When the New England Patriots visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night, missed field goals will be on the mind for both teams, but for different reasons.
The last time the two faced off was in the 2011 AFC Championship game, which featured a missed 32-yard field goal by the Ravens' Billy Cundiff that would have tied the game, but instead sent the Patriots to the Super Bowl and cost Cundiff his job.
While the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady enjoy that memory, they are dealing with some of their own kicking misery.
Last week in Arizona, down 20-18 with a chance to take the lead with seconds to go, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed badly on a 42-yard field goal, sealing the win for the Cardinals
"You get opportunities like that not very often and I have to do a lot better job of coming through for the team," Gostkowski said to ESPN.com.
The Patriots lost more than the game on Sunday, with tight end Aaron Hernandez going down with an ankle injury. Hernandez is one of the team's most dynamic receivers and will be out at least three weeks while rehabbing.
To compensate for the injury, the Patriots brought in former Patriot receiver Deion Branch and tight end Kellen Winslow.
Branch spent six of the past 10 years with the Patriots and was Super Bowl MVP in 2005. Last year he caught 51 balls and five touchdowns while starting 15 games. Winslow spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and caught 75 passes for 763 yards with two touchdowns before he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
"I just met Kellen (Tuesday) for the first time, so I'm excited to get out there and practice with him," Brady said. "Aaron has been a huge contributor for us and every time he's in there, he seems to be making plays. We'll see how it goes without him or with him, I don't know."
New England is also dealing with questions at receiver after Wes Welker was on the field much less in weeks 1 and 2 than he was last season.
Since Welker joined the Patriots in 2007 he has caught more passes than any other receiver in the league and holds the all-time Patriots franchise record for receptions. But he missed some time in training camp and the preseason due to a contract dispute, which makes some wonder if coach Bill Belichick is fed up with the receiver and possibly phasing him out of the offense.
"It's a long season and you do things in a certain way preparing for the weeks to come," Ravens safety Ed Reed said. "I wouldn't read too much into it. Wes Welker's still a great receiver and I'm sure New England, Brady and everybody knows that. It's just that people probably want to make news of something that's probably not something big in the organization."
The Raven also enters Sunday's game dealing with a tough loss, not including the memory of last year's playoffs.
Last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Ravens allowed an 80-yard drive by Michael Vick that put the team ahead 23-20. On that drive there was a controversial call on an incomplete pass by Vick that appeared to be a fumble,
After getting the ball back, quarterback Joe Flacco and the Ravens couldn't put anything together. Flacco was only 22 of 42 for 232 yards in the game.
"Anytime you lose it creates an opportunity," coach John Harbaugh said. "... When you lose, man, that sting really forces you to dig deep. All of us. It's human nature.
Baltimore is usually known for its stout defense, but this year the team has had to deal with a serious injury to reigning NFL defensive player of the year Terrell Suggs, and the loss of linebacker Jarret Johnson, who moved on to San Diego in the offseason.
The Ravens are ranked in the bottom half of the league in rush and pass defense, but have improved on offense, ranking 8th and 10th respectively in passing and rushing offense.
The Patriots will try to exploit some of the defensive weaknesses on the Ravens, including their ability to cover tight ends. Last week against Philadelphia, the Ravens gave up 157 yards to tight end Brent Celek.
"We have a lot of new faces in our front seven and we're still trying to get used to each other," defensive lineman Haloti Ngata said. "It definitely is a work in progress."
Tom Brady has played six career games against the Ravens, with the Patriots winning five of them. Baltimore hasn't lost two games in a row since 2009.
Both teams are 1-1 and feel they should be 2-0. Sunday's game will be a physical one as the Ravens try to erase the memory of last years missed field goal and a chance to play in the Super Bowl.
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