A Great Offense Ravens Vs. A Great Defense Dolphins What’s Your Take…
The Baltimore Ravens have everything they could ever ask for waiting for them on Sunday. The only thing in the way is the Miami Dolphins. Can the Ravens clinch the number one seed? Here are four downs, let’s go for it.
The selling point for this game is that the Ravens have an incredible defense and the Dolphins have a high-powered offense. It’s so easy to frame this game as a great offense vs. a great defense. The key for the Ravens is that they have a legitimate argument for being the most balanced team in football. If this game is going to go the way they want it to, the Baltimore offense has to do its job.
There’s been a lot of MVP talk surrounding Lamar Jackson, especially after the Christmas victory in San Francisco. The Ravens are going to need to put points on the scoreboard in this game. The 49ers didn’t have an answer for Jackson, who made clutch plays on third downs and had one of his best games as a dual-threat quarterback. Jackson shining on third downs is going to be important against the Dolphins. The Ravens are coming off a game where they scored on almost every possession. If the Ravens stay in that zone of efficiency the Dolphins will be in trouble.
The Ravens can clinch the AFC North and the top seed in the AFC. There’s plenty at stake in this game and the pressure is a good thing for the Ravens to be exposed to. In 2019, the Ravens ran away with it, boasting a 14-2 record. This year, the Ravens are fighting for the top seed with just two more games to go, in an AFC that remains competitive despite some of the usual suspects having down years. There are 10 teams in the conference with eight wins or more going into Week 17, including the entire AFC North. That could be a key difference between the 2019 campaign and this year’s march for glory. The Ravens are getting a huge test with a lot on the line, at home, late in the season. Because the playoff implications in this contest are so extreme (especially considering the Ravens haven’t clinched the division yet) this feels like a practice playoff game.
If the Ravens win this one, they will have passed the test and go into the playoffs with confidence. This could prevent the panic we saw early in the 2019 playoff run.
The Dolphins will be going without a star wide receiver, as Jaylen Waddle is listed as out for the big showdown. Along the offensive line for the Dolphins, Robert Hunt is listed as doubtful. The Dolphins have an injury report that almost reads like a short story, and these two injuries could be the biggest problems they deal with on Sunday. Kyle Hamilton was a limited participant on Thursday but didn’t practice on Friday. Hamilton’s availability could be a huge X-Factor. When he’s on the field the Ravens have so many things they can do to match up with their opponent. We also don’t know if Brandon Stephens or Zay Flowers will go.
The biggest thing the Ravens can do for themselves in this game is to make Tua Tagovailoa uncomfortable. The Ravens lead the NFL in sacks and this is a game where pass rush is going to be huge. The Dolphins are going to make plays, but if they can knock off the timing of this offense by rushing Tua, good things await Baltimore. The Dolphins have done a great job in pass protection this season. The Ravens’ pass rush is the biggest X-factor in the game. Tyreek Hill can’t beat you deep or after the catch if the ball never flies off Tua’s fingertips. The Dolphins have a lot to worry about. Justin Madubuike has 12 sacks this season, while Jadeveon Clowney is coming off a huge performance.