AFC Championship: By the Numbers
Here's CBSSports.com's numerical guide to Sunday's AFC Championship between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium:
AFC Championship: By the Numbers
63.2 -- Since 1994, the Patriots and Ravens are the top two teams in the NFL in playoff winning percentage. New England leads all teams with a 66.7 winning percentage (20-10), while the Ravens are second after compiling a 12-7 record (63.2 winning percentage). With a win on Sunday, the Patriots will capture their seventh conference championship during that span. The Steelers are next closest with four.
4 -- Tom Brady needs four touchdowns passes to tie Joe Montana for most playoff touchdowns in a career by a quarterback in NFL history (45). If Brady throws for 227 yards against Baltimore he will pass Brett Favre (5,855) for the most playoff passing yards all-time. Brady currently trails Favre, Montana (5,772) and Peyton Manning (5,679).
103.6 -- In five career games against the Patriots, Ray Rice is averaging 103.6 rushing yards per game. Rice is also averaging 5.07 yards per carry, in large part due to an 83-yard touchdown run against New England in the 2009 AFC Playoffs. Rice's statistics vs. New England are drastically higher than his career totals. In all other games, he's averaging 70.76 yards per game and 4.47 yards per carry.
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12 -- Ravens TE Dennis Pitta and Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez have 12 TDs combined this season. Pitta's season total of seven ties him with Todd Heap for the most by a Ravens' tight end in franchise history. The Ravens ended the regular season ranked ninth in the league in defending tight ends, according to footballoutsiders.com, while the Patriots finished 29th in the category.
16 -- Baltimore set a franchise-record in 2012 for fewest giveaways in a season (16). Joe Flacco, though, must focus on protecting the ball on Sunday. The Patriots have forced eight strip-sacks, including three each by Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones.
3 -- The Patriots ranked third in the NFL in yards allowed per kickoff (21.3). The unit will be tested by Ravens WR Jacoby Jones. In 2012, Jones led the league in yards per kickoff with a 30.7 average. Jones is also tied with Titans RB Darius Reynaud for returns for touchdowns with three.
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