Ray Rice rushed for 159 yards and two scores as the Ravens beat the patriots, 33-14.

While the Ravens have a legitimate quarterback for the first time in years, they’re still a running team as evidenced by the 234 total rushing yards they piled up en route to a 33-14 spanking of the Patriots today.

The Ravens will next play at Indianapolis at 8:15 next Saturday.

Ray Rice took the first snap of the game and blitzed 83 yards to the end zone, and the rout was on. The Ravens added two more rushing touchdowns — one by Rice and another by Le’Ron McClain. A Billy Cundiff 27-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter gave the Ravens a 24-0 lead after the first 15 minutes.

Tom Brady never got into a groove and tossed two first quarter interceptions. Brady finished 23-of-42 for 154 yards, two touchdowns and three picks. By comparison, Flacco finished just 4-of-10 for 34 yards and a pick.

Rice and McGahee, however, were the story for the Ravens. Rice finished with 159 yards and two scores on 22 carries, while McGahee added 62 yards and a TD on 20 carries.

The Ravens will need the 1-2 punch of Rice and McGahee to come up big next week against a Colts defense that finished 24th in the NFL in rushing defense. The Colts have allowed 126 yards a game. Meanwhile, the Ravens defense is 8th in the league in passing defense, and they’ll need to come up big against Payton Manning and the Colts prolific passing game.

The Packers will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.

As the Favre Turns will end the season with Green Bay fans ignoring and forgetting about The King of Interceptions. Aaron Rodgers will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Miami next February.

Here’s how the Packers will bring the trophy back to the Cheeseheads and shut up the indecisive jerk named Favre forever.

NFC                                                                                   AFC

1. Giants           (11-5)                                                                  1. Chargers          (13-3)

2. Cardinals    (11-5)                                                                   2. Steelers           (12-4)

3. Packers        (11-5)                                                                   3. Patriots           (12-4)

4. Panthers     (10-6)                                                                    4. Texans            (11-5)

5. Bears            (10-6)                                                                    5. Ravens            (11-5)

6. Eagles          (10-6)                                                                     6. Colts                (11-5)

WILD CARD WEEKEND

NFC

Packers beat Eagles

Bears beat Panthers

AFC

Patriots beat Colts

Ravens beat Texans

DIVISIONAL ROUND

NFC

Giants beat Bears

Packers beat Cardinals

AFC

Chargers beat Ravens

Patriots beat Steelers

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Packers beat Giants

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Patriots beat Chargers

SUPER BOWL XLIV

Packers beat Patriots

The addition of Greg Lewis makes the Patriots the favorites of the AFC East again.

New England Patriots (12-4). The addition of Greg Lewis makes this team an instant Super Bowl favorite. OK, seriously, Tom Brady returns, and Fred Taylor joins him, which will help make the offense one that causes defensive coordinators to sweat at night. The Patriots just missed the playoffs last year despite Matt Cassel playing well in Brady’s place. With Brady back and chucking the ball downfield to Randy Moss, Wes Welker and G-Lew, the Patriots will rise to the top of the AFC East once again. Also, Bill Belichik’s defense will again be among the league’s best as the Patriots fight for another Super Bowl championship.

Miami Dolphins (10-6). The Dolphins rose from the outhouse to the penthouse last season behind Tony Sporano and the Wildcat offense. Ronnie Brown ran wild with Ricky Williams. Chad Pennington stabilized the quarterback position. The defense was solid and adds Jason Taylor back to the unit this year. The Dolphins will be efficient this year, but finish a game short of a return to the playoffs. Adding a legitimate down field quarterback is the difference between a solid Bill Parcells-led team, and a Super Bowl challenger.

New York Jets (8-8). Rex Ryan takes over the Jets and hopes to bring the Baltimore Ravens blueprint for success to the Big Apple. The difference is, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are not the running backs the Ravens have and they will not be able to control the clock. Also, the receiving crops depth was depleted with the loss of Laveranues Coles.  The defense will improve with the addition of Bart Scott and Ryan’s version of his father’s 46 defense. However, Lito Sheppard has yet to show the shutdown ability at corner that made him an All-Pro in Philly. Finally, rookie Mark Sanchez will be the team’s starting quarterback. Without a ball-controlled offense, Sanchez will not be this year’s Joe Flacco. The team takes a step back record-wise this year, but builds for a bright future.

Buffalo Bills (8-8). Marshawn Lynch is suspended the first three games of the year, and while Fred Jackson is a nice back-up, the running game will suffer. The team added The Player some guy named Owens, which will help Trent Edwards and the passing game. The defense is still suspect, however, and an 8-8 season in this division is a best-case scenario. Dick Jauron better get his resume updated.