Just one year prior, on the same field at Gillette Stadium, the Ravens suffered their most crushing defeat in team history. Driving late in the 2011 AFC Championship game with a chance to take the lead, Lee Evans was stripped of a probable game winning touchdown catch to send the Ravens to Super Bowl 46. Two plays later, Billy Cundiff assured the world that the Patriots instead, would represent the AFC in the big game.
But the 2012 season would be different. This time the Ravens, 7 ½ point underdogs, would finish strong.