Ravens–Patriots rivalry

Baltimore Ravens–New England Patriots
Baltimore Ravens
New England Patriots
First meeting October 6, 1996
Patriots 46, Ravens 38
Latest meeting December 12, 2016
Patriots 30, Ravens 23
Next meeting TBD (will not play in 2018 season)
Statistics
Meetings total 13 meetings (including playoffs)
All-time series Patriots, 10–3
Postseason results

Patriots 2, Ravens 2

Most recent
January 10, 2015
Patriots 35, Ravens 31
Largest victory Patriots 41, Ravens 7
December 22, 2013
Smallest victory Ravens 31, Patriots 30
September 23, 2012
Current win streak Patriots, 3 wins
(2013–present)

The Ravens–Patriots rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots. Though the two franchises are in different divisions within the American Football Conference and did not start playing each other until the late 1990s, their rivalry is noted for competitiveness in the playoffs, especially in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The series also features two of the most prominent quarterbacks in the league, namely Tom Brady of the Patriots and Joe Flacco of the Ravens.

History

The two teams first played each other in 1996, but the rivalry truly started in 2007 when the Ravens suffered a bitter 27–24 loss in the Patriots' quest for perfection. The rivalry began to escalate in 2009 when the Ravens lost to the Patriots 27–21 in a game that involved a confrontation between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs. Both players would go on to take verbal shots at each other through the media after the game.[1] The Ravens defeated the Patriots in the 2009 AFC Wild Card playoff game, 33–14. This was the first time the Ravens had ever defeated the Patriots. The Ravens faced the Patriots in week six of the 2010 season. The Patriots ended up winning 23–20 in overtime; the game caused controversy from a hit to the helmet of tight end Todd Heap by Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather.[2]

The Ravens played the Patriots for the third consecutive season in the 2012 AFC championship game, which the Ravens lost 23–20.[3] The rivalry reached a new level of friction with this, the second career playoff game between the two clubs. The Ravens clawed to a 20–16 lead in the fourth quarter, but Patriots quarterback Tom Brady dove into the end zone to make the score 23–20 with around 11 minutes remaining; this proved to be the winning touchdown.[3] On the Ravens' last possession of the game, quarterback Joe Flacco threw a pass to wide receiver Lee Evans in the corner of the end zone that would have been the game-winning touchdown, but a last-second strip by Patriots corner Sterling Moore forced the ball from the hands of Evans, forcing the game to be decided on a last-minute field goal by Ravens placekicker Billy Cundiff.[3] With 11 seconds remaining on the clock, Cundiff missed the 32-yard field goal attempt, allowing the Patriots to kill the clock on their way to Super Bowl XLVI for a rematch with the New York Giants.[3]

The Ravens' first regular-season win over the Patriots came on September 23, 2012. The game was emotional as receiver Torrey Smith was competing following the death of his brother in a motorcycle accident just the night before.[4] Smith caught two touchdowns in a back and forth game; the Ravens erased a 13–0 deficit in the first half and led 14–13, but the Patriots scored at the end of the second quarter for a 20–14 lead. The lead changed twice in the third quarter and the Patriots led 30–21 in the fourth, but the Ravens scored on Smith's second touchdown catch. The Ravens were stopped on fourth down but the Patriots had to punt; in the final two minutes a pass interference penalty on Devin McCourty put the ball at the Patriots 7-yard line; new Ravens kicker Justin Tucker booted a 27-yard field goal on the final play; the ball sailed directly over the upright and was ruled good; the quality of officiating by replacement referees caused controversy as Bill Belichick angrily reached for one of the referees as they were leaving the field, leading to a $50,000 fine later that week.[5]

The two teams met again on January 20, 2013, in the AFC Championship, where the Ravens won 28–13.[6] The Patriots led at halftime, 13–7, but the Ravens defense gave up no points in the 2nd half.[6] It was the first time ever that Tom Brady lost a game at home after leading at halftime, and the first time a road team beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship.[6] This win propelled the Ravens to Super Bowl XLVII in which they beat the San Francisco 49ers for their second franchise Lombardi Trophy.

The two teams met once again in the playoffs on January 10, 2015 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots trailed by as much as 14 twice, before beating the Ravens 35–31 to advance to the AFC Championship.[7]

Rivalry statistics

Patriots wins Ties Ravens wins Patriots points Ravens points
Regular season 8 0 1 269 169
Postseason 2 2 85 112
Total 10 0 3 354 281

Game results

In the last decade of match-ups (and in all the Flacco vs. Brady games), only 2 games have decided by more than 2 scores, a 2013 regular season 41–7 win for the Patriots and a 33–14 2010 NFL Wild Card Round win for the Ravens. The Patriots currently lead the series 10–3.[8]

Postseason Meeting Tie Overtime Result
Date Winner Result Loser Location Attendance Ravens QB Patriots QB
October 6, 1996 New England Patriots 46–38 Baltimore Ravens Memorial Stadium 63,569 Vinny Testaverde Drew Bledsoe
January 2, 2000 New England Patriots 20–3 Baltimore Ravens Foxboro Stadium 50,263 Tony Banks Drew Bledsoe
November 28, 2004 New England Patriots 20–3 Baltimore Ravens Gillette Stadium 68,756 Kyle Boller Tom Brady
December 3, 2007 New England Patriots 27–24 Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium 71,382 Kyle Boller Tom Brady
October 4, 2009 New England Patriots 23–20 Baltimore Ravens Gillette Stadium 68,756 Joe Flacco Tom Brady
January 10, 2010 Baltimore Ravens 33–14 New England Patriots Gillette Stadium 68,756 Joe Flacco Tom Brady
October 17, 2010 New England Patriots 23–20 Baltimore Ravens Gillette Stadium 68,756 Joe Flacco Tom Brady
January 22, 2012 New England Patriots 23–20 Baltimore Ravens Gillette Stadium 68,756 Joe Flacco Tom Brady
September 23, 2012 Baltimore Ravens 31–30 New England Patriots M&T Bank Stadium 71,269 Joe Flacco Tom Brady
January 20, 2013 Baltimore Ravens 28–13 New England Patriots Gillette Stadium 68,756 Joe Flacco Tom Brady
December 22, 2013 New England Patriots 41–7 Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium 71,269 Joe Flacco Tom Brady
January 10, 2015 New England Patriots 35–31 Baltimore Ravens Gillette Stadium 68,756 Joe Flacco Tom Brady
December 12, 2016 New England Patriots 30–23 Baltimore Ravens Gillette Stadium 66,829 Joe Flacco Tom Brady

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Tom Brady, Terrell Suggs Trash Talk After Game". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ Ryan Hudson, Brandon Meriweather Says Hit On Todd Heap Was 'Split-Second Decision', SB Nation. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "2012 AFC Championship Game Rapid Reaction". ESPN. January 22, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  4. ↑ Paolantonio, Sal (September 24, 2012). "Big game for emotional Torrey Smith". ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ Shalise Manza Young (September 24, 2012). "Patriots lose heartbreaker to Ravens". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Golen, Jimmy (January 20, 2013). "Ravens Win AFC Championship Game, Hold Off Patriots in Rematch to Reach Super Bowl". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots – Box Score – January 10, 2015". ESPN. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots Results". The Football Database. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
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