Dolphins Stadium, a jewel of the NFL Photo by Mike Brown
Ravens vs Dolphins
Rather then the game against New England being the Ravens Super Bowl, I think this is the teams biggest test this season. These are two teams that have not only failed to live up to expectations, they no longer have expectations, other than to lose another football game. But in this contest there will be a winner, so either the Ravens snap their 7 game losing streak, or the Dolphins come away with at least one victory this season. For these two teams that’s something to fight for!
If the NFL Draft were held today the Miami Dolphins would have the first pick of the draft, the Ravens number 4. I guess that tells you that this isn’t a heavyweight bout. That being said, this should be one hard fought contest. Both teams will be fighting for pride if nothing else. The Dolphins don’t want to go winless this season, and the Ravens don’t want to lose to what is perceived to be the worst team in the NFL. Now if that isn’t enough to get these two teams into a state of frenzy then by golly I don’t know what will.
I haven’t seen the Dolphins play much this season, in fact the only game I did see was the debacle they played in England vs. the Giants, where the field conditions made Heinz Field look like a golf course. But they aren’t as bad as their record would indicate. They, like the Ravens, have been bitten by the injury bug. The Dolphins have 12 players on IR, including quarterback Trent Green and MLB Zach Thomas. Any time you lose your starting QB, and your best defensive player it’s going to have an effect.
I’m sure the Dolphins have looked at their schedule and have been waiting for this game, as it’s one they can win. For the Ravens it’s the perfect set up game, facing a hungry team at their stadium, you’re on a 7 game losing streak, what more do I need to say.
When then Dolphins have the ball;
The Dolphins plan on starting quarterback Cleo Lemon this week, which will put the Ravens coaches at a slight disadvantage seeing as there is no real game film of Lemon this season. Going without Chris McAlister, and possibly Samari Rolle, who is listed as questionable at this writing, should provide Lemon with the same opportunities it has with every team the Ravens have faced this season. Lemon has enough skills to make plays against the Ravens back ups in the secondary, and you’d better believe he’ll take advantage of it every chance he gets.
The Dolphins running game has been anything but spectacular, and I don’t see them getting better this week. Perhaps the only component of Ravens team this year that hasn’t performed below expectations is the Ravens defensive line. They have stuffed every running back they’ve faced this season, and I doubt they’ll show any letdown this week.
I think overall the Ravens defense will prevail and give the Dolphins more than they can handle.
Advantage- Ravens
When the Ravens have the ball;
Kyle Boller has to know that he can’t have the same type of game he had last week. His performance was nothing short of pathetic, and if he comes out with a repeat performance the Ravens may be doomed. Brian Billick would do well to rely on Willis McGahee early and often. Wait a minute! Am I stuck in the movie “Groundhog Day”? I think I’ve said that nearly every game, haven’t I? I believe Mike Zoran has said the same , week in and week out. Doesn’t Billick read this column? That just proves my point that he’s out of touch.
Getting back on track, The Ravens receiving corps should be able to put up decent enough numbers against the Dolphins suspect secondary to keep control of the ball. And if Todd Heap is able to return to duty then you can double that, providing that Heap is in good enough shape to be a difference maker.
The Dolphins injury riddled defense can still cause the Ravens problems, and expect DE Jason Taylor, and linebackers Joey Porter (A Ravens fans favorite) and Derrick Pope to lead the charge. This defense is capable of inflicting punishment, and you had better believe they are coming to play.
Advantage- Even
Intangibles;
Are there really any intangibles for this game? Both teams will have something to prove, and it will boil down to which team can bring the most heart and desire to the game. As the game plays on you’ll see which team has what it takes.
Once again I ask you for the final score, as I haven’t a clue.
You should check out what’s being said at the Phish Tank, MVN’s Miami Dolphins fan site.
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10 Responses to “Ravens vs Dolphins”
December 15th, 2007 at 2:19 am
HEY REV. MIKE…
FIRST, YOUR PHOTO ABOVE, I WILL BE SITTING JUST UNDER THAT FIRST FLAG ON THE LEFT ON SUNDAY SECTION 430 SEAT 11!!!
MY FIRST NFL FOOTBALL GAME!
HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT BE THE DOLPHINS ONLY WIN OF THE SEASON… WILL I CARE NO!!!
Good article! I agree with the chances, here let me take a stab at the end score 24 to 10 Raven win!
We will be the only Purple and Black Jersey in a sea of orange and teal I am sure of that! About 6 of us!
Go Ravens,,,, wish Heap was playing.. but I will settle for seeing Mr. Lewis, and my Yamon Figurs!!!
Enjoy the game!
Raven Addict Laura!!
December 15th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Laura,
Congratulations on your first