This should be a hell of a game. I think it is going to be high scoring and physical as hell. 34-30 Pats.

Like I posted in another thread....

Plus a little gas on the fire may motivate the Pats a little more...

Ravens' Ayanbadejo gets a head start on trash talking the New England Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – An AFC championship game rematch between Baltimore and New England wasn't even set before tough talk from the Ravens began.

Baltimore linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo took to Twitter in the first half of New England's divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans and started blasting the Patriots hurry-up offense as a gimmick and mocking the organization for the 2007 "SpyGate" scandal.

Brendon Ayanbadejo (AP)"In a sport that is predicated on mano y mano, 'let's hurry-up n snap it' = bitchassness," Ayanbadejo tweeted.

With New England eventually beating the Texans 41-28, the Patriots will host Baltimore next Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line again. Ayanbadejo's comments are the first shot in what could be a contentious week of trash talk between the two AFC rivals.

New England edged Baltimore 23-20 in last year's AFC championship game, in part because the Ravens dropped a potential game-winning pass and missed a game-tying kick in the final seconds.

Ayanbadejo, after waves of negative reaction, backtracked from his comments on Monday, offering an apology via Twitter.

"I made selfish comments on twitter last night that reflected poorly upon myself, my teammates, and the organization," he tweeted. "For that I apologize."

The Patriots, famed for their focus, seemed unconcerned by the talk.

"The best thing we do is ignore the noise," quarterback Tom Brady told WEEI on Monday. "Nothing anyone says is going to affect us next week."

In the past, the Ravens players have been critical of New England, including Terrell Suggs pointing out that Brady pleads for calls with officials.

In piecing together some previous tweets, Ayanbadejo took issue with New England's tendency to snap the ball quickly in an effort to get defenses off balance. The Patriots have run more offensive plays this season than any team in the league.

New England scored an easy touchdown in the second quarter on an eight-yard Tom Brady to Shane Vereen pass in part because the Texans failed to line up properly before the quick hiking of the ball.

"New England does some suspect stuff on offense," Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowler, said on Twitter. "Can't really respect it. Comparable to a cheap shot [before] a fight.

"… the hurry snap offense catch [them before] they set up," Ayanbadejo continued. "It's a gimmick … Their offense is good enough to be successful without that."

Ayanbadejo also questioned the class of the Patriots organization.

"You know the same organization that did spygate and cut a guy the day [before] the Super Bowl," he said of receiver Tiquan Underwood, who was released the day before last year's Super Bowl to make room for a defensive end to be moved from the practice squad.

The rivalry between the two franchises and teams is intense. That the trash talk began before the matchup was even set and New England was still locked in a close game with the Texans sort of says it all.

Ayanbadejo even went to the ultimate Patriots taunt.

"18-1."

I hope like hell the Falcons beat SF.
If the Pats & SF end up in the Super Bowl ill probably have to root for the Pats :-(
NO WAY IN HELL I want Randy Moss to get a ring !
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^^^^^^^

OMG :conf:

That's funny as hell Ronnie :rotf2:


I don't understand why we have to have the late game AGAIN
it supposed to be cold and getting out of there is a nightmare.
my brother has a 7 am flight the next morning so I guess my designated driving job won't be over until I get him to the airport :rollem: maybe this goes in the grump forum, because I am psyched we get another home AFC championship game, I haven't missed on yet.

Gonna be a great game, tough physical battle
hope no one gets hurt

In the interest of increasing the amounts of death threats and hate mail over last year I continue the stance of the pats losing by 3, however someone better look after RR, I think somethings happened to him....
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Like I posted in another thread....

of coarse they are trying to get the Pat's to slow down.. they are the oldest defense in the NFL... they just came from Denver in a double overtime win.. they may have big hearts.. but sooner or latter the tank runs dry....Flaco throws two INT's and Rice fumbles at least one... Pat's by11..If the Bronkos dont choke away a lead... The "birds "would be flying south for the winter...

I think the Ravens are tired after this past weekend against Denver.
The way I see it is since last years matchup the Ravens are one year older and the Pats are about 10 years younger. :uhuh:

We got to figure out how to control their running game. I think that is the only real threat they have.

i agree we should no huddle them until their D guys are s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g wind. God , can't even say suc k ing? :eek:

Sure wish Gronk was playing!

6:30 definitely sucks as a starting time. marder on the people going to the game but also makes for almost no possibility of gatherings at homes for the games do to the late finish. I think we are doomed to all the BS start times as long as we are a popular team that gets good TV ratings.

Tough to predict a score for this game. On the one hand I can see an easy Pats victory 33 to 20 type game. On the other I can see a nail biter right to the last seconds.

Go Pats

:patshelmet:

It is a holiday Monday for some...that's why I think they went with the late start time.

Pats Rushing D has been pretty solid the past few weeks...they kept Foster in check this past week.

It is a holiday Monday for some...that's why I think they went with the late start time.

Pats Rushing D has been pretty solid the past few weeks...they kept Foster in check this past week.

I aggree.. sometimes , I think they alow a little run to start to give the illusion the opponent the idea that they can run.. saves on the secondary.. but when they have to stop it.. it seems pretty air tight..... last Sunday was the first playoff game Foster was held to under a hundred yards...

This dude is out to lunch.

Ravens fan goes nuts! Part 2 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fm0gxQT0s4&feature=player_embedded)

I predict a lot of fake injuries from the Ravens to try to slow down the Pats. The league should institute a rule that if a players injury causes a stop of the clock, they are out for the complete set of downs. Not just one down. Then you might see a change in strategy.

thinkin' the patriots win the next 2 games by 10... :)

Going!! was there last year the crowd went bat#^&#^&#^&#^& when Cundiff missed the field goal. Lets hope its that fun again and of course the pats win!!!

My take they are going to get the ground game going and hammer the middle of the field to develop the Play action. They will then work the seam and target the murderous preacher. They are going to force him into coverage which will keep him on a yo yo all day. Forcing safety blitzes etc. which will open the screens as well as provide potential for the deep ball. Defense is going to give up some points and Talib plays to Flaccos right side all day long
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It's going to be windy Sunday night. They've backed down the forecast a little bit but it might still be a factor with sustained WSW winds 15 to 25 and gusts to 35mph.

Might keep the long bombs from both sides in check. Short passing game with Welker and our running game have been strong and that sort of weather might require it. Also, in most games they've been able to contain Rice. I like it.

So anyone know if Gonk & Vince Wolcock will be playing Sunday against the Ravens.
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Gonk is definitely out. Varitek will not be kicking either
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Menino is such a friggin moron!!!:uhuh:

Mumbles. :rotf2:

The worst part was that he was holding a cheat sheet right in front of him. Maybe he should have put on "Wilcock's" jersey backwards. :buds:

I almost had to shut the sports radio off yesterday. Couldn't focus on work with the constant Mumbles and Te'o humor...

There is no way in hell Menino can actually be the mayor of Boston and actually running the city.
Must be just a buffoon front man kind of like the guy "Green" in the movie Casino and someone like Sam Rothstein doing the actual day to day running of the operation & the mafia heads are the actually guys making the real decisions !

Anyone who wants some good laughs, here you go courtesy of Howie Carr.
http://www.mumblesmenino.us/