The Patriots’ First Shot

Good morning! The First Shot provides you with a healthy helping of links to the top Patriots-related stories around the internet to get your day started. Enjoy your breakfast, your coffee, put off your work (just keep an eye out for the boss, if you’re working today), and get your early morning football fix. The links begin after the jump…

• The Patriots will be hosting the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday in the AFC championship game.
• Ed Reed was injured in the Ravens’ win over the Texans yesterday, and word has it that he has a severely sprained ankle, though X-rays were negative.
• The Patriots’ defense could be coming together at just the right time.
• Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald recently caught up with former Patriot and current Falcon James Sanders.
• Patriots offensive assistant George Godsey is reportedly following Bill O’Brien to Penn State.
• The Denver Broncos admitted that they were overmatched against the Patriots on Saturday.