In last season’s playoff loss to the Jets, New York went nickel and dime for a sizable portion of the game in hopes of slowing down the Patriots’ passing game, but New England didn’t seize the opportunity, choosing instead to go to a pass-heavy attack (they ran the ball 28 times and threw it 45 times). On Sunday against the Ravens, New England was faced with the same dilemma, but provided a far more balanced offensive attack. Early in the game, they were frequently able to take advantage of the fact that Baltimore had extra defensive backs on the field to pound the ball. With rookie running back Stevan Ridley deactivated, BenJarvus Green-Ellis had his best game in two months, going off for 68 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown, the leading rusher for either team. (Green-Ellis didn’t necessarily have crazy numbers, but the Patriots got excellent value out of him – he carried the ball for 15 of his 23 snaps, and was targeted as a receiver on another snap).