Krause: This probably isn’t the matchup the Patriots wanted

FOXBOROUGH – Somehow, when Ray Lewis announced he was retiring last month, you had a feeling the Baltimore Ravens would be the team standing in the way between the Patriots and their sixth appearance in the Super Bowl in the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era.The Ravens are probably not the team the Patriots would have chosen to play. But, as Belichick says, he’s happy to be playing them ? if the alternative is to be watching the Houston Texans hosting them next Sunday.Historically, the Ravens have given the Patriots fits. They are one of only two teams to come into Foxborough and beat them in the playoffs since Belichick began coaching (the New York Jets being the other) and whenever the teams play, it’s a war.The Ravens, you may recall, almost knocked the Patriots out of an undefeated regular season in 2007. They came within a dropped pass and a missed field goal of beating New England last year in the AFC championship game.And the Patriots coughed up a fourth-quarter lead in Week 3, giving up a late-game field goal to lose to the Ravens and fall to 1-2 at the time.But like it or not, it’ll be the Ravens – and Lewis – coming to Foxborough next week, thanks to their double-overtime victory over the Denver Broncos and their uber-conservative coach, John Fox. And it seemed Sunday as if the Patriots knew exactly what they were in for next week with Baltimore.Safety Ed Reed is one of Belichick’s favorite players ? so long as he’s not playing the Patriots.”I don’t look forward (to playing against Reed) at all,” Belichick said. “I’m glad we’re (in the game). Let’s put it that way.”Ed is a great football player,” he said. “The Ravens obviously have an outstanding team ? defense, special teams, offense ? they’re good all the way around. Very well coached. We thought they were as tough as anyone we played this year. We had a great game with them down there ? and now it comes back to a rematch of last year’s AFC championship game. We know it’ll be tough.”Nobody on the Patriots is under any illusions that it’ll be a cakewalk next week.”They’re a complete team,” said defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. “That’s why they’re here every year. Offense ? defense ? there isn’t a soft spot on the team. Everyone’s just going to have to come in and play at their best.””I think the two best teams are in the finals,” said quarterback Tom Brady, rather diplomatically, when asked whether he was disappointed he wouldn’t be going up against Denver’s Peyton Manning.”Baltimore certainly deserves to be here, and so do we, so it’s very fitting,” Brady said. “We played them early in the year, they got us. We blew a pretty big lead there at the end. We’re going to have to play our best game this week.”If there’s anything the Patriots can hang their hats on, it’s that both the Texans and Ravens are pretty much built the same way. Baltimore running back Ray Rice may be more physical, but Arian Foster of Houston is probably the fastest back the Pats have faced this season. Matt Schaub is a lot like Baltimore’s Joe Flacco (though Flacco gets props for that 70-yard pass to tie Saturday’s game with Denver). Both need the support of a strong running game to be truly effective.Also, both have an abundance of game-changers on defense. The Ravens, of course, have Lewis and Reed. The Texans have J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed.Sunday, the Patriots held Foster to 90 yards (though the Texans had to pass the ball almost exclusively once they got behind 31-13).So in a way, Sunday’s game could be seen as a dress rehearsal for what the Patriots will face next week. And in another way, they’re fortunate the injuries that befell Rob Gronkowski and Danny Woodhead occurred early in the game. Now, at least, they know that Shane Vereen is up to the task of being the all-purpose type of back that Belichick loves. And they also know that Michael Hoomanawanui can pick up some of Gronkowski’s slack when it comes to blocking.Because the Patriots will need all the bullets they can muster if they’re to w