The loss of New England Patriots CB Aqib Talib (thigh) in the first half of the team’s AFC Championship Game loss to the Baltimore Ravens was crucial. Ravens QB Joe Flacco couldn’t find a comfort zone in the first half with Talib covering his receivers brilliantly. After the injury, New England was forced to use CBs Marquice Cole and Kyle Arrington in the secondary. Arrington excelled in the slot and Cole was brought in mainly to serve as a special teams player. Baltimore attacked often through the air in the second half and exposed the play of Cole and Arrington. Flacco passed for 140 yards a touchdown in the third quarter and added two more TDs in the fourth quarter.
Patriots | Aqib Talib’s injury was devastating