Ravens vs Dolphins Playoff Analysis
by Matchz Malone on Jan 2, 2009 8:45 PM EST
22 comments
NOTE: I found this at Bmore Birds Nest it was posted by NestMinder-----------------------------------------------
Wild Card Playoff Preview: Ravens @ Dolphins
First off, I gotta say that it’s a pleasure to be putting together our first playoff preview here at the Nest, in our 2nd year of existence. What seemed like a near impossibility at the beginning of the season has unexpectedly came to pass - the Ravens are in the post-season, and look poised to make some noise. Even more surprising though, is the Ravens’ first-round opponent, the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins, just 1-15 (and we all remember the 1, right?) a season ago, put together a turnaround that makes even that that the Ravens engineered pale in comparison. That these two teams are now meeting in the first round of the playoffs is a testament to the fact that NFL really does stand for “Not For Long.” They should both be commended for making it to their 17th games of 2008, but only one of them will earn the right to play an 18th.
The Ravens and Dolphins are both white-hot entering the postseason. Baltimore has won 2 in a row, 9 of 11, and 4 of 5 on the road. Miami, meanwhile, has strung together 5 straight to close the season, and won 9 of their final 10 games after losing to the Ravens in Week 7. Impressive, no doubt. However, let’s take a closer look at that 9/10 streak.
- Week 10: Miami 21 Seattle 19.
- Week 11: Miami 17 Oakland 15
- Week 12: New England 48 Miami 28
- Week 13: Miami 16 St. Louis 12
- Week 14: Miami 14 San Francisco 9
- Week 16: Miami 38 Kansas City 31
Now, a win is a win in the NFL. But did they really beat the Seahawks (4-12), Raiders (5-11), Rams (2-14), and Chiefs (2-14) by a grand total of 15 points? I’m sorry, but they deserve to get called out on that. Also, in an important division game against the Patriots, they got their tail fins handed to them. Bill Belichick, a huge cheater defensive-minded coach, was not surprised by the “Wildcat” the 2nd go round, and stuffed it cold. We have a pretty sound defensive staff here in B’More, and the Ravens had absolutely no trouble stopping the Wildcat back in October. As Ray Lewis says, “they still have to line up and play football.”
Chad Pennington, who won his 2nd “NFL Comeback Player of the Year” in 3 years (um…hey dork. how about you stop “going away?”), manages the game for Miami. He threw 19 TDs to go with only 7 INTs, for a 97.4 rating - good for 2nd in the league. The Dolphins as a team were very stingy, tying an NFL 16-game record in turning the ball over just 13 times. The turnover battle will be a match-up of strengths in this one, as the Ravens led the league with 37 takeaways. AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December Ed Reedwas tops in the NFL with 9 interceptions.
Ronnie Brown paces the Dolphins on the ground. Brown ran for 916 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008, but Ricky Williams provides a good 2nd option, as he went for another 659 yards. Miami’s leading receiver, Ted Ginn Jr., caught 56 balls for 790 yards and 2 TDs.
The Ravens’ Joe Flacco has been very impressive on the road in his rookie season. If the Ravens want to see this postseason run go anywhere, he will have to continue to do so, and do so with the pressure turned up another level. Flacco was sacked twice by our old friend Joey Porter in Week 7, but turned in a strong 232-yard, 1 TD performance. Willis McGahee loves going home to play in South Beach, and he racked up 105 yards and 1 TD against the fish in the 1st meeting, and also nearly scored on a long screen pass before fumbling. Since that first meeting, though, the Ravens’ other backs have stepped up. Le’Ron “Pain Train”McClain wound up leading the team with 902 yards and 10 TDs, and rookie Ray Rice’s 4.2 ypc was tops among the three. Rice, who missed the last 3 games, is expected to return to action Sunday.
The Dolphins are most vulnerable through the air, though, allowing nearly 230 ypg. Derrick Mason has been Flacco’s favorite target all year, as evidenced by his 80 catches and 1037 yards. Joe Cool has been getting more and more comfortable with Mark Clayton recently though, and Clayton will need to show up consistently for the Ravens to keep playing. He had only 1 catch for 13 yards in the first meeting. The Dolphins had 41 sacks on the season to the Ravens’ 34, so Flacco will need to safely take sacks when the situation calls for it (his tendency to still fumble on every sack really worries us).
