So I was pleasantly pleased that my prediction went awry on Sunday. The Falcons kept it close for about a half before Brady and the Pats pulled away. We’re finally getting back into that Belichick groove of keeping it close for a while and then changing everything around in the second half.

So the Patriots are sitting pretty, second place in the AFC East at 2-1 behind the annoyingly undefeated Jets. And now they face their biggest test of the season, thus far: The Bodymore, Murderland Ravens.

As tough a battle as this is gonna be, we’re catching them at the right time; just now coming into our own.

So, how do we match up? Take a gander, will you?

Quarterback – Joe Flacco has twice as many touchdowns through three games. The Unibrowed One has avoided the sophomore slump thus far. Let’s hope that ends early Sunday. Edge? Ravens.

Backfield – Willis McGahee has come back from the dead and Ray Rice has been steamin’ down the field. (Thank God I got that Rice-A-Roni Rice Jokebook on Amazon this week.) The Patriots run-by-committee approach has yielded next-to-nothing. The Ancient Fred Taylor is the only guy actually accumulating any yards at this point. Edge? Ravens.

Receivers – Randy Moss is again one of the top five receivers in the league, but he has yet to get in the end zone. If Welker doesn’t see the field again this weekend, we could be in for a long afternoon. (Or a long morning on my side of the states.) On the other side, Mason, Clayton, Washington and Heap have been making Wacko Flacco look incredible. Edge? Ravens.

O-Line – Baltimore has the best offensive line in football. Period. You could make an argument for the Giants and Jets, but the additions of Matt Birk and Michael Oher have given the Ravens their greatest Super Bowl hopes since 2000. Patriots line? Still old. Edge? Ravens.

D-Line – Without Vince Wilfork, that Baltimore O-Line will look even better than it already does. Ex-BC Eagle Ron Brace should be preparing for his first career NFL start. Make the Jesuits proud, Ronny. The Ravens have Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata across the board. Yikes. Edge? Ravens.

Article Author: Ethan Booker

Ethan Booker was born & raised in Holden, ME. A graduate of James Madison University, he now resides in Los Angeles, CA. He is patiently awaiting casting for the live-action adaptation of Battletoads. He will be reading for the part of 'Rash.'

Visit Ethan Booker's author page — Ethan Booker's Blog