"But we're not playing their franchise. We're not playing their history or their legacy. We're playing the New England Patriots team of this year. And they're [really] good, still."
That's why this is exactly the kind of game the Ravens want at this point in their season.
This is how you measure your football team, not by winning on cruise control against the Kansas City Chiefs and crushing the hapless Cleveland Browns, but by beating a good San Diego Chargers team at their place and seeing how you do on the road against the Patriots.
For the Ravens, the key to the game might come down to this: How much pressure can they put on Brady?
If he is able to stand in the pocket and wait for his receivers to get open, it will be a long day for the Ravens' secondary.
"I think the better the quarterback, the more pressure you have to put on him," Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said.
So, look for the Ravens to revert to Rex Ryan mode and throw a lot of different blitz packages at the Patriots.
They'll have linebackers blitzing, corners blitzing, safeties blitzing. They might even have your grandmother blitzing on certain plays.
This is what you do when you face a quick-strike offense that has Brady throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker (if he's healthy) and handing off to veteran running back Fred Taylor.
Sure, it's not the same Patriots team we're used to seeing.
Tedy Bruschi, the heady linebacker, and safety Rodney Harrison have retired.
Veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel and defensive end Richard Seymour were traded.
But this is still a dangerous team, a team that beat the formidable Atlanta Falcons, 26-10, last Sunday and considers a shot at the Vince Lombardi Trophy its birthright.
The scowling guy in the hoodie is still calling plays for the Patriots.
The quarterback with the three Super Bowl rings can still pick defenses apart.
It won't be just another game for the Ravens, that's for sure.
Listen to Kevin Cowherd from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays with Jerry Coleman on Fox 1370 AM Sports.
