Sunday's AFC championship game in Foxborough pits the 13-4 Ravens against the 14-3 Patriots. As is often the case in the later rounds of the NFL playoffs, it will likely come down to whose quarterback delivers in the clutch. So who has the edge: Baltimore's Joe Flacco or New England's Tom Brady? Here's the tale of the tape:
Brady
Flacco
Verdict
2011 season
5,235 passing yards (second-most all-time), 39 TDs, 12 INT, 105.6 rating
3,610 passing yards, 20 TDs, 12 INTs, nine fumbles, 80.9 rating
Brady. He has Flacco beat in all categories, including wins.
College pedigree
Split time with the immortal Drew Henson at Michigan before finally seizing the job in his senior year. Drafted in the 6th round in 2000.
Was behind the immortal Tyler Palko at Pitt before transferring to Div. I - FCS Delaware. Drafted in the 1st round in 2008.
Brady. Flacco had a lot of success with the Blue Hens, but Brady threw 35 TDs in his final two years at Michigan.
Rings
Four (three Super Bowl rings and one with supermodel wife Gisele)
One (he married his wife, Dana, in June, but has no title ring yet)
Brady. No offense, Dana. It has nothing to do with you.
Commercial endorsements
UGG boots, Stetson, Under Armour
Pizza Hut, 1st Mariner Bank
Flacco. I mean, UGGs, really? What's next, men's pantyhose?
Facial features
His Bieber bangs have been shorn, but he still has the Brady butt chin.
His eyebrows have been tamed, and he now rocks a Fu Manchu.
Flacco. Nothing intimidates like a Village People stache.
Career honors
Seven Pro Bowls, two MVP awards, two-time Super Bowl MVP, etc., etc.
2008 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, 2009 "All Joe" team
Brady. His trophy case is as big as a mid-sized apartment.
Offensive weapons
Super slot guy Wes Welker, two stud tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, the busy Twitter account of wideout Chad Ochocinco.
One of the NFL's top backs in Ray Rice, a speedster in Torrey Smith, and don't forget about Anquan Boldin and Ed Dickson.
Push. When it comes to the passing game, the Pats have the edge. But they can't run the rock like the Ravens can.
Overall ability
He still has all the tools at 34, and it's tough to fool the cerebral Brady.
Joe has that laser, rocket arm, but he is still refining his game.
Brady. Both have all the tools, but Brady is craftier with them.
On-field demeanor
Three words: "the Brady Rules." His Jedi mind tricks get refs to throw flags. And by Jedi mind tricks, I mean whining.
Statuesque during and after plays, he has earned respect by taking hits then silently getting right back up.
Flacco. You don't see anyone Photoshopping skirts onto pictures of Flacco, do you?
Chip on shoulder
Brady, one of the best QBs ever, was drafted with the 199th overall pick.Flacco doesn't feel he get his due credit in Ravens victories.
Push. But only because Brady cried about it on national TV.
Recent history
Brady and the Pats beat the Ravens in the regular season in '09 and '10.Flacco was 4-for-10 for 34 yards in the crazy playoff win in 2009.
Brady. That 33-14 loss was his only in five starts vs. Baltimore.
Brady wins this showdown, 6-3-2, but Flacco can settle the score Sunday if the Ravens take down the Patriots.