NFL Divisional Round Opening Game Notes

The first game of the divisional round this weekend pits the Baltimore Ravens against the New England Patriots.

It is scheduled to begin at 4:40 pm Eastern time and will be telecast on NBC.

The Pats are hosting a divisional round game for an incredible ninth time in the 14 seasons that make up the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era in New England.

This will be the Pats’ 17th divisional round game but just the second time they will play in the divisional round’s first game. It is the first time in the team’s 11 home divisional round games that they are playing in the round’s opening game.

After the Minnesota Vikings home victory in the 2000 divisional round opening game, the home team’s record ballooned to an amazing (27-4) in the opening game of the divisional round (1970-2000).

With a far more modest (8-5) record starting in 2001, the home team stands (35-9) in the game.

This should be a relatively high scoring battle between the teams. Baltimore has covered the spread in all three previous post season clashes vs the Patriots, all three like this one, in New England, winning two outright.