which Flacco
keeps connecting with targets far downfield. He has completed passes to
receivers 13 times on gains of 40 yards or more. The Patriots,
meanwhile, had just five completions to receivers that picked up that
distance - and two were caught by players now on injured reserve.
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''We can't allow them to just throw the ball over our heads,'' safety
Devin McCourty said. ''The biggest thing is understanding how strong
Flacco's arm is because I think we already know how fast some of the
receivers are over there. So it's just being aware and making plays
down the field.''
They Patriots (13-4) didn't do that very well in the first half of the
season. They allowed 21 completions that gained at least 25 yards in
their first eight games. A season-high five came in a 31-30 loss to the
Ravens in Week 3.
They lowered that to 15 in their last eight regular-season games.
Talib, who played in the last seven after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helped.
''He's a good football player, good teammate,'' coach Bill Belichick
said. ''He's very well respected because of his professionalism. He
studies hard and prepares well. He's tough. He competes well, both in
practice and on Sundays. Smart kid. I like him. The team likes him.
He's a good guy to be around.''
His addition allowed the Patriots to move McCourty from cornerback,
where he struggled at times, to safety, where he's solidified the
secondary.
But the Ravens (12-6) have hurt teams with the long ball all season -
from their very first offensive play. That was a 52-yard completion
from Flacco to Smith that started a 44-13 rout of the Cincinnati Bengals.
''One of (Smith's) biggest strengths is his speed,'' McCourty said.
''If you give him a step or two, it will turn into three or four. You
just have to be aware of how fast he is.''
Two weeks later against the Patriots, Smith caught passes of 38, 32 and
25 yards, Jones had receptions of a 41 and 24 yards and Anquan Boldin
added a 24-yarder. And in the final minute, McCourty was penalized for
defensive pass interference, moving the ball 27 yards to the Patriots
7-yard line. Two plays later, Justin Tucker's 27-yard field goal gave
the Ravens a 31-30 win as time expired.
Flacco will be facing the Patriots for the third time in the postseason
and sixth time overall. So he knows how Belichick likes to defend
Baltimore's passing game.
''They're going to probably come up and put pressure on our
receivers,'' Flacco said. ''They always, throughout the years, like to
get up and not allow our tight ends and our inside guys to get off the
ball very well and play over the top of the outside guys.
''We'll see if they match (cornerbacks) on Torrey or Anquan or anything
like that. I think they've let up some yards in that area, but at the
same time, they do a good job of playing very well and playing some man
(coverage) underneath.''
As usual, Belichick is sure to change some defensive tactics and show
Flacco something he hasn't seen from the Patriots.
Whatever that is, he'll still have Smith, Boldin and Jones to run under
his deep throws.
''They have some great receivers over there, guys with speed,''
Patriots safety Steve Gregory said. ''Flacco has a big arm. He makes
good decisions with the football. So they have the ability to beat you
in many ways and, definitely, over the top is one of them.''
Flacco had 40 completions of at least 25 yards, tying Denver's Peyton Manning for the most in the NFL this season.
Smith caught six of at least 40 yards, Jones did it four times and
Boldin three. Even the tight ends got into the act with Dennis Pitta
scoring on a 61-yard pass play and Ed Dickson making a 40-yard snare.
So when Belichick was asked if the Ravens throw the ball deep as well
as any team the Patriots have faced, he answered simply and quickly:
''Yes.''
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