Conditioning serves Ravens well in win over Miami

The Ravens were able to run for a season-high 133 yards against the Dolphins in a 26-23 win.

However, the yardage total came on 40 carries, good for just 3.3 yards per rush. But hey, that's better than the 2.6 yards per carry number the Ravens have previously been getting.

But here's where it does look positive. Similarly to the Cleveland game, the Ravens were able to run better late in the third quarter and the fourth quarter. At the 2:38 mark in the third quarter, the Ravens had 75 rushing yards and were averaging three yards per carry.

Then Bernard Pierce ripped a 28-yard gain. In the fourth quarter, Ray Rice had three six-yard gains. From Pierce's run and through the end of the game, the Ravens' rush per carry average rose to 4.5 yards.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Monday that it was a byproduct of the Ravens' offensive line being able to wear down the Dolphins' front seven down the stretch.

"Our conditioning really showed up in that game," Harbaugh said. "It really showed up in that heat down there. It was a tough, hard-fought game. But by the second half - particularly in the fourth quarter - our conditioning seemed like it took over. The effort and heart were tremendous."