Patriots

Patriots 23, Ravens 20 Fourth quarter: 11:29 New England Touchdown - 1-yard run by Tom Brady. (Stephen Gostkowski extra point is good). Ravens 20, Patriots 16 Third quarter: 0:50 Baltimore Field Goal - 39-yarder by Billy Cundiff. Ravens 17, Patriots 16 Third quarter: 3:38 Baltimore Touchdown - Joe Flacco pass to Torrey Smith for 29 yards. (Billy Cundiff extra point is good). Patriots 16, Ravens 10 Third quarter: 9:06 New England Field Goal - 24-yarder by Stephen Gostkowski.

When the Patriots received the opening kickoff Saturday against the Broncos, it might have caught some fans off-guard, since it marked just the second time in 17 games New England opened on offense. Going no-huddle on the first series seemed to catch the Broncos off-guard, and showed how efficiently the Patriots can play an up-tempo game. A team that had dug early holes the last three games of the regular season - deficits of 16-7 at Denver, 17-0 to Miami, and 21-0 to Buffalo - and talked for two weeks about getting off to a faster start needed just five plays and 1 minute, 51 seconds to set the tone with a touchdown.

If you're reading this, you've fully recovered from our last Ravens drinking game. Congrats! No small feat. Up for another challenge? Here's our recommended way to play along as you watch the Ravens get it done in Foxborough. Let the games begin. Drink •••• Every time there's a touchback •••• Whenever Rob Gronkowski is tackled •••• Whenever Joe Flacco and Tom Brady are directly compared to one another •••• Whenever BenJarvus Green-Ellis is referred to as “The Law Firm” •••• Every Ray Rice commercial for Carbiz Do a shot •••• If Chad Ochocinco scores a touchdown •••• If Terrell Suggs sacks Tom Brady •••• If there's speculation on a Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh Super Bowl Chug your drink •••• Whenever the 83-yard Ray Rice TD against the Pats in '09 is replayed •••• Every Billy Cundiff field goal •••• If the commentators attempt a Boston accent •••• If a Ravens fan says they've already bought tickets to the Super Bowl Buy a round of shots •••• If the Ravens are up at halftime •••• If the game goes to overtime •••• If it's suggested Ray Lewis should join the cast of “Dancing With the Stars” Finish your drink •••• Whenever the camera shows Gisele cheering •••• For every Ravens touchdown •••• Whenever a commentator says “Ball...

Unlike previous years, there is no longer a mystique about playing New England in Foxborough, Mass., but the biggest concern is that Patriots coach Bill Belichick has had two weeks to prepare for the Ravens. Belichick is the best head coach in the NFL, possibly the best in league history. Besides the technical skill, he is a shrewd, calculating individual who can always find a way to beat the opposition. Can't you see him locking himself in his laboratory like a mad scientist searching for a way to knock off the Ravens (4-1)

In a game that will long be remembered as one of the greatest in Anne Arundel County history, sixth-ranked Old Mill outlasted top-ranked Arundel in overtime after Marquel Pratt intercepted Billy Cosh on the second possession of overtime to set up the game-winning field goal. After an Arundel timeout, Brad Cummings made a 29-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 58-55 victory in the Class 4A East regional final. Josh Furman had 414 yards on 42 carries with six touchdowns for Old Mill.

Kevin Cowherd Ravens 21, Patriots 17 The Pats are banged up, and the Ravens' running game is peaking. Am I being delusional? Don't answer that. Jamison Hensley Patriots 20, Ravens 17 This just isn't the Ravens' year. They continually fail to finish off the top teams. Edward Lee Patriots 28, Ravens 20 The loss of Wes Welker hurts, but Tom Brady still has a few weapons against the Ravens' secondary. Ken Murray Patriots 23, Ravens 20 A what-might-have-been season concludes with more fourth-quarter heartbreak.

If the Ravens' offensive line keeps progressing, this unit could be very good by the end of the season. Overall, with the exception of center Matt Birk, the group is still young. But once you throw rookie offensive right tackle Kelechi Osemele and third-year left guard Ramon Harewood into the mix, the line has made steady progress. In the Ravens' AFC championship game loss to New England last season, the Patriots dominated the Ravens' offensive line. But Sunday night, the Ravens overpowered New England while running the football.

After watching Arundel turn most of the first three quarters into a track meet, Old Mill coach Greg Smith had seen enough. Smith directed No. 11 Old Mill to use a pressing, trapping defense in the fourth quarter. The move worked perfectly as the visiting Patriots suffocated No. 10 Arundel's offense, forcing 12 turnovers in the period, many of which led to easy baskets and helped the Patriots to an 81-68 victory Thursday night. The victory opened the door for No. 7 Annapolis to take the county title and represent Anne Arundel County in next week's District V title matchup with Howard County.

For much of Thursday's game against No. 7 John Carroll, fourth-ranked Notre Dame Prep's Covie Stanwick had a defender in her face, on a shoulder or at her heals. The junior, however, simply adjusted her game by buying time behind the goal or cutting across the crease to catch a deft pass. Stanwick finished with seven goals and three assists, and after trailing early, the Blazers held John Carroll scoreless for more than 30 minutes for a 12-10 overtime victory in the key Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland matchup.