Getting The Ravens Off The Dolphins Back

Dating back to 2008, the Ravens have won 4 straight against the Dolphins.

Dating back to 2008, the Ravens and Dolphins faced off 6 times.

The Ravens ended the Dolphins last successful season in the Wildcard game of 2008.

It’s early December, and the Miami Dolphins are entering the last month of the regular season as a relevant team, but the Baltimore Ravens are looking to put a kibosh to this success.

The Dolphins have shrugged off a 1-4 start and are now in the midst of a 6 game winning streak. To put this an historical perspective, the Dolphins have not won 7 straight regular season games in over 30 years.

Miami will be traveling to Baltimore this weekend to take on the Ravens, who are currently sitting in first place of the AFC North division. Over the last 8 years these two teams faced off in 6 contests with the Dolphins only managing one win, which was last year in Miami.

Outside of that win, the Ravens have consistently outplayed and out-toughed the Dolphins over the last 8 years. However, in a bit of irony ironic, the Dolphins have taken on the identity of a ground and pound, smash mouth football and resemble the very team and style that has given them so much trouble.

The Dolphins are likely to get most of their starting offensive lineman back in the lineup. Mike Pouncey appears to be already ruled out, however Adam Gase is confident that Branden Albert will play, and Laremy Tunsil has stated that he is certain to be in the line-up.

This is huge news, and if if they can play at a high level and finish the game it will certainly change the line at the best pay per head sportsbook.

The other major injury concern is the porcelain made DeVante Parker, who did not finish the 49ers game due to a back injury and will likely be held of of the game.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, their offense will not have the same dimension without Parker in the lineup, and this could be a costly loss for the Dolphins.

The Ravens are always a tough out at home.

Regardless of injuries, the Dolphins need to continue to play their style of football, which has been a healthy dose of running the ball, along with an aggressive defense. If the Dolphins are going find victory, they are going to have to really play good football, because the Ravens are a good football team, especially in Baltimore, where they are 4-2 this season.

To be completely honest, this game concerns me– I’m not wetting my bed over it, but this will be the toughest test since the Steelers.

As good as Miami has been playing, they need to play even better and certainly more disciplined football, if they are going to beat Baltimore. In addition, Miami needs to focus on keeping the penalties down, especially personal fouls, because this is definitely going to be a chippy game with emotions running very high.

A loss in this game is not the end of the playoff dream for the Phins, but there is no denying that it would definitely take some air out of this team.

What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans thoughts about whether or not Miami can out tough the Ravens at their own game and come away with a victory?


 

15 comments

  • Fritz

    This game is winnable and if two of the three linemen that have been out can play, then I believe we will win. This is NOT the Baltimore Ravens of old just like this is NOT the Miami Dolphins of old. Hopefully Ajayi can gain chunk yards and keep the pass rush at bay.
    If our Phins don’t win, it’s not the end of the world as admin says. I agree, but it may mean that we will have to win @ Buffalo and @ the Jets as well as one of the games against Arizona and New England.
    At the local HS football games I provide the medical doctor coverage for, the chant is “I believe, I believe, I believe that we will win! I believe, I believe, I believe that we will win.” If our beloved Phins can win this one, then I too will be a believer that playoffs are likely. Go Phins!

    • admin

      Yeah Fritz, I think they can win as the secondary is meh on the Ravens and the D is a bit inflated do to plays not so hot teams. They have a fierce front 7 and Dumer and Suggs are playing very well. So, if the Miami line can mitigate their effects it will go along way, because the Ravens have a very hard time running the ball and stopping the short pass. Both of these lend strongly to a Miami win. But, if Tunsil or Albert or both don’t play the difficulty will grow geometric. So, if everyone on the OL plays, minus Pouncey, and finishes the game I think it will be Miami win.

  • Steve

    I was at the barbershop today! My Barber being the Cowboy Fan that he is. Mentioned we are going to get beat by the Raven! because who do we have, He said the dolphins have a lot of no names. I said Yes!

