NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0) vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-0)
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.
* Gillette Stadium (68,756)*
The New England Patriots will advance to their eighth AFC Championship Game in franchise history after defeating the Denver Broncos 45-10 in an AFC Divisional playoff game last Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots will host the Baltimore Ravens, who beat the Houston Texans 20-13 last Sunday in an AFC Divisional Playoff game in Baltimore. The Patriots will be hosting their fourth AFC Championship Game, including their third at Gillette Stadium.
PATRIOTS IN THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
The Patriots have compiled a 6-1 all-time record in AFC Championship Games, including a 3-0 record at home and a 2-0 record at home at Gillette Stadium. The only AFC Championship loss was in 2006 at Indianapolis.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast to a national audience by CBS and can be seen in Boston on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Jim Nantz will handle play-byplay duties with Phil Simms providing color. The game will be produced by Lance Barrow and directed by Mike Arnold.
NATIONAL RADIO: This week's game will be broadcast to a national audience by Westwood One Radio Sports. Dave Sims and James Lofton will call the game. Tony Boselli will provide sideline analysis. Univision will broadcast the game in Spanish with Raul Striker, Jr. and Joaquin Duro calling the game.
RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network (view affiliates). Play-by-play broadcaster Gil Santos is in his 35th season as the voice of the Patriots and will call the action along with Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti. Scott Zolak will provide sideline analysis.
PATRIOTS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH FOR THE 13TH TIME IN KRAFT'S 18 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP
The Patriots have qualified for the playoffs 19 times in their 52-year history. Thirteen of those playoff berths have come in the 18 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, a dramatic contrast to the six total playoff berths that the team earned in its first 34 years of existence.
PATRIOTS EARN NUMBER ONE SEED IN AFC PLAYOFF FIELD FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON
The Patriots are the number one seed in the AFC playoff field for the second straight season. The Patriots have now earned the number one seed four times (2011, 2010, 2007 and 2003) in the past nine seasons. New England is the first team since Philadelphia (2002, 2003 and 2004) to have the top seed in its conference in at least two straight years and is the first AFC team to have the first seed in two straight years since Buffalo in 1990 and 1991.
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and Ravens have squared off six times in the regular season since the Baltimore franchise was founded following the Cleveland Browns' move to Baltimore in 1996 and one time in the postseason.
New England owns a perfect 6-0 record over Baltimore. The Patriots and Ravens played in their first postseason meeting in 2009 with Baltimore taking a 33-14 win in a Wild Card matchup at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 10, 2010.
The Ravens' first trip to Gillette Stadium came on Nov. 28, 2004 with the Patriots claiming a 24-3 victory. Baltimore's first visit to Foxborough was the final game of the 1999 regular season, a 20- 3 New England win. The first meeting between the teams came during the Ravens' first season in Baltimore, when the Patriots prevailed 46-38 on Oct. 6, 1996. The 84 total points scored by both teams in that game rank as the second-highest total number of points in a game in Patriots history to the 86 points in a 43-43 tie with Oakland in 1964.
PATRIOTS VS. RAVENS PREDECESSORS
From 1970-83, the Patriots faced the Baltimore Colts 27 times, recording a 12-15 record in those games. The Colts moved to Indianapolis prior to the 1984 season and Baltimore was without an NFL team until the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens in 1996. Prior to the move, the Patriots were 4-11 against the Browns, including a 2-4 record against Cleveland while Bill Belichick was the Browns' head coach from 1991-95.
PASSING PERFORMANCES
Tom Brady is slated to start against the Ravens in the regular season for just the fourth time in his career.
PATRIOTS VS. AFC NORTH
The Patriots are 15-4 all-time against the AFC North in the regular-season since it was founded in 2002. The only AFC North losses for New England were to the Steelers (3) and Browns (1). New England is 1-1 against the AFC North in the postseason with a 2004 AFC Championship Game win at Pittsburgh and a 2009 loss at home to Baltimore.
CONNECTIONS
New England Ties
- Ravens two-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection C Matt Birk attended Harvard University from 1994-1998 before being drafted in the sixth round (173 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1998 NFL draft.
- Ravens RB Matt Lawrence, Injured Reserve, attended the University of Connecticut (2003-2004) before transferring to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (2005-2007). Lawrence went undrafted out of UMass in 2007, but was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent that same year.
