The Patriots are headed to Indianapolis

Image courtesy of AP
New England celebrates after Cundiff's missed Field Goal

 

 

 

The Baltimore Ravens found out the hard way today what they New England Patriots had known since their first Super Bowl win in 2002… kickers are important.

Joe Flacco and the Ravens came into New England looking to stop the top-seeded Patriots en route to Indianapolis, and even though Flacco outplayed Tom Brady, the Patriots are headed back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2008, beating the Baltimore Ravens 23-20 after Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff, who made his first two field goals of the day, missed a 32-yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime.

With the top offense in the AFC going up against the great Baltimore Ravens defense, something had to give. Tom Brady had two interceptions and no touchdowns. Joe Flacco had two touchdowns and his first 300+ yard passing game since Week 9 against the Steelers. You would think after seeing those stats that the Ravens would be on their way to Indy. Anquan Boldin had six receptions for 101 yards and rookie Torrey Smith had three catches for 82 yards with a touchdown. But the game came down to a kick… a relatively easy one for an NFL Kicker, but it seems like the nerves got to Cundiff in the final seconds.

Before today’s game, the Ravens allowed 3.8 receptions, 40.7 yards and 0.2 touchdowns/game to tight ends, a challenge for the dominant duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in New England… a challenge they were upto, as they led the Pats in receiving, combining for 12 receptions and 153 yards.

After taking their first lead of the game, 17-16, the Ravens kicked off to Danny Woodhead, who showcased his athleticism on a 35-yard run, but subsequently got stripped. Four New England players tried to get the ball, but Baltimore ended up recovering, seemingly a game-changing moment. But the Patriots D made sure to minimize the damage, holding them to a field goal. It proved to be a big stop, as the Pats only won by 3.

Tom Brady led a touchdown drive on the next possession, running in for the score on 4^th and Goal inside the 1. The Ravens had an opportunity to tie the game in the fourth quarter after an interception, one that could dethrone Jerome Simpson on Sportscenter Monday, by Jimmy Smith in the endzone. They chose to go for a 4^th and 6 instead of attempting a 51-yard field goal halfway into the fourth quarter and they couldn’t convert.

They got the ball back with 1:44 remaining and two timeouts. Flacco led them 65 yards down field to set up a Billy Cundiff 32-yarder, and he missed wide left, ending the Ravens season and breaking the hearts of Ravens fans everywhere.

The defenses both played well. Vince Wilfork was in Flacco’s face for the whole game, and the Pats D played much better than they have all year. The Ravens secondary did their job containing Tom Brady and that’s really all you can ask for to have a chance to win a game against the Patriots.

But the game came down to a kick. After the offensive and defensive play from both teams was just about even, it was up to Cundiff to keep the game going. But he couldn’t. Because of that, New England is headed to Indianapolis.