New England Patriots Links 10/01/09 - Brady: 'This Is Going to Be The Toughest Game We've Played'

Shalise Manza Young notes Baltimore QB Joe Flacco wants the Ravens offense to be as dominating as it's defense.

"Any time you're on the offensive side of the ball you want to put up points and kind of hold up your end of the bargain and prove your worth to the team," Flacco said. "And I think that's what we're doing. We want to prove that we belong on this team and we can help our team win. You know, that's our goal – to go out there and put points on the board each week and to win football games.

"I think as long as we're playing together offensively and defensively, it's tough to beat us."

Tom Brady discusses Baltimore S Ed Reed and LB Ray Lewis.

Yeah, you don’t break the huddle and think, "Let’s just run this play without seeing where [Reed is] at." He’ll be exactly where he’s supposed to be. It might not be what the defense was called to be, but he’ll be where the ball is. And that’s what makes him such a great player, it’s the things where it’s not really his responsibility, but he makes the play on the ball. Then, when you think he’s really undisciplined back there, you try to take advantage of it, and then he’s there right where he should be, playing his responsibility. We always say there are guys that guess, but he’s a guesser that always gets it right. To me, it’s not guessing, it’s more knowing.

You don’t really fake him out too often. I’m sure he watches a lot of film, but he studies receivers, and splits, and route combinations. He studies the quarterbacks, and their drops, and how we’re looking, and he watches their own rush. When their rush is getting to the quarterback, he’s sitting on routes and jumping on them. He does everything back there, so he’s really something to watch.

[Ray Lewis is] great in his own way. He’s just at a different level, he’s in that second level of the defense where the linebackers play and control the running game. He’s very disruptive in what he does there. He’s just been a great player for 13 years — that and change. You watch him this year, he still plays with a lot of enthusiasm. He really rallies those guys, too. There are no plays off for us in this game.

TEAM TALK

• New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens: Broadcast info, series history, quick hits and connections.
• Patriots-Ravens Wednesday Injury Report and practice participation.
• Erik Scalavino Pats' practice squad TE Robbie Agnone reminisces about his days with Joe Flacco;  Maroney dishes about his stylish new game apparel; plus, news and notes from the Patriots locker room and Wednesday's practice.
• Wednesday Conference Calls: Bill Belichick and Adalius Thomas plus Transcripts.
• Patriots sign LB Prescott Burgess to practice squad; release DL Adrian Grady to make room.
• Patriots Today: Wednesday update; Matt Light's shoot-out, and more.  (9.43 min. video)
  

LOCAL LINKS

• Chris Gasper discounts the article by CBS Sports Mike Freeman, who called Moss an "unbelievable dog".  Randy Moss leads the NFL with 26 receptions through three games, which is also the best three-game reception start of Moss's career.
• Christopher Price reports the Patriots are tied with the New York Giants for the fewest sacks allowed (1 on 142 pass attempts).
• Karen Guregian focuses on QB Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense.
• Ian Rapoport feels Sunday will be a thinking-man's matchup, between smart players Tom Brady and Ed Reed.
• Michael Hurley knows Ed Reed presents a major challenge for Tom Brady and the Patriots' Offense.
• Chris Gasper reports Tom Brady admitted that the Patriots have to do a better job of concluding drives in the end zone. He said the biggest challenge has been execution.
• Monique Walker says the Patriots offense is a work in progress that will have to improve against a Baltimore defense not likely to give them time to figure it all out.
• Michael Whitmer notes Baltimore’s Ravens are synonymous with tough, physical defense, plain and simple.  They know who they are and challenge opponents to score on them.
• Ian Rapoport reports the tough assignment put on LB Eric Alexander this week, to study and be able to mimic Ravens' pro bowl LB Ray Lewis, to help the starters prepare for the game.
• Michael Whitmer notes Fred Taylor's tips on how to be a durable running back in one of the sport's most punishing positions.
• Monique Walker Patriots Notebook: Pats look weaker without Welker; Injury update - Wilfork did not practice, Wilhite had limited practice; Needham native Steve Hauschka, Ravens' 2nd year kicker has been doing well for Baltimore; ex-Pat Kelley Washington returns to Foxborough as a Ravens' slot receiver, and pretty good at it too.
• Kirk Minihane answers reader questions in his weekly mailbag.  First, Minihane shows the absurity of CBS columnist Mike Freeman's plus ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio's wild and ludicruous theories about Randy Moss.  Fine use of sarcasm too.
• Mark Farinella notes OT Nick Kaczur did not practice yesterday (ankle), and may pave the way for Sebastian Vollmer to make his first start.
  

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Reiss (ESPNBoston) Patriots cut down on penalties with only 2 against Falcons; Ten quick-hit thoughts on the Ravens; Patriots hand out game balls from Sunday's win; Brady talks about red zone problems, Ed Reed; plus Sights and sounds from Wednesday at Gillette - Terdell Sands as 'Andre the Giant'.
• Jim Corbett (USA Today) Confidence in 4th-down gambit elevates Belichick as NFL rarity.
• Matt Sohn (Pro Football Weekly) Add Brandon McGowan to the list of disposed veterans who have flourished under Bill Belichick's tutelage in Foxboro.
• Dave Goldberg (NFL Fanhouse) Dirty Dozen: Rating the organizations.  New England at number 1, of course.
• Mike Florio (ProFootball Talk) Raiders waive player acquired in Moss trade.  Oakland officially got nothing out of the deal.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Harrison retorts: T.O. will 'never be a champion.'
• Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) Tavern talk: What’s Peyton worth now?
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Stats put Jets' kitchen-sink D in perspective.
• Ross Tucker (SI) Rookie coaches chasing momentum.

VIEW FROM BALTIMORE

• Ken Murray (Baltimore Sun) Against Patriots in 2007, a meltdown for the ages.
• Mike Preston (Baltimore Sun) Brady, Patriots struggling inside red zone.  Ravens S Ed Reed said New England QB Tom Brady might not regain top form until next season.
• Edward Lee (Baltimore Sun) Ex-Raven Adalius Thomas stands out for Patriots.
• Jamison Hensley (Baltimore Sun) Belichick backed Harbaugh for Ravens coaching job.
• Edward Lee (Baltimore Sun) Ravens Insider: Patriots will be toughest game yet.  (1.30 min. video)
• BaltimoreRavens.com Wednesday Press Conference Transcripts: John Harbaugh, LB Brendon Ayanbadejo, LB Ray Lewis, WR Derrick Mason, RB Willis McGahee, S Ed Reed, RB Ray Rice, and LB Terrell Suggs.
• Mike Duffy (BaltimoreRavens.com) Harbaugh seeks Patriots dynasty.
• Mike Duffy (BaltimoreRavens.com) No. 52 limited in practice: LB Ray Lewis would neither confirm nor deny the notion that he sustained a concussion last Sunday against the Browns.
• BaltimoreRavens.com Questioning the Enemy: Five Questions each with head coach Bill Belichick and LB Adalius Thomas.