Fun facts:
Ravens vs. Broncos
2nd best Peyton Manning QB rating in career.
Manning has beaten Ravens 9 straight games
Cold weather forcing Manning to wear glove (2-0 SU with 6 TD and 1 INT wearing glove this season)
Flacco has 4 road playoff wins in career MORE than Montana, Bradshaw, Young, Aikman, Favre, Brady, and Peyton Manning (those legends are a combined 13-29 on the road in the playoffs, while Flacco has won half the time)
Last 8 games, Denver’s opponents had a win percentage of 34%. (According to Bill Barnwell, no playoff team had an easier 2nd half schedule going back to 1990)
Denver’s last 53 home games, they have covered only 18.
Baltimore: 2nd BEST offense at home in NFL, measured by yards per play. On the road: 3rd WORST offense in NFL.
Ravens played 4 playoff teams outside of their division this regular season: gave up over 34 ppg
Ravens at altitude: Short week (Sunday till Saturday) One less day to recover. One less day to prepare. Team knows it matters: Ravens changing travel schedule. (change of routine, another less day to prepare) Have not played in Denver since 2006. Older teams have more trouble.
Broncos only remaining playoff team with a negative turnover margin
Denver: 28th in fumble recovery percentage (unlucky) Win turnover battle covers 77.3% of time (4700 games) Win by more than one TO: 85% Win by more than two TO: 90% (1255 winners and 136 losers)
Denver led 31-3 after 3 quarters in first game vs. Ravens this year
What has changed since first match-up: McKinnie in at LT, Oher moved to RT
2003 was the last time the team with the best record in the NFL (or tied for the best record) won the Super Bowl. Denver. Falcons.