FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady’s last postseason memory is one that he has waited nearly two years to erase. It’s the one of the Giants lifting the Vince Lombardi trophy in Glendale, Ariz., after winning Super Bowl XLII and ending the Patriots hopes for an unbeaten season.
After suffering a season-ending left knee injury in last year’s season’s opener, Brady is back in the playoffs again hoping to add a fourth Super Bowl championship to his resume. The future Hall of Famer’s quest begins today when the Patriots (10-6) face the Ravens (9-7) at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
“There’re only 12 teams playing this week and a lot of teams’ seasons are ended and guys are home,” Brady said. “We still have the good fortune to still be playing, so I think you have to try to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Brady was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year early this week, an award that will hold its own special place alongside his two Super Bowl MVP awards. After missing nearly all of last year, he passed for 4,398 yards in 2009, the second-highest total of his career.
“Obviously, he overcame some pretty big odds and it’s a good thing for us to have him back out there,” offensive tackle Matt Light said. “But I don’t think anybody had any doubt on what he was going to do and his ability.”
Though Brady’s knee is fine, he reportedly is nursing injuries to his right shoulder and ribs with some reports suggesting he is playing with cracked ribs. The Patriots aren’t divulging any further information. What’s certain is that wide receiver Wes Welker is out for the entire postseason, having wrecked his knee in the regular season finale. It leaves Brady without one of his major weapons. Julian Edelman, Welker’s backup, figures to play a more prominent role in the offense working alongside the explosive Randy Moss.
“It’s about using the guys who are out there and the things they do well,” Brady said. “Wes had a long list of things that he did well and you could do a lot of things with Wes. Julian can do a lot of those things, too, but it’s kind of a different list of things. You’ve just got to incorporate him into the plan and get him into the game.”
Brady is 8-0 at home in the postseason, a streak the Ravens would like to end. Baltimore’s second-year quarterback Joe Flacco has slumped during the second-half of the season, but will be supported by a running game featuring Ray Rice and Willis McGhee. They will look to wear down a Patriots run defense that has allowed 110.5 yards per game, but welcomes the return of defensive linemen Vince Wilfork and Ty War ren, who have missed most of the last three games.
The Ravens backbone is their defense anchored by linebacker Ray Lewis, who is hoping for one more shot at his own Super Bowl glory after losing to the Steelers in the AFC Championship last year.
“We’re back in it again for another opportunity,” Lewis said. “Bottom line is if you can get that opportunity, grab the moment and for get about the what ifs and just go have fun and play foot ball, that’s what we’re focusing on and wher ever we end up, that’s where we end up.”
The Patriots beat the Ravens 27-21 in Week 4 in a game where Lewis complained about the officials who called two questionable roughing-the-passer penalties. The Ravens will need a heavy pass rush to keep Brady from hurting a banged-up Baltimore secondary.
“If they’re going to throw a flag, they are going to throw a flag,” Lewis said of the officials.
Brady said he expects only the best out of the Ravens.
“It’s just important not to give them the ball and obviously, hopefully, we get a few turnovers and we’re able to take advantage of those,” Brady said. “It’s a tough team and they challenge you in a lot of ways.”