KIDWCKED
01-07-2010, 10:23 PM
c\p from espn
STATS LLC
Commissioner Roger Goodell may be exploring ways to get teams to keep their starters in games that have little meaning. He might have a tough time getting the New England Patriots to cooperate.
After losing Wes Welker to injury in an essentially insignificant game, the Patriots find themselves without one of their top offensive threats as they host the Baltimore Ravens in a wild-card matchup Sunday.
Staying healthy for a Super Bowl run was more important to Indianapolis than going undefeated, as it rested many of its starters in the second half of a loss to the New York Jets in Week 16. The Colts were criticized by some for that move, and Goodell suggested this past weekend that the league would consider providing incentives for teams that continue to play their starters.
New England didn't rest its key contributors when it went 16-0 in 2007. The AFC East champion Patriots (10-6) had many of those same players on the field last Sunday even though they were already in the playoffs, and Welker suffered a serious left knee injury on the first possession of a 34-27 loss to Houston.
Welker, the league leader with 123 receptions, will be unavailable for the playoffs after being placed on injured reserve Wednesday. Coach Bill Belichick, notoriously coy in regard to injuries, doesn't want to dwell on the loss of Tom Brady's favorite target.
"We're over and done with that. We're onto Baltimore," he said.
Welker set a team record for receptions despite missing two games and almost all of the regular-season finale. Welker excelled as a slot receiver and now will be replaced in that role by rookie Julian Edelman, who has a similar skill set. In the two games Welker sat out and in the season finale, Edelman had a combined 21 catches for 221 yards.
Still, Welker's absence means Randy Moss will almost certainly see plenty of double coverage from Baltimore (9-7). Moss has 83 catches for 1,264 yards and finished in a three-way tie for the league lead in touchdowns with 13.
Moss, though, has been held to 11 receptions for 125 yards in his last four games against the Ravens, including the Patriots' 27-21 home win Oct. 4.
New England is 5-0 all-time versus Baltimore, but this will be the teams' first playoff meeting. Brady has a pedestrian 81.5 passer rating in three games against the Ravens, throwing for 687 yards and three TDs with one interception, and his 54.0 completion percentage against them is his lowest versus any opponent.
Brady is nursing an assortment of injuries, but certainly nothing as devastating as the season-ending torn knee ligaments he suffered in the 2008 opener. On Wednesday, he was named The Associated Press 2009 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Brady has thrown for 4,398 yards and 28 touchdowns, but has been hampered by injuries to his ribs and a finger on his right hand in recent weeks.
"Everyone breaks bones over the course of the year," he said. "I'm feeling pretty good. It's the best I've felt in a while."
The three-time Super Bowl winner will face a Baltimore secondary likely to use Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed in a limited role.
Reed played in the Ravens' regular-season finale, posting five tackles in a 21-13 win over Oakland last Sunday as Baltimore secured a wild-card berth. It was the first game in five weeks for Reed, who split time with Tom Zbikowski and expects to do so again against the Patriots.
A damaged nerve in his neck has hindered Reed over the past two seasons, but it was hip, ankle and groin injuries that kept him out of four December games.
"It's hard, but if I can be that sixth man coming off the bench, I'll do that," said Reed, comparing himself to a basketball team's top reserve.
Baltimore also got offensive tackle Jared Gaither back after he missed a month due to a foot injury.
"I think they both looked pretty good," coach John Harbaugh said. "Obviously, it's tough to just go out there and play for the first time in four weeks. They haven't had a lot of practice. I think they'll get even better."
With Gaither in the lineup, Baltimore had one of its best rushing games of the season, gaining 240 yards. Even with quarterback Joe Flacco making progress in his second season, the Ravens remain committed to running the ball.
Ray Rice has been outstanding in his second season, rushing for 1,339 yards and seven TDs while leading the team with 78 receptions. He's complemented by Willis McGahee, who had 167 yards and three scores on 16 carries against the Raiders.
McGahee has 12 touchdowns and is averaging 5.0 yards per carry this season.
Rice and McGahee helped lead Baltimore to playoff wins over Miami and Tennessee last season before a loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC title game. The Ravens had to win their final regular-season game to make the postseason as a wild-card team.
Baltimore didn't have an easy time getting into the playoffs this year, either, and won its only Super Bowl after finishing the 2000 season as a wild-card team. The Ravens are now hoping to make a similar run.
"There's something to be said for coasting in, because obviously you've earned the right to do that," Harbaugh said. "There's an advantage to that, and there's an advantage to fighting your way in. If you look at the history of who's won the championship, it's come from both places, right?"
