By Steve Ginsburg

The three-time Super Bowl champion Patriots, who cruised through the 2011 National Football League (NFL) regular season with a 13-3 record, advanced to the January 22 AFC Championship with a crushing win over Denver in the divisional playoffs.

"They're like (Major League Baseball's) New York Yankees," Ravens center Matt Birk said on Sunday after his team dumped the Houston Texans 20-13. "Great team. Been great for a long, long time and we're going up there to play them.

"But the road to the ultimate goal for any team is very hard, very difficult and you have to meet all of the challenges."

The Ravens, who entered the AFC playoffs as the No. 2 seed after winning their division with a 12-4 record, took advantage of four Houston turnovers on Sunday to move within one win of a Super Bowl berth.

Since the Ravens last appeared in the NFL's championship game with a victory in 2001, the Patriots have been to four and won three.

"They are one of the teams, just like us, that's tough to beat at home," said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who completed 14 of 27 passes for 176 yards and two scores against the Texans.

"They play very well up there but we know how tough it is to go into a place like that and win a football game. So we're going to have to make sure we prepare well all week and bring our A-game up there."

Ravens dynamic running back Ray Rice, who gained just 60 yards in 21 carries against the Texans, refused to take a backseat to the Patriots despite the presence of future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady.

"If they don't play their best game they'll get beat," he said. "If we don't play our best game, we'll get beat. And that's not taking anything away from them.

"There's a reason why New England and Baltimore are playing each other. It's not David and Goliath. We are right up there with them."

Thirteen-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis was a member of the Ravens when they whipped the New York Giants 34-7 in the Super Bowl following the 2000 season. Nearing the end of his career, he would love to add another ring to his collection.

"It's going to be a great challenge for both of us," the 36-year-old Lewis said of next Sunday's game. "We've played the Patriots several times and the games always come down to being classic.

"Brady is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and there is no better mind in football than (Patriots head coach) Bill Belichick. So with all of that being said, here is our opportunity."

(Reporting By Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Frank Pingue)