Ravens like their chances at home

Associated Press

BALTIMORE

The Baltimore Ravens were perfect at home during the regular season and a .500 team on the road, which explains why they were so desperate to host at least one playoff game this month.

There are many theories as to why the Ravens are so much better at home. Familiarity with their surroundings? Check. The noise generated by their 71,000 supportive fans? Absolutely. The Sportexe synthetic turf at M&T Bank Stadium?

Say what?

According to Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak, whose team faces Baltimore in the second round of the AFC playoffs, the Ravens will have the advantage of playing before a boisterous home crowd and on a field that’s seemingly custom-made for Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice.

“First off, the noise obviously is tough. But they get even better on that turf,” Kubiak said. “To me, they get even quicker coming off the edges and setting the edges and what they do, so that makes them even more difficult. I think Ray, as great a player as he is, he even gets a step better on that turf running the ball.”

Giants-Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis.

Going into the NFC divisional playoff game against the New York Giants, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are best known for all the fireworks they’ve produced on offense.

That’s a good thing for the Super Bowl champions, because they’ve been remarkably vulnerable on defense.

All season, the Packers have been giving up yards in big chunks and bailing themselves out by forcing turnovers. And while the Giants might hope to slow the game down by establishing the run and keeping Rodgers on the sideline, the last meeting between the two teams was a 38-35 victory by the Packers on a last-second field goal Dec. 4.

With Eli Manning and the offense on a roll, the Giants like their chances this time around.

“I think if we get into a shootout like we did last time, I think we will be OK,” wide receiver Victor Cruz said.