The Ravens in Miami
Is eight years enough to change a culture? Maybe so.
Over the past week I’ve noticed a ton of optimism about the Ravens and their chances on Sunday against the Dolphins. I don’t think I’ve heard or read a single person seriously doubting the victory, and in fact the dudes at WNST are already selling their bus trip to Tennessee next week. The victory, it seems, is being treated as a foregone conclusion. That’s a far cry from 2000, when the experience of simply being there was so intense that most folks wouldn’t allow themselves to believe.
It’s not exactly a “best practice” to assume an easy victory in the NFL, but it’s hard to make a case for the Dolphins. The Ravens have already won in Miami once this year, and Joe Flacco is ten games more battle tested than he was then.
It’s worth noting that in that first meeting the stats were closer than you might think. Baltimore had 357 total yards to Miami’s 359, and Pennington out-passed Flacco 288 to 217. The teams were nearly even on third down conversions, with Baltimore going 6-13 and the Dolphins 5-13. Each team turned the ball over one time, and Baltimore held the time of possession edge by only three and a half minutes (game stats and recap at ESPN).
The game was won, as is often the case, on the ground. Baltimore held Miami’s offense (including the “Wildcat”) to just 71 yards on the ground while Willis McGahee went off to the tune of 105 yards and a TD on 19 carries.
If I had to guess, I’d say the same scenario will play out this next time around. The team that runs and stops the run will come out ahead. In a sense that’s playoff football no matter who’s playing, but it’s particularly true here.
My hunch is that the Ravens will, in fact, find a way. I think it’s a close game and I think Miami has the lead at various points, but in the end…
Ravens 17, Dolphins 13
(photo via Flickr)
Ravens win 20-10. (Typical disclaimer here that I am a Skins fan.) If the Ravens avoid the Colts, they could very well make it to the Super Bowl. If they get there and play anyone but the Giants, hmm… There is much reason for optimism for you Ravens fans. D is playing great as usual with Ed Reed winning games all by himself, O is incredibly creative with the receivers coming on at just the right time. Just pray you avoid the Colts and the Giants. It’s that simple.
site looks good – just have to get used to it.
i’m actually pretty surprised by how many people consider this game a foregone conclusion. i certainly don’t.
it’s the type of game that makes me uneasy for that very reason. i have no feeling that the ravens will overlook the dolphins at all- but my reservations lie in the motivation that miami can draw from any perceived disrespect.
in that regard it reminds me of when denver came to baltimore as the favorite in the wildcard round in 2000 and the ravens demolished them. everyone assumed the ravens were the same team they were earlier in the year which they obviously weren’t nor are the dolphins now.
all that said, i think the ravens will win but i’ll hardly be surprised if the dolphins pull it out – they’re a solid team.
Ravens win 23-13.
Their 12 wins equal Orioles’ win total in April and May.
How can NST be selling tix to Tennessee? The Ravens will play Pitt should they beat Miami?
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/standings/playoffrace/bracket
no the ravens are the six seed so they would play the one seed, tennessee.
Exactly. If the Dolphins win, they go to Pittsburgh. If the Ravens win, they go to Tennessee. This page from nfl.com has the details.
lol that fancy bracket is completely wrong
so peter king and don banks both picked the ravens to face the giants in the superbowl. that would be a great revenge match for both teams.
if the ravens and colts both win this weekend i will root for the steelers in the playoffs for the first time in my life next weekend.
@Big Ben’s Motorcycle – Meh. The Pitt/Ravens matchup would have been more interesting.
Hell, it would be even more interesting if it comes in the AFC championship game.
@neal s – when, not if
I see Colts Ravens for the AFC Champs as more likely. But what do I know, I misunderstood the seeding?
Assuming the Colts beat the Chargers — which is a likely but far from simple thing — that Steelers-Colts showdown in Pittsburgh figures to be one flat-out amazing game. I’m not sure Peyton Manning wants to see a rested Steelers D on the road…and I’m equally not sure that a rested Steelers D wants to see Peyton Manning anywhere.
Like BBM said, though — even the die hardest of die hard Ravens fans would have to want Pittsburgh to win and both (a) take the Colts off the menu and (b) set up what will surely be the game of the year.
Also, one quick note: the “Discussion” (recent comments) section in the sidebar was giving me all kinds of trouble in terms of how it linked people’s names. I had to turn that feature off in order to preserve the ability to click there and head directly to the comment you want to see. So if you fill out the comment form with a website address it will still show up and be clickable here in the comments, but it won’t be clickable in the sidebar.
Ravens 24 – Dolphins 13
Also this weekend: I got Arizona, Indy, Minnesota, and of course Baltimore advancing.
Ahhhh what are the Falcons doing out there? They’re making me look especially foolish!
Also, this is making me worry a little bit about how Flacco reacts to being in the playoffs. I don’t understand at all how guys get overmatched by a concept like being in the playoffs, but Matt Ryan looks a little shellshocked out there.
Do I think it happens to Joe tomorrow? No. But it might, and I’m getting just a tad nervous…
I can’t believe how badly the Colts are just giving this game away now, in the clutch. Three first down penalties on a single overtime drive?!?! Are you frreaaaaking kidding me!?!?!
didn’t see games today because i was busy but:
COLTS SUCK AND I SWIM IN THEIR MISERY
seriously, one team down one to go.