NFL Baltimore RavensNew England Patriots

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Ravens vs. Patriots

Tom Brady Joe Flacco
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Divisional Round matchups have been set. The New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens will face off in the playoffs for the fourth time since the 2010 postseason, and the stakes couldn’t be any higher. Here are six things you probably didn’t know about a rivalry that has quickly become one of the NFL’s fiercest.

6. Ravens Nearly Ruined Patriots’ Perfect 2007 Regular Season

Terrell Suggs Baltimore Ravens
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

6. Ravens Nearly Ruined Patriots’ Perfect 2007 Regular Season

Terrell SuggsTerrell Suggs Baltimore Ravens
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Before Joe Flacco was quarterbacking the Ravens, Kyle Boller nearly pulled off what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the decade. Tom Brady led a late touchdown drive that culminated in a Jabar Gaffney reception in the back of the end zone with 44 seconds left in the game to keep the Patriots' perfect on the season. This game was the appetizer to what has become a great rivalry.

5. Ravens’ First Win Over Pats Was In 2009 AFC Wild Card Game

Ray Rice Baltimore Ravens
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

5. Ravens’ First Win Over Pats Was In 2009 AFC Wild Card Game

Ray Rice Baltimore Ravens
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Since their birth in 1996, the Ravens had never beaten the Patriots until the 2009 AFC Wild Card Game. On the first play from scrimmage, Ray Rice ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run, and the Ravens never looked back, winning the game by a score of 33-14. To say the Ravens ruined Brady’s first playoff game since Super Bowl XLII would be an understatement.

4. Lee Evans’ Drop Cost Ravens 2012 AFC Championship Game

Lee Evans Baltimore Ravens
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

4. Lee Evans’ Drop Cost Ravens 2012 AFC Championship Game

Lee Evans Baltimore Ravens
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Everyone remembers Billy Cundiff’s inexcusable miss that handed the Patriots their plane tickets to the Super Bowl. But before that infamous field goal, if Lee Evans been able to fully secure the ball before cornerback Sterling Moore reached his hand in and knocked it out, the Ravens would have won the game right then and there.

3. Bill Belichick Was Fined $50,000 In 2012 Regular Season Game

Bill Belichick New England Patriots
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

3. Bill Belichick Was Fined $50,000 In 2012 Regular Season Game

Bill Belichick New England Patriots
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

When the Patriots and Ravens met in the regular season following the Pats’ win in the 2012 AFC Championship, it was a bloodbath. The Ravens ended up winning on a controversial Justin Tucker field goal — controversial because the bail sailed over the right upright and it wasn’t clear if it was good. When the replacement refs put their arms in the air, Bill Belichick unloaded on them and earned a hefty fine.

2. Ravens Were First Road Team To Beat Patriots In AFC Championship

Terrell Suggs Baltimore Ravens
Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

2. Ravens Were First Road Team To Beat Patriots In AFC Championship

Terrell Suggs Baltimore Ravens
Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens’ 28-13 victory in January of 2013 was the first time the Patriots had ever lost the AFC Championship Game at home. It was also the first time that Brady had ever lost a home game — regular season included — when leading at the half. In the final two quarters, the Patriots failed to score a touchdown while the Ravens notched three scores en route to a Super Bowl berth.

1. Bernard Pollard Curse Has Contributed To Rivalry

Bernard Pollard Baltimore Ravens
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

1. Bernard Pollard Curse Has Contributed To Rivalry

Bernard Pollard Baltimore Ravens
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

In that 2013 AFC Championship Game, the Patriots were down 21-13 and were putting together a promising drive before Pollard — who has caused more destruction for the Pats than any other player — drilled Stevan Ridley, knocking both him and the ball on the ground. The Ravens recovered, and the outcome of the game was inevitable as Joe Flacco took advantage of the turnover and hit Anquan Boldin for a touchdown to ice the cake.

Share Tweet