Patriots O-Line Could Decide Fate Against Ravens

The Patriots’ offensive line is shown above. From left to right, Sebastian Vollmer, Ryan Wendell, Bryan Stork, Dan Connolly, and Nate Solder are featured. (Jim Davis/Boston Globe)

The New England Patriots’ offensive line—ranked 23^rd in the league by Pro Football Focus—could be the deciding factor in their divisional round playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

            One of the NFL’s best defensive fronts, the Ravens totaled 49 sacks (second-best in the NFL) in the regular season. Outside linebackers Elvis Dumervil (17 sacks, third-most in the NFL) and Terrell Suggs (12) combined for 29 of the team’s sacks.

            How will the Patriots handle Baltimore’s pass-rushing duo?

            "Blocking them," Patriots left tackle Nate Solder told USA TODAY Sports. "In terms of mechanics and techniques, you try not to let that clutter your mind too much. That's the muscle memory you instill during practice and the offseason. When you get into the course of a game, you're reacting. It's just a matter of reacting. Hopefully you've worked hard enough on your mechanics that everything just kind of flows naturally."

            The Ravens have led the NFL in sack percentage since Week 6 (including the postseason), sacking opposing quarterbacks on nine percent of dropbacks, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Since Week 6, which spans 12 games including Saturday’s wild-card round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens have averaged 4.1 sacks per contest.

            The Patriots’ offensive line made major strides over the course of the season. After getting manhandled in the first four games in which the team allowed a whopping 10 sacks, the Patriots surrendered just 16 sacks in the final 12 games of the season.

            Rookie center Bryan Stork was a key cog in the offensive line’s in-season improvement, which allowed 14 fewer sacks than last year’s club. Stork has been aided by left guard Dan Connolly and right guard Ryan Wendell, both of whom have suited up at center for the Patriots in the past.

            ''We've got to let him just run the show. He's the center. He's got to do those sorts of things,'' Connolly said. ''But it always helps to have guys next to you that know what's going on.''

            Sebastian Vollmer, the former second-team All-Pro (2010) right tackle, is the final piece of the offensive line’s starting rotation that must do a better job keeping QB Tom Brady upright in the pocket.

            Although the Patriots were tied for the fourth-fewest sacks allowed this season (26), they did allow the NFL's second-most hits to its quarterback with 52, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, the Patriots allowed 108 QB hurries, ranking just 20^th in pass-blocking efficiency.

            If Brady is given sufficient time to maneuver in the pocket, the three-time Super Bowl winning QB should be able to exploit the Ravens’ weak secondary. Baltimore ranked 23^rd in the NFL in pass defense this season.