Forget about the Baltimore/Pittsburgh or Ravens/Steelers rivalry. I think its time we put that tired old thing to rest. After all, we've shown that we have come into our own in the division. We are competitive with the Steelers now if you average it all out. I have no fear of these guys at all anymore as I know we can match up with them anytime, we'll win some, we'll lose some, but we always have a pretty good shot at making a run in the post season.

There are so many reasons to get excited about this "rivalry" between the Ravens and the Patriots. Think about it. It occurs during the most important of times. It occurs mainly in the post season when everything is on the line. I don't think that I 'd have it any other way!

We are knocking on the door once again, with the opportunity, for a second straight year, to go to the the game of games tomorrow, and we must get past one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and a great team to get there, and yet I feel completely confident in our team. We are truly fortunate to have this opportunity for a second straight year and it is not a coincidence that we are playing at a high level when it counts. The reason we are here is that we deserve to be and the Patriots know this to be true. In the recent week, I've heard us mentioned as an "honorary member of their division". I think the message there is that we effect them, and they effect us in a very important way throughout the season. Who else do they have in their division right now? They have Miami, New York, and Buffalo. They have a pretty easy path to the post season for now, but yet when it gets important, when everything is on the line, who do they have to play? The Ravens.

Maybe the best part of this "rivalry" is the sincere respect. I'm not saying that there is no smack talk and there are no haters in the fan bases, but I am saying that these two teams have a respect toward one another that is tangible and real. I truly believe that after all of these years, that when BB or Tom Brady make the talking points when asked about the latest upcoming challenge between New England and Baltimore, that their praises as well as their concerns, are spoken from the heart, and that goes for the Ravens organization when the reverse is true.

So come on Ravens Nation, be glad for this opportunity, and know that our team is heading into Foxborough tomorrow with complete confidence, that we will fight and play to our full potential to give us the best chance to win for sixty minutes. That only sixty minutes stand between us and the opportunity to play for the biggest prize in football. That no matter what happens, we may or may not be a team of destiny, but we are a great team, and that no one can take away the most important respect that we could ever hope to attain, and that is our self respect. That is firmly in place and its all that we could ever need.

Be thankful to the Patriots for being a great team no matter what happens.

If we make it tomorrow, would there have been any better way to get there?