- Ravens Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Jerry Rosburg was the secondary coach at Boston College from 1997-1998.
- Ravens Defensive Line Coach Clarence Brooks went to high school in New Bedford, Mass. before playing guard at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst from 1970-1972. Four years later, Brooks received his first full-time coaching position from UMass where he served as the Defensive Ends coach from 1976-1980.
- Ravens Offensive Quality Control Coach Jason Brooks, son of Clarence Brooks, was born in Amherst, Mass. Brooks, like his father, severed as a coach at UMass. Brooks acted as the Assistant Defensive Backs coach during the 2007 season for the Minutemen.
- Ravens Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach John Dunn was born in Great Barrington, Mass.
- Ravens Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Craig Ver Steeg served as the Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers Coach at Harvard University from 1994-1995.
Baltimore, Md. Ties
- Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick was raised in Annapolis, Md. and attended Annapolis High School before enrolling at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. Additionally, Belichick got his first coaching position with the Baltimore Colts as a special assistant in 1975.
- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Bill O'Brien served as the Running Backs Coach for the University of Maryland from 2003-2004.
Former Patriots
- Ravens Linebackers Coach Dean Pees served as the Linebackers coach for the Patriots from 2004-2005 and as the Defensive Coordinator from 2006-2009.
Former Teammates
- Patriots DE Mark Anderson played with Ravens LB Brendon Ayanbadejo in Chicago for the 2006-2007 seasons.
- Patriots WR Wes Welker teamed up with Ayanbadejo in Miami for the 2004 season.
- Patriots DE Shaun Ellis, S James Ihedigbo, and RB Danny Woodhead all spent time with Ravens DB Emanuel Cook while with the New York Jets during parts of the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
- Ravens FB Vonta Leach has played with four different Patriots including LB Rob Ninkovich (2006- New Orleans), LB Tracy White (2006- Green Bay), and DE Mark Anderson and DB Antwaun Molden (2010- Houston).
- Patriots G Brian Waters played with Ravens S Bernard Pollard from 2006-2008 in Kansas City.
- Patriots DE Mark Anderson played with Ravens S Bernard Pollard during the 2010 season in Houston while DB Antwaun Molden played with Pollard from 2009-2010 with the Texans.
- Patriots WR Deion Branch played alongside Ravens DT Cory Redding in Seattle during the 2009 season.
- Ravens RB Ricky Williams spent seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2002-2003, 2005, and 2007-2010) during the course of his tenure in Miami, Williams played with Patriots WR Wes Welker (2005), LB Rob Ninkovich (2007), and G Donald Thomas (2008-2010).
- Patriots G Brian Waters played with Ravens TE Kris Wilson from 2004-2007 in Kansas City.
- Patriots G/C Nick McDonald was a part of the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers with Ravens WR Patrick Williams, Practice Squad, during the 2010 season.
Former Ravens
- Patriots Special Teams Coach Scott O'Brien worked for the Baltimore Ravens as the Special Teams Assistant from 1996- 1998.
Former College Teammate
- Patriots LB Jerod Mayo was teammates with Ravens LS Morgan Cox at the University of Tennessee from 2006-2007.
- Patriots S Patrick Chung and Ravens TE Ed Dickson attended the University of Oregon together from 2006-2008. Patriots
- DT Vince Wilfork played the 2001 season at the University of Miami- Fla. with Ravens T Bryant McKinnie and S Ed Reed.
- Patriots DT Kyle Love attended the University of Mississippi State with Ravens DE Pernell McPhee from 2007-2009.
- Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis lanes were opened up by Ravens T Michael Oher from 2006-2007 while at the University of Mississippi.
- Patriots LB Rob Ninkovich played with Ravens S Bernard Pollard for two seasons at Purdue University from 2004- 2005.
- Patriots WR Tiquan Underwood and Ravens RB Ray Rice attended Rutgers University from 2005-2008.
- Patriots T Nate Solder was teammates with Ravens CB Jimmy Smith for his entire college career while at the University of Colorado.
**
POSTSEASON NOTES**
KRAFT ERA
The Patriots won their 18th playoff game since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994 with a 45-10 win vs. Denver. New England's 18 playoff victories over that span are the most in the NFL (Pittsburgh, 17).
