Ravens' Birk on M&M: Flacco handles critics

Ravens center Matt Birk, a former Harvard standout, joined the Mut & Merloni show Wednesday to talk about Sunday's AFC championship game.

Birk, in his third season in Baltimore after 11 years with the Vikings, said he doesn't put much stock into the fact that the Ravens beat the Patriots in their last playoff meeting, in Foxboro two years ago.

"We don't take a whole lot from that game specifically," he said. "I've been up to New England two other times since I've been with the Ravens and the Patriots have beaten us. No matter who we're playing, we feel like we can go on the road. We've won big games on the road, and we can do it. It always come down to execution. Execution, and then your playmakers making plays. And this Sunday's going to be no different."

Joe Flacco is often criticized for being a weak link on the Ravens, but Birk said he's not concerned about his quarterback's psychological state.

"Joe can handle anything. He's one of the toughest people mentally that I've ever played with," Birk said. "All this stuff, it doesn't bother Joe. Joe understands that his job is to help the team win the football game. Certainly, we have a formula that ideally we'd like to follow to win football games, but if things don't go according to plan and we need to deviate from that, Joe's capable of doing that.

"I think you're right, I don't think Joe does get the credit he deserves. But it probably bothers me or other guys on this team more than it does Joe. He just goes out there and does his job on Sundays and comes to work every day during the week and prepares. He's a tough nut to crack."

Following are more highlights from the conversation.

On what it's like to go up against a Bill Belichick defense: "You never know what you're going to get. Watching film this year, it's kind of the same thing. Some games they're playing a 3-4 structure, other games a 4-3. They always seem to have wrinkles designed especially for you and your offense to stop certain things. I know that coach Belichick has a great reputation and that's what he's known for. It's definitely true. It's definitely well-earned. In the three times we've played them, I know they've played mainly in each game three types of base defenses."

On going up against Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork: "As usual, I'll have my hands full. It doesn't get any easier. Going up against Haloti [Ngata] is good practice. And Vince is a great player in his own right."

On running back Ray Rice: "Everybody knows that Ray is a huge part of our offense. He runs the ball, he catches the ball out of the backfield, he does all those things. Ray's a great player and has had a great season. [He] probably made us look a little better than we really are up front at times, so I appreciate him."

On safety Ed Reed's ankle injury: "Well, I went to Harvard, but I'm not a doctor. I don't know. Everybody knows Ed Reed, whether you live in Baltimore or you live in New England. Ed Reed's a great player, and Ed Reed's a gamer."

To hear the interview, go to the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page. For more Patriots news, visit the team page at weei.com/patriots.