Super Bowl XLII is slated for Feb. 3 in Glendale, Ariz., but for the faltering Baltimore Ravens, losers of five straight, the Super Bowl is tonight at M&T Bank Stadium, where they have a chance to end the Patriots' pursuit of an undefeated season in front of a national television audience.
"The sad part is [tonight] is probably our Super Bowl, and it's the 12th game of the season," said Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle, whose team is tied for last place in the AFC North at 4-7 and sees its playoff hopes flickering like a faulty light bulb.
The closer the Patriots get to perfection the more incentive there is for their remaining opponents to become the first team to knock them off. The Philadelphia Eagles gave the Patriots a glimpse of what they can expect in their final five games, pushing them to the limit last Sunday night before New England pulled out a 31-28 victory.
The Patriots' undefeated record is more than a sublime symbol of excellence, it's a big, fat bull's-eye. As long as New England is without a loss, every game it plays will be treated like the opponent's biggest of the season.
Nobody said 16-0 was going to be easy.
"I don't know what other teams think when they play us, but you know that you're always going to get teams' best," said linebacker Adalius Thomas, who faces his former team for the first time tonight since leaving Baltimore to sign a five-year, $35.04 million contract with the Patriots.
With a win tonight, the Patriots will become just the sixth team in NFL history to begin a season 12-0. The others to accomplish the feat are the 1934 Bears, the 1972 Dolphins, the 1985 Bears, the 1998 Broncos, and the 2005 Colts.
The '72 Dolphins accomplished an undefeated season, going 14-0 and then winning two playoff games and the Super Bowl. The '34 Bears had a 13-0 regular season but lost in the playoffs. The '85 Bears lost their 13th game. The '98 Broncos and '05 Colts both got to 13-0 before their first defeat.
Former Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel was the coach of the Giants in 1998, when they ended Denver's run at perfection. He lauded the job Patriots coach Bill Belichick has done keeping his players focused when everybody is gunning for them.
"They got a bull's-eye on them because of the Super Bowls they've won and now they're undefeated," said Fassel. "I was in New York when we ended Denver's win streak. We beat them, and ending that was big for us. Our guys were jacked up to play that game. [The Patriots] have no opportunity to let down. It's a difficult task to keep your team that focused every week and go out there and be at the top of your game when you know, 'These guys are after us.' "
Belichick said being hunted is nothing new for New England. He disputed the idea opponents are playing harder against the Patriots now that they're five wins from league history - the first 16-0 regular-season record.
"That's the way it's been all year," said Belichick. "That's the way it's been every year. I mean, did you think the Jets were pointing for us? Did you think San Diego was pointing for us? Buffalo? Right down the line. Those were big games for us, they're big games for them. Everybody's putting out their best preparation and best game."
So now it's the Ravens turn to take their shot at the mighty Patriots. Their slingshot is ready. We'll see about their aim tonight.
If you ask Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, Rolle and the Ravens are already off the mark.
"Well, we understand that each and every week teams are going to bring their 'A' game, and if that's what he's looking forward to then so be it," said Harrison. "To us it's just another game, a great opportunity for us to go out and get our 12th victory and see what happens . . . but it's definitely nowhere near the Super Bowl."
Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.
