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Prior to last year's playoff victory over the Patriots, the Ravens had been 0-5 against New England in team history, including 0-3 in Foxboro.
A record like that isn't abnormal around the NFL. The Pats are so strong at home that many teams have poor road marks when they travel to New England.
Since 2000, the Patriots actually own the NFL's best home record at 63-19. Up until that January postseason loss to Baltimore, quarterback Tom Brady had won 23 straight games at home (regular season and postseason combined) and the Pats hadn't lost a home playoff game since 1978.
I could rattle off even more numbers to show how dominant the Patriots have been in New England, but I think you get the idea - the Ravens' 2009 playoff win at Gillette Stadium was something that doesn't happen very often.
One might think that the Ravens earning that win in a tough road environment would benefit them this week as they return to Foxboro, but head coach John Harbaugh said that he doesn't necessarily think that's the case.
"I think every game stands on its own two feet," Harbaugh said. "We play teams over and over again, and you try to learn from the experiences that you've had in the past, and try to apply them, you know, to become better from one week to the next. So, hopefully because of those experiences that we've had, we continue to grow as a team.
"I think that's how it helps you. Other than that, it's a totally different type situation."
Two weeks ago, the Ravens overcame another tough road environment, earning their first win in Pittsburgh in the Harbaugh and Joe Flacco era.
Flacco admitted after the game that it was big to finally pick up a win at Heinz Field after starting 0-3 there, but going into this Sunday's game against the Pats, the Ravens' quarterback says he won't pull anything from January's win in New England.
"I think it's definitely big to go in there and get a win in the playoffs," Flacco said. "[But] I think I heard Ray [Lewis say], 'Each year is new, and they're a different team.' We've got to just approach them as another team and go in there and just play our offense. We can't look at them as the 'New England Patriots.' I think if you do that then you can get yourself a little like, 'Oh, what are we going to do?'
"They're another team, and they're our opponent this week. They're going to come ready to play, and we have to do the same."