TEAM NOTES
The Patriots scored 45 points and gained 509 net yards against Denver in the Divisional round, with both numbers standing as single-game franchise playoff records. The Patriots previous bests were 41 points in an AFC Championship Game win at Pittsburgh (01/23/05) and 481 net yards in the Super Bowl XXXVIII win vs. Carolina (02/01/04).
BILL BELICHICK
Belichick improved his career playoff record to 16-6 (.727) with the win vs. Denver. Belichick's 16 career playoff wins tie Chuck Noll for the fourth highest total by any head coach in NFL history, trailing Tom Landry (20), Don Shula (19) and Joe Gibbs (17).
TOM BRADY
Brady has 15 career postseason wins with an overall record of 15-5. His .750 winning percentage is the best postseason winning percentage by a starting quarterback (minimum of 15 starts). Terry Bradshaw (14-5, .737) is second. Brady needs one more postseason victory to match Joe Montana (16) for the most postseason wins by a starting quarterback.
Brady now has 36 postseason touchdowns, third in NFL postseason history to Joe Montana (45) and Brett Favre (44).
Brady threw for 363 yards against Denver in the Divisional round to set a new single-game Patriots playoff record, besting the 354 yards he had in Super Bowl XXXVIII vs. Carolina.
Brady tied an NFL single-game playoff record with six touchdown passes against Denver in the Divisional round. Daryle Lamonica of Oakland (1969 vs. Houston) and Steve Young of San Francisco (Super Bowl XXIX vs. San Diego) also had six touchdown passes in a playoff game.
Brady moved past Dan Marino (4,510) into fifth place on the all-time postseason passing list with 4,770 yards. John Elway is in fourth place with 4,964 yards. Brady needs 195 yards to move ahead of Elway and 230 yards to become the fourth player with 5,000 postseason passing yards.
ROB GRONKOWSKI
Gronkowski tied an NFL record for most touchdown receptions in a postseason game with three vs. Denver. It is the 17th time in NFL history a player has had three touchdown receptions in a postseason game. Gronkowski and Dave Casper of Oakland (1977 vs. Baltimore) are the only tight ends of that group.
Against Denver, Gronkowski (10 rec. for 145 yards) registered the 15th postseason 100-yard receiving game by a Patriot. His 145 yards are the second-highest single-game total in Patriots history and his 10 receptions are tied for the third most in a single-game in team playoff annals.
AARON HERNANDEZ
Aaron Hernandez finished with five rushing attempts for 61 yards against Denver. It is the highest rushing output by a tight end in Patriots history, besting the 26 yards that Hernandez had rushing vs. Buffalo in the 2011 regular-season finale (01/01/12). It is tied for the ninth highest rushing total by a tight end in NFL history and the highest ever in a postseason game.
Hernandez had a 43-yard run in the first quarter. It is the third longest run in Patriots postseason history, trailing a 78-yard touchdown run by Curtis Martin and a 45-yard run by Robert Weathers. It is the longest run of Herandez's career. He had a 19-yard run in the 2011 finale vs. Buffalo.
WES WELKER
Wes Welker had six receptions for 55 yards vs. Denver, raising his career playoff total to 40 receptions in just five career playoff games. Welker is averaging 8.0 receptions per game in the playoffs.
NFL'S BEST AT HOME
Since their state-of-the-art facility opened at the beginning of the 2002 season, the Patriots own the NFL's best record at home overall. The Patriots own an overall record of 67-13 (.838) at Gillette Stadium in regular season games and a 75-15 (.833) record including playoffs.
PATRIOTS IN THE PLAYOFFS
New England has qualified for the playoffs 19 times in its 52- year history. Thirteen of those playoff berths have come in the 18 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, a dramatic contrast to the six total playoff berths that the team earned in its first 34 years of existence. New England has won 14 division crowns, including nine in the last 11 seasons, and has qualified as a Wild Card team on four occasions (1976, 1985, 1994, and 1998). The Patriots also qualified for the playoffs in 1982 as part of a 16-team tournament following a players' strike.
PATRIOTS AT HOME IN THE PLAYOFFS
The Patriots are 12-3 at home in the playoffs in their history. Fourteen of the franchise's 15 home playoff games have taken place since Robert Kraft purchased the team 18 years ago. After Kraft bought the team, the Patriots won 11 consecutive home playoff games before experiencing a home loss.
