What they're saying about the Ravens

Here's a look at what other media are saying about the Ravens' loss to the New England Patriots in Week 6:

• Early Monday morning on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan show, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady responded to Terrell Suggs' post-game comments. Here is the interview, courtesy of WEEI's Jerry Spar.

Following the game, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs warned that Brady "just better hope he doesn't see us again."

Responded Brady: "He had his chance. Maybe if he gets another chance he can try to back those words up. But he had a chance yesterday. You know, we've played guys a lot, and they've beat us one time in all the times that I've played them. They talk a lot for beating us once in nine years."

• The Boston Herald's Dan Duggan also discusses the Ravens' post-game reaction to the loss.

One Ravens defensive back, apparently frustrated by hearing questions about Tom Brady and the Patriots, left the locker room grumbling about how the Pats played their best possible game coming off a bye week. The player also welcomed another postseason showdown so the Ravens could "smash them again."

• According to The Boston Globe's Matt Pepin, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco points to one drive as the difference in the game.

Flacco's biggest regret was not scoring a touchdown on the drive that led to the Ravens' final points. Instead, Cundiff kicked a field goal that made it 20-10.

"I think if we had scored a touchdown there, it may have made a difference," Flacco said. "But you never know."

• Despite their loss to the Patriots, SI.com's Peter King only drops the Ravens to No. 2 in this week's edition of "The Fine Fifteen" rankings.

2. Baltimore (4-2). The Ravens have played six games, four on the road. Road results: Lost to 2-3 Cincinnati and 4-1 New England, both games either team could have won. Won at the Steelers and Jets by a total of four points. Most teams won't play four tougher road games in a full season, and the Ravens have played them by the middle of October.

• James Walker of ESPN.com analyzes the final outcome, including comments on Flacco.

What I liked: Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco played very well in a big road game, throwing for 285 yards and two touchdowns. His two touchdown passes were to receiver Anquan Boldin and tight end Todd Heap, and Flacco's passer rating was 119.3. Baltimore receiver Derrick Mason also had his best game of the year, catching eight passes for 100 yards.

• NESN.com's Jeff Howe talks about the Patriots' defensive performances against the Ravens.

The Ravens took a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Patriots squashed Baltimore's offense from there on out. After the Patriots cut it to 20-17, they held the Ravens to 81 yards and three first downs on 20 plays over five possessions.

Among the adjustments, the Patriots played closer to the line to jam up Baltimore's receivers, and that greatly threw off quarterback Joe Flacco's timing. Flacco was flushed from the pocket several times, and he showed signs of panicking when the pass rush turned up the heat.

• Clark Judge of CBSSports.com agrees that the Patriots 'D' was the deciding factor.

Tom Brady wasn't the difference in New England's victory. Neither was Deion Branch, though both were factors. Nope, credit the Patriots' rapidly improving defense for keeping the Ravens close enough for Brady and Branch to catch. It shut down Baltimore on its last five possessions, allowing 81 yards and three first downs and forcing the Ravens to punt each time.

• SI.com's Don Banks discusses Brady's comeback victory over the Ravens.

There still may not be any truly elite teams in the NFL this season, but I'm starting to think the most resourceful and resilient club I've seen so far is Bill Belichick's 4-1 Patriots. They're far from the flash and glitz of the record-breaking 2007 Patriots of 18-1 fame, but as I recall, that formula didn't wind up putting another ring on the hand of Tom Brady and Co.

Playing without Randy Moss for the first time on Sunday at home against Baltimore, the Patriots more resembled the gritty and determined New England teams of 2001-2004. They spread the ball around to a collection of no-names or role players, played just enough inspired defense and made almost all of the game's key plays en route to pulling out another close win.

• Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch made several big catches in the fourth quarter and overtime, but NESN.com's Michael Hurley writes about a mistake by Branch that almost cost his team against the Ravens.

On third-and-3 from the Baltimore 6-yard line, Tom Brady dropped back and looked for Branch, but his pass sailed over the receiver's head. Stephen Gostkowski kicked a field goal to tie the game, and the Patriots eventually won in overtime. Branch, however, wanted to come clean, saying he "messed up" on that third down.

"I'm a very honest man -- I messed up on one of the plays that you all couldn't tell," Branch told the media after the game. "I'll be honest and let you know, had I ran the right route, we probably wouldn't have went to overtime."

• SI.com's Andrew Perloff adds his input about Branch's role in the Patriots' offense.

Deion Branch may not have the big-play capability of Randy Moss, but he has as much chemistry with Tom Brady as any receiver. Branch entered the game with 13 catches as a Seahawk. He had seven catches for 75 yards and touchdown in the fourth quarter and overtime alone to help lift the Pats. Brady threw for 292 yards, even though he had the Ravens' Haloti Ngata in his backfield as much as any of his running backs. Too early to say this win proves the Pats will be fine without Moss, but they've also gained something with Branch. Their offense looked more like the unit that helped them win three Super Bowls, even if it didn't set offensive records.

[Compiled by Dean Jones Jr.]

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