PATRIOTS (13-3) vs. RAVENS (11-6)

Saturday, 4:35 p.m., at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro

TV: Channel 7 (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)

Radio: 98.5 FM The Sports Hub (Bob Socci and Scott Zolak)

The series: Patriots lead the overall series, 8-3, but as has been well-documented all week, the Ravens have taken two of the three playoff matchups, all of which have been played here at Gillette.

Last meeting: Patriots 41, Ravens 7, at M&T Bank Stadium, December 22, 2013.

Latest line: Patriots -7; Over/under total: 48

2014 STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Patriots                Ravens

12-3      Record       11-6

1st, AFC East      3rd, AFC North

365.5 (11) Offense 364.9 (24)

107.9 (18) Rushing 926.2 (8)

257.6 (9) Passing 238.7 (13)

344.1 (13) Defense 336.9 (8)

104.3 (9) Rushing 88.3 (4)

239.8 (17) Passing 248.7 (24)

+12 Turnover margin +2

BY THE NUMBERS

PATRIOTS

1 – Career playoff sacks combined from Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower and Chandler Jones. Time to step it up today, fellas.

4 — Field-goal blocks by the Patriots this year. If this one turns out to be a close one, as many believe, a huge special teams play could be the decisive factor. That could play right into the hands of the Pats, who have dominated that part of the game this year.

10 — Since 2008, after his knee surgery, Tom Brady’s playoff interception total in only nine postseason games (4-5). In that span, Joe Flacco has played 14 postseason games, going 10-4, with only eight interceptions.

RAVENS

30 — Baltimore’s league-leading sack differential this season, getting to the opposing QB 49 times this season while allowing Joe Flacco to be sacked only 19 times. Denver is second in the category with a differential of +24.

103 — What a pick up Owen Daniels has been at tight end for the Ravens. Now riding a streak of 103 games with at least one catch, Daniels grabbed 48 catches for 527 yards with four touchdowns.

1,065 — Receiving yards for Steve Smith Sr., who signed an affordable 3-year, $11 million contract this year with the Ravens. He has 79 catches with six TDs. Compare that to Brandon LaFell of the Pats, who signed for three years and $9 million. He has 74 catches for 953 yards.

KEYS FOR THE PATRIOTS

1. The real deal – All season long we’ve heard how this Pats’ defense is different. It’s better. It’s not only Darrelle Revis, there are playmakers all over the field. This is the arena to prove it.

2. Revis over Smith Sr. – Speaking of Revis, he must win the battle with Steve Smith Sr. It’s why he was brought here and why he’s paid so well.

3. Brady over Flacco – Seriously, who ever thought this might be an issue ever in our times. The fact is Flacco has been better in the postseason than Brady has, since both have been in the league (2008). TB12 had better play like that fact bothers him.

Hector Longo’s prediction: Patriots 36, Ravens 14 (Longo’s 2014 record: 10-6 straight up; 7-9 vs. the spread)

Analysis: Roger Daltry once did and still does regularly scream out the question, “Whooooo – are you … Who, who, who, who?!” That is the one inquiry I make to these playoff-imposter Baltimore Ravens. You’ve played the softest of marshmallow soft schedules, facing teams with a combined 91-115-2 record, and you finished 10-6. Meanwhile, you are playing a tested monster, one who saw a slate of teams with a 110-97-1 mark and went 12-4, giving a sure home win away in the last. These teams, like the other three games this weekend, are an absolute mismatch. Harbaugh’s bubble bursts big time. And we all realize that the NFL has evolved into a league with four real football teams (New England, Green Bay, Seattle and San Francisco).

Longo’s Bonus Playoff Picks: Seattle 42, Carolina 3; Green Bay 24, Dallas 7; Denver 38, Indianapolis 21