Super Bowl LIII: Rams should take note of Ravens past clashes with Patriots

The Los Angeles Rams are about to take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. Sean McVay and the Rams should take note of the Ravens past clashes with the Patriots.

The Baltimore Ravens are not strangers to battling the Super Bowl LIII New England Patriots. The Ravens have played the Patriots four times in the playoffs in the John Harbaugh era. The Ravens are 2-2 in these bouts. If it weren’t for Lee Evans and Billy Cundiff, Baltimore would have a 3-1 postseason record against the five time Super Bowl champion Patriots.

The only other team to give the Patriots so much trouble in the playoffs, on such a consistent basis are the New York Giants. The Giants beat the Patriots twice in the Super Bowl. While the Philadelphia Eagles bested Brady and Co. last year, that was just one postseason meeting. The Ravens and the Giants have done it in different ways but from their efforts, there is a blueprint the Rams can still follow.

The first thing the Rams have to throw out the window is the Patriots mystique. The Ravens went into Gillette Stadium without any intimidation or fear. The Ravens would go up against Brady and Belichick, who have for some time been the most impressive duo in the league, and the Ravens would demand respect of the Patriots. You have to be the aggressor against the Patriots if you have a shot of winning.

What’s the key to beating the Patriots? You know what it is. It’s getting pressure on Brady and knocking them off their timing. It’s punching them hard, sending a statement and not backing down. In 2009, Ray Rice went the distance right away on his first carry.

The Ravens ended up winning that playoff game 33-14. The defense got three sacks, and three picks and Brady never stood a chance. The Patriots pride themselves in preparing for their opponent. It’s the Belichick signature. When the Patriots don’t know what to do, they become mortal.

What did the Ravens have that gave New England so much trouble? This is the playoffs we’re talking about, the teams in question have a ton of talent. What the Ravens had was resolve. Joe Flacco was not somebody the Patriots could rattle. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were just as prepared as Brady and they surely were not intimidated by his legacy.

Even in the 2014 playoff loss to New England, the purple and black pushed the Patriots to their limits. The Ravens secondary couldn’t withstand the onslaught from Brady and they surrendered two 14 point leads. The lesson the Rams can learn from this is that the Patriots will go to their bag of tricks every time they feel legitimately threatened by their opponents. Ravens fans will forever have Julian Edelman’s pass stitched into the dark corners of their brains.

There are very few people in the Baltimore area that want to see the Patriots win their sixth Super Bowl. Therefore, the Rams better take note of what the Ravens have done against the Patriots in the past. It might just be the key to beating the Patriots.