STATS LLC
Commissioner Roger Goodell may be exploring ways to get teams to keep their starters in games that have little meaning. He might have a tough time getting the New England Patriots to cooperate.
After losing Wes Welker to injury in an essentially insignificant game, the Patriots find themselves without one of their top offensive threats as they host the Baltimore Ravens in a wild-card matchup Sunday.
Staying healthy for a Super Bowl run was more important to Indianapolis than going undefeated, as it rested many of its starters in the second half of a loss to the New York Jets in Week 16. The Colts were criticized by some for that move, and Goodell suggested this past weekend that the league would consider providing incentives for teams that continue to play their starters.
New England didn't rest its key contributors when it went 16-0 in 2007. The AFC East champion Patriots (10-6) had many of those same players on the field last Sunday even though they were already in the playoffs, and Welker suffered a serious left knee injury on the first possession of a 34-27 loss to Houston.
Welker, the league leader with 123 receptions, will be unavailable for the playoffs after being placed on injured reserve Wednesday. Coach Bill Belichick, notoriously coy in regard to injuries, doesn't want to dwell on the loss of Tom Brady's favorite target.
"We're over and done with that. We're onto Baltimore," he said.
Welker set a team record for receptions despite missing two games and almost all of the regular-season finale. Welker excelled as a slot receiver and now will be replaced in that role by rookie Julian Edelman, who has a similar skill set. In the two games Welker sat out and in the season finale, Edelman had a combined 21 catches for 221 yards.
Still, Welker's absence means Randy Moss will almost certainly see plenty of double coverage from Baltimore (9-7). Moss has 83 catches for 1,264 yards and finished in a three-way tie for the league lead in touchdowns with 13.
Moss, though, has been held to 11 receptions for 125 yards in his last four games against the Ravens, including the Patriots' 27-21 home win Oct. 4.
New England is 5-0 all-time versus Baltimore, but this will be the teams' first playoff meeting. Brady has a pedestrian 81.5 passer rating in three games against the Ravens, throwing for 687 yards and three TDs with one interception, and his 54.0 completion percentage against them is his lowest versus any opponent.
Brady is nursing an assortment of injuries, but certainly nothing as devastating as the season-ending torn knee ligaments he suffered in the 2008 opener. On Wednesday, he was named The Associated Press 2009 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Brady has thrown for 4,398 yards and 28 touchdowns, but has been hampered by injuries to his ribs and a finger on his right hand in recent weeks.
"Everyone breaks bones over the course of the year," he said. "I'm feeling pretty good. It's the best I've felt in a while."
The three-time Super Bowl winner will face a Baltimore secondary likely to use Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed in a limited role.
Reed played in the Ravens' regular-season finale, posting five tackles in a 21-13 win over Oakland last Sunday as Baltimore secured a wild-card berth. It was the first game in five weeks for Reed, who split time with Tom Zbikowski and expects to do so again against the Patriots.
A damaged nerve in his neck has hindered Reed over the past two seasons, but it was hip, ankle and groin injuries that kept him out of four December games.
"It's hard, but if I can be that sixth man coming off the bench, I'll do that," said Reed, comparing himself to a basketball team's top reserve.
Baltimore also got offensive tackle Jared Gaither back after he missed a month due to a foot injury.
"I think they both looked pretty good," coach John Harbaugh said. "Obviously, it's tough to just go out there and play for the first time in four weeks. They haven't had a lot of practice. I think they'll get even better."
With Gaither in the lineup, Baltimore had one of its best rushing games of the season, gaining 240 yards. Even with quarterback Joe Flacco making progress in his second season, the Ravens remain committed to running the ball.
Ray Rice has been outstanding in his second season, rushing for 1,339 yards and seven TDs while leading the team with 78 receptions. He's complemented by Willis McGahee, who had 167 yards and three scores on 16 carries against the Raiders.
McGahee has 12 touchdowns and is averaging 5.0 yards per carry this season.
Rice and McGahee helped lead Baltimore to playoff wins over Miami and Tennessee last season before a loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC title game. The Ravens had to win their final regular-season game to make the postseason as a wild-card team.
Baltimore didn't have an easy time getting into the playoffs this year, either, and won its only Super Bowl after finishing the 2000 season as a wild-card team. The Ravens are now hoping to make a similar run.
"There's something to be said for coasting in, because obviously you've earned the right to do that," Harbaugh said. "There's an advantage to that, and there's an advantage to fighting your way in. If you look at the history of who's won the championship, it's come from both places, right?"