    You can say that! But we will beat the Raven Sunday we have the team. My Barber said okay they beat the Raven then I would be convinced! This is a special team flying under the Radar! Jim Rome being a Jet Fan recognized the Talent on our Team.
    We are yet to evaluate Lippett as a Receiver while his transformation into an NFL Corner Back?

    http://jimrome.com/2016/11/17/tony-lippett/

    • Dunner

      Lippett will never be evaluated as a WR by the Dolphins. He is a corner and a very good up and coming CB. I’ve heard comparisons to Richard Sherman. That my friend is a great comparison.

      A team full of nobody’s don’t win 6 straight games in the NFL. Maybe it takes 7 straight for Suh, Wake, Laundry, Ajayi, Tanny and company to become somebody’s. I’ll take a team full of nobody’s that does nothing but win.

      • admin

        I agree with Dunner, Lippett is a corner and with stick with that until he has gotten that position down. He is currently ranked 29th among corners by PFF and Sherman is 32 — not bad. Lemmus was one of the first to really believe in him and that was a good call. Now, I can see in a season or two when he has fully acclimated that Lippett shows up in a pinch or in a spot here and there as a receiver, but not until he get his primary gig locked down.

  • Dunner

    Keys to victory:

    -Time of possession, win the time of possession. By 1 minute, 2 minutes, 10 minutes, just control the clock.
    -Run the ball 25-30 times Sunday. Anything more than that should equate to a BIG W..
    -Zero turnovers should put Miami in very good position.
    -Unleash the Furry. Defense needs to press the now dink and dunk Baltimore offense, while applying constant pressure on slow Joe.
    -Let Baltimore settle for field goals with their “best kicker in the league”, while we convert red zone opportunities to touchdowns.
    -Tanny continues his impressive transformation. And again proves Myself, Lemmus and several others wrong (please do so).

    Our defense must be sick of hearing about how good this Ravens defense is. Though they may be, it is this Dolphins defense that has quietly turned things around during this winning streak. Predict that it is the Dolphins defense that the league will come away with a different opinion about.

    J-Train Rolls On!!!!

    Hoot Hoot!!!!

    • Lemmus

      “Unleash the Furry” …???? …methinks you’re in line for “Best Edit Fail of 2016 …trying to give admin a run for the honor, you are

      • admin

        Thanks Lemmus, but you must admit, since I bought glasses a few months back things have been a tad bit better — a tad.

    • admin

      I agree with most, but I believe the short intermediate passing game will be the key. Ravens are fierce in their front 7 and weak in the secondary. They must run the ball and have a good run count, just not sure they will break a 100 on the day. But, some short passes broken could be the charm to a win.

  • Steve

    The key to the come away with a victory?

    1. Offense (If you don’t have the ball) Block or hit some one, No who do I block Coach?

    2. Defense:
    a. Score off of turn overs
    b. Line Suh up in multiple positions.
    c. Gang Tackle
    d. Shut down the Screen play?

    • admin

      I think the amount of carries will play a bigger factor than the yards. They need to weaken this D for the later qtrs. Suggs comes up big on the 4th and his tail needs to be run ragged so he is gassed by the time the late game arrives. Scoring off turnover will be a huge factor as well as will low penalties. They can’t play a sloppy game. This is the type of team that won’t let you live them down.

      • admin

        I just saw Dunner’s post that had the audio with the top and carries as a crucial aspect…should have worker my way through the comments from oldest to most recent, instead of vice versa, and I wouldn’t have felt so foolish.

  • FinFanMan13

    This game worries me more than any of the games left on the schedule. But the Fins can pull it out with the return of BA and Tunsil.

    • admin

      Yeah, FinFan. Their return is SOOOOOO big that words hardly fit the depth of the impact. Urbik has play pretty well. Steen and young less than his play. Honestly, I’d like to see Urbik slide to Center, but that’s just my silly opinion. This game will be huge…I’d like to see them take this so they could have a slip up against the Jets and not be deeply wounded. That game up in NY will be a brutal one as well.