TITLE TOWN
The Patriots won the AFC East seven times during the decade of 2000-09. The Patriots had a streak of five straight division titles snapped in 2008 when they finished 11-5, but lost to Miami on a tie breaker to finish in second place. New England's five straight AFC East crowns from 2003-07 top the four straight division titles by the Buffalo Bills from 1988-91 and by the Miami Dolphins on two occasions. The Patriots have won eight of the last nine division crowns. The Patriots have won 11 division titles in the 18 seasons since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994.
SUSTAINED PLAYOFF SUCCESS
The Patriots won 11 playoff games from 2003-07, tying the NFL's highest playoff victory total over a five-season span. New England won three playoff games in 2003, three in 2004, one in 2005, two in 2006 and two in 2007.
ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RESULTS
The Patriots have compiled a 22-15 record in their 37 playoff games and their .595 playoff winning percentage is the fourth best in NFL history among teams that have played at least 10 playoff games. New England has qualified for six Super Bowls (XX, XXXI, XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX and XLII) and one AFL Championship Game in 1963.
PATRIOTS PLAYOFF RECORD BY ROUND
First Round*, 0-1
Wild Card Round, 4-3
Divisional Round, 9-6
AFC Championship, 6-1
AFL Championship, 0-1
Super Bowl, 3-3
Total, 22-15
*-1982 Strike Season
**
PATRIOTS PLAYOFF TRENDS*
*(since the 1970 merger)
Patriots Playoff Trends (Since NFL Merger in 1970)
All Time (21-14) vs. AFC ................................. 18-11
vs. NFC ......................................................... 3-3
Home ........................................................... 12-3
Away ............................................................. 6-8
Leading at Halftime ........................................ 16-2
Trailing at Halftime ......................................... 3-10
Tied at Halftime ............................................. 2-2
Leading After 3 Quarters ................................. 17-3
Tied After 3 Quarters ...................................... 2-0
Trailing After 3 Quarters .................................. 2-11
Decided by 7 Points or Less ............................. 8-7
Decided By 3 Points or Less ............................. 6-3
When Scoring First .......................................... 16-6
When Not Scoring First ..................................... 5-8
Positive Turnover Ratio .................................... 16-1
Even Turnover Ratio ........................................ 2-4
Negative Turnover Ratio ................................... 2-10
Winning or Even Penalty Ratio .......................... 16-1
Losing Penalty Ratio ........................................ 5-13
With a 100-Yard Rusher ................................... 7-0
Without a 100-Yard Rusher................................ 14-14
With a 100-Yard Receiver .................................. 9-4
Without a 100-Yard Receiver ............................. 12-10
When Allowing a 100-Yard Rusher ...................... 2-5
When Not Allowing a 100-Yard Rusher ................ 19-9
When Allowing a 100-Yard Receiver .................... 4-5
When Not Allowing a 100-Yard Receiver .............. 18-8
With a 300-Yard Passer .................................... 3-1
Without a 300-Yard Passer ................................ 18-13
Allowing a 300-Yard (net) Passer ........................ 3-1
Not Allowing a 300-Yard (net) Passer .................. 18-13
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
BY THE NUMBERS
2
The number of interceptions by Vince Wilfork in 2011. Anthony Pleasant (2001) is the only other Patriots defensive lineman to record two interceptions in the same season.
2
The number of punts returned by Julian Edelman for touchdowns during his career, the fourth Patriots' player with two or more punt returns for a touchdown.
3
The number of NFL players with four 100-reception seasons after Wes Welker (122) reached 100 receptions in 2011 to join Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison.
4
The number of times LB Jerod Mayo has reached 100 tackles to start his career. He is the first player in New England history to register 100 tackles in his first four NFL seasons.
7
The number of interceptions by Kyle Arrington to put him in a three-way tie for the NFL lead in 2011.
8
The number of times in NFL history a player reached 1,000 yards in the ninth game of the season after Wes Welker reached the milestone in 2011.
9
The number of AFC East titles by the Patriots since the 2000 season.
10.0
The number of sacks by Andre Carter in 2011 for his fourth career 10-plus sack season.
10.0
The number of sacks by Mark Anderson in 2011 for his second career 10-plus sack season.
