Coach John Harbaugh banks on Baltimore Ravens experience for win over New England Patriots – NFL News
Baltimore Ravens' coach, John Harbaugh has played down the impression surrounding the Ravens' shaky on-road record, which could make them prone to a loss in their American Football Conference (AFC) championship game against the New England Patriots, this
Sunday, January 22, 2012.
Ravens are heading to Foxborough to play their last game of the playoff round and a possible win could help them claim the championship and get through to the Super Bowl mega event.
It is a road game for Harbaugh’s side and their less impressive record in road games, consisting of four wins and four losses in the regular season, exposes them in front of the Patriots' strong offence line.
Harbaugh has played down such likelihood as their inability to pull off a victory over their hosts, saying that most of the Ravens had been there and had the experience of playing against the Patriots.
They stand benefiting from their experience, he added.
"I think it helps just by the fact that we've done it", Harbaugh said.
"Most of our team has been there before. Those young guys can relate to the older guys, and the older guys can share some wisdom. But it's not going to impact necessarily this game except to the extent that our guys have been there before and it's certainly
not going to be anything new to them. And that's a good thing".
The Baltimore Ravens have finished the 2011 National Football League (NFL) regular season with a perfect home record, winning all nine games played at the M&T Bank Stadium.
It was for the first time that they had won a home game in the playoff, and it was mainly due to their perfect season at home.
Baltimore could have won another home game, the championship game, provided they had a better on-road record and could have finished as the top seed in the American Football Conference (AFC).
Their on-road loss to San Diego Chargers ended their stand as the second seed in the conference and cost them the opportunity of one more home game in the playoff phase.
Some of the Ravens' players have lamented the lost chance, saying they could have stood clearer prospects of winning the championship.
"It was awesome. We love being at home", linebacker, Jarret Johnson, said.
The Ravens are only a game away from the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, and to confirm their berth into the mega event, they will need to improve their poorer on-road record to overpower the New England Patriots at their home ground next weekend.
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