All year the Ravens have had no problem beating up on lesser teams. Miami, despite their equal record, ARE a lesser team. The Dolphins have shown that they have trouble even with the teams they are supposed to beat. To their credit, they win those games…but this is the Playoffs, and this “little engine that could” crap comes to a screeching halt, courtesy of the purple-and-black. [Note by Matchz: this line made me laugh SOOOOO HARD]
Ravens 31 Dolphins 13
The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!
0 recs |
22 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Im gonna check this site out. That previous post you had about the matchups was good and I cant be anymore excited for this Sunday. Go Ravens CAW! CAW! CAW!
by purpleonblack86 on Jan 2, 2009 11:36 PM EST reply actions
Nice Write Up
I agree with a few things you say such as us barely beating the teams that we should have simply just beat and dominate. The Patriots game was back and forth in till the end and after that we simply just kept playing hard. Now I read something over on ESPN that Baltimore’s coach will keep your team focused and ready to beat us but Tony will have us ready and we learned from that gut punch in week 7 and will come out and be just as physical with your team as they are with us. And by the way that little engine that could go
just so happens to have grown quite a bit as time passed so watch out when Flacco gets rattled by crowd noise and pressure because the running game won’t get started. Not trying to bash your teams 3 headed monster but Miami has done on thing all year that they needed to- that is win the games that they needed and to me it looks like they play with their competition rather than wipe them. My prediction is Miami stuffs your run, Chad hits Ginn deep while Bess tears under your overly aggressive team we met. The Dolphins know what to do and that is don’t turn it over which we wont, don’t let your team run on us which they won’t, and make Flacco get rattled when Porter comes out this game with three sacks. This little engine is swallowing your defense and heading to Pittsburgh next week.
Through the bad and the good Dolphans always support their team and know that the good is coming and that winning will come back to this loved franchise.
The self-delusion of the Dolphins fans is very impressive. You don’t “simply” beat and dominate lesser teams; the Ravens just make it look easy. Now, are you talking about the NE game that the Dolphins won towards the beginning of the season, or the one Miami lost 48-28 towards then end of the season after their frequently proclaimed mid-season improvement (you know, how the Dolphins aren’t the same team that played us in Week 7)? And I’m surprised you even bring up physicality. I mean, the Ravens are the very definition of smash mouth football, while the Dolphins throw lots of safe little passes, use a gadget high school formation as a crutch, and your star defensive player ran out of steam a month before the regular season was over. There’s no comparison.
You could replace “Dolphins” with “Ravens” in nearly every statement you’ve made. The Ravens have grown up quite a bit since Week 7. Pennington will be rattled by crowd noise (yes, the Ravens will have a presence there) as the Dolphins run game again stutters against us. I don’t want to bash your Wildcat offense too hard, but the Ravens have done one thing well all year, and that is to win the games we need to win. Baltimore will stuff your run (again), Flacco hits Clayton deep, and Mason embarrasses your defense just like he’s done to so many of our lesser opponents over the season. See how easy it was to put all that denial into perspective?
Good luck, because the Dolphins will most definitely need it.
Let's see if the rookie can hang!
You guys definately have had a great season. You really have a team that I admire in many ways. But today you have a question in the back of your mind. How is the rookie gonna handle being on the road in a playoff game?
The Dolphins have a man on a mission. He’s been there, he’s cool under pressure (and he knows you are gonna bring some).
Rookies don’t have such a good record on the road in the playoffs. We’ve watched a whole season of film on his tendancies now, too. Our defence will go get the ball now, too. Careful, don’t buy into what the talking heads on your local media are saying. This is the wrong town to walk into assuming you’re walkin out with a win.
Let’s play 4 qtrs and see how the rook does. My money is on the Dolphins and Chad. The mistake free vet at home wins it 21 – 13.
You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four.
-Dan Birdwell
If you’ve watched Flacco for the entire season, then you know the guy has ice water flowing in his veins. He just doesn’t get rattled. If I’m going into the playoffs with a rookie quarterback, then there’s no doubt in my mind that I want it to be Joe Flacco. This guy came into the season without any significant reps at all with the starters because he was supposed to be our third string QB. He threw seven of his 12 interceptions during the first five games of the season. Considering that he was playing some tiny Delaware school just months prior to September, a five game grace period seems more than fair for him to get his feet under him. Since then, he’s thrown a veteran-like five interceptions over 10 games. Over that same period of time, Chad threw six interceptions, including one to Baltimore.
Not only that, but he’s extremely athletic. He’s run in (I think) two TD’s and caught a pass out of a Doublewing formation for more than 40 yards. It scares the shit out of me, but this guy just isn’t afraid to drop his shoulder and go in headfirst on a run to pick up that first down when the receivers aren’t giving him anything. As goofy as he looks running full stride, it’s something for which the Dolphins will have to be prepared.
I guess my point is that you can’t overlook or underestimate Flacco. He just keeps getting better and better, as is the offense as a whole. Personally, I have confidence in our rookie QB to lead several touchdown drives against a defense he’s already torched once in his short pro career.
Flacco
Is in my opinion a very good Rookie QB. But the point is this is the playoffs and without the running game I want to see him under pressure against our much improved secondary. He may be ice cold and everything but after Porter turns on that energy he has been saving we will see what happens to rookies. And in my opinion I look at Matt Ryan as a better rookie QB than Flacco but that is solely my opinon and Flacco will have a hard day because Miami Is ready and prepared.
Through the bad and the good Dolphans always support their team and know that the good is coming and that winning will come back to this loved franchise.
by dolphanforever on Jan 4, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
Porter’s been saving energy? That must be why he’s been spotted around Miami using his mother’s walker to get around. It’s more of that Dolphins fan delusion. Porter has hit a wall in his old age, and his production has suffered. I hope your defense isn’t relying solely upon him today.
Acually
No because we are blitzing more with our corners and getting pressure other ways but Porter makes plays when they are “needed”. Old? Yeah he may be but I can bet he has a lot of juice left for these playoffs.
Through the bad and the good Dolphans always support their team and know that the good is coming and that winning will come back to this loved franchise.
by dolphanforever on Jan 4, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t see it. There’s no way he was “saving energy” for the playoffs. The Dolphins just barely made it into the post-season. It came down to a final showdown with the Jets. It’s ridiculous to even insinuate that anybody on the team was holding back during that final stretch. And if that’s what I saw from Porter in December, that’s what I expect to see from him in January.
I also don’t imagine you’ll see many blitzes coming from the corners in this game. The Dolphins will probably be crossing their fingers that single coverage on Mason and Clayton will be enough as they throw everyone else and the kitchen sink against our run game. If a corner comes off one of our receivers to blitz, Flacco will light them up.
Let’s hope the “other ways” will be enough to rattle the unflappable Flacco.
I do
Because Miami runs a simple defense as you and everyone else knows. While not the best, timing is what our defense is good at and we will see what happens.
Through the bad and the good Dolphans always support their team and know that the good is coming and that winning will come back to this loved franchise.
by dolphanforever on Jan 4, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
Ok
No I am not talking about when we beat them but when they beat us. Yes your team is physical and I do give them that respect. I am not self-delusional at all because Joey Porter may have lost steam but I looks to see him fired up now. We run the Wild Cat but not as often as the media makes it look and as far as safe passes go that is just fine because it eats the clock and when we take shots we do it at the right time so yes I believe we will outsmart your overly aggressive team. No we did not dominate those games but yes we won when needed. Ravens had a tougher schedule of course and have played good football and I do have respect for their defense. But your offense relies completely on the running game and Flacco can try deep passes but Miami’s Secondary doesn’t let big passes happen so I don’t see a Clayton down the field. About stuffing our run yes we will run and I am positive we will get stuffed but I can also say that when it comes down to the big run plays I am ready to watch your over aggressive defense bite on a trick play and watch ronnie run in for a TD. I am not in denial as I have seen all Dolphins games all year and know how hard of an opponent your team is. But with Dan Henning already playing your team once this year he will have a game plan ready to take on your defense.