17
The number of touchdown catches by TE Rob Gronkowski, the most in NFL history by a tight end in a single season.
18
The number of total touchdowns by TE Rob Gronkowski in 2011 (17 rec. and 1 rush.) the highest number of combined touchdowns by a tight end in NFL history.
122
The number of receptions in 2011 by Wes Welker. With 122 in 2011 and 123 in 2009, Welker joins Cris Carter as the only two NFL players with at least 120-plus receptions twice in their career.
1,327
The number of receiving yards by Gronkowski in 2011 to set an NFL record, surpassing Kellen Winslow in 1980 (1,290).
TOM BRADY BY THE NUMBERS
1
Tom Brady became the first player to follow a 500-yard performance with a 400-yard performance after Brady had backto- back games with 517 yards and 423 yards to start 2011.
2
Brady joins Drew Brees (2011) as the only players to reach 3,000 yards in the first nine games of the season. Brady (3,032) had the most yards ever through the first nine games of the year.
4
The number of times in his career that Brady has thrown a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of the game to turn a deficit into a Patriots win after a final-minute touchdown vs. Dallas (10/16), including the postseason.
4
The number of seasons that Brady has reached 4,000 passing yards. His four 4,000 yard seasons are tied with Warren Moon and Philip Rivers for the fifth most in NFL history.
6
Brady became the sixth NFL quarterback in NFL history to have 30 or more touchdowns passes in at least three seasons after reaching 30 vs. Indianapolis (12/4).
11
Tom Brady was the 11th quarterback in NFL history to throw for 500 or more yards after he passed Brady for 517 in the 2011 opener at Miami.
20
The number of times Tom Brady has earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He earned the award in each of the first two weeks of the 2011 season and in Week 16.
45
The number of regular season 300-yard passing games by Tom Brady, a team record.
96
The number of times that Brady has thrown two or more touchdowns in a game. The Patriots are 81-15 when he throws for two or more touchdowns.
124
The number of wins that Brady has as a starting quarterback to tie Fran Tarkenton for fifth place. Brady reached the 100-win milestone in the fewest number of starts (131) among all quarterbacks in the modern era.
1,327
The number of passing yards Brady had in the first three games (517, 423 and 387) of 2011. Brady's 1,327 yards set the NFL mark for the most passing yards ever in a three-game stretch.
5,235
The number of passing yards by Brady in 2011, the second most in a season in NFL history.
THE KRAFT ERA
3
The number of Super Bowl championships the Patriots have won since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. That mark is the highest total in the NFL over that span. Only Denver (2; 1997 and 1998) and Pittsburgh (2; 2005 and 2008) have won multiple Super Bowl titles since 1994.
5
The number of conference championships the Patriots have won since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. That mark is the highest total in the NFL over that span. Pittsburgh is second with three conference titles since 1994.
11
The number of division championships won by the Patriots since Kraft purchased the team in 1994.
13
The number of playoff seasons earned by the Patriots in the 18 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team.
18
The number of playoff games the Patriots have won since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. That mark is the highest total in the NFL over that span. Pittsburgh ranks second with 17 playoff wins over that span.
27
The number of playoff games the Patriots have appeared in since 1994. The mark is tied with Pittsburgh for the most playoff games during that time period.
THE BELICHICK ERA
4
Bill Belichick is one of just four coaches to win three championships since the Super Bowl era began. Belichick joins three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the exclusive club (Chuck Noll 4, Joe Gibbs 3 and Bill Walsh 3). Belichick is the only coach to win three Super Bowls in the post-1993 salary cap era and the only one to ever win three in four years.
191
Bill Belichick has 191 career victories as a head coach, including playoff games. Belichick moved past Bill Parcells into sole possession of ninth place in all-time coaching victories. Chuck Knox is in 8th place with 193 wins.
PATRIOTS DEDICATE 2011 SEASON TO MYRA KRAFT
The Patriots dedicated the 2011 season to the loving memory of Myra Kraft, who passed away on July 20 after a courageous battle with cancer. Every Patriots player and coach are honoring Myra's memory by wearing a patch with her initials on it in recognition of her lifelong contributions to the local and global philanthropic community and her influence on the charitable mission of the entire Patriots organization. The patch has been worn on the left chest of every player throughout the season.