Through the bad and the good Dolphans always support their team and know that the good is coming and that winning will come back to this loved franchise.
by dolphanforever on Jan 4, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you, but the Ravens just don’t get burned on trick running plays. The most effective running against us all season was from the Giants. They had three break away runs on us, and all three worked because of great blocking and missed tackles, not because of some gadget play. And that’s how the Dolphins are going to have to do it to get any success on the ground. Our defense is going to plug the middle and dare you to run to the outside because that’s exactly where we want you to go.
We love the outside
Ricky is great for that because he has at least 5 gears still so hey whatever challenge is there we are ready. Both teams will be prepared and this will be a close game.
Through the bad and the good Dolphans always support their team and know that the good is coming and that winning will come back to this loved franchise.
by dolphanforever on Jan 4, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Our entire core of linebackers is known for its lateral speed. You might pull off four or five yards every now and then, but if you can’t get it done in the middle, you might as well just go to a shotgun, three-wide set for 60 minutes. Actually, attacking us through the air is the only way I see the Dolphins having a chance, as the few defensive backs we have left are all black and blue. Jacksonville might tell you differently, though.
Anyone notice how the road rook vs the home vet turned out yesterday?
You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four.
-Dan Birdwell
LMAO
Yeah thats why if Miami stops the run Baltimore is back to relying on their defense which is going to be fun to watch as we run our HIGH SCHOOL OFFENSE lol.
Through the bad and the good Dolphans always support their team and know that the good is coming and that winning will come back to this loved franchise.
by dolphanforever on Jan 4, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
Matt Ryan, although good for a rookie, has been sheltered by the number two running offense all season. The Falcons got behind, Turner wasn’t producing, and Matt Ryan folded under the pressure of a shootout with Kurt Warner. There are some similarities between the two situations, but there are also some crucial differences.
It’s true that Flacco was sheltered by our run offense early in the season. But since then, he’s turned into a legitimate playmaker. I’ve seen him throw perfect passes into tight windows for crucial third down conversions. Like I said above, he’ll run the ball for the first down all too frequently. Not only that, but we have the best possession receiver in the NFL in Mason who just can’t be stopped. The Ravens have no doubt that when everything’s on the line, Flacco will keep his signature cool and get it done. Since I’ve never actually seen him play a post-season game in the NFL, this is all very much conjecture at this point. But based on what I’ve seen so far, I stand by what I said above and have every confidence that Joe Flacco is the rookie QB I want leading my team in the playoffs.
Now for the major differences. Atlanta’s running game is a one-trick pony named Turner. The Cardinals were shutting him down and the Falcons didn’t have an answer. Baltimore has three excellent backs with three distinct running styles. If Ferguson is having success against McClain’s up-the-middle power running, then we’ll hand it off to McGahee or Rice, either of which can burn the Dolphins on the outside. Also, Pennington is no Kurt Warner. Pennington has made a name for himself this year with his short, safe passing game. If he gets into a shootout or the Dolphins fall behind late in the game, he doesn’t have what it takes to carry the team to a victory. We saw it in Week 7. Although he got most of his 359 yards late in the game, it just wasn’t enough to overcome the NFL’s number two defense.
UMMMm
Sorry to tell you but we are acually good against the run on the outside and now we have ferguson back at nose tackle and our team will be fired just like yours. Once flacco runs which I know he will he will get yards but he will be hit hard and it will shake him up.
Through the bad and the good Dolphans always support their team and know that the good is coming and that winning will come back to this loved franchise.
by dolphanforever on Jan 4, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
It’s happened before, but the kid is a tank. He gets up, doesn’t treat each little first down like a miracle from Heaven (like a certain other QB playing today), and stoically resigns himself to doing it again if that’s what it’s going to take. You can’t count on shaking up Flacco physically or mentally because the odds just aren’t in your favor.
Like
Sort of like Pennington was!!! By the way what time does Miami play next week? Oh yeah I love beer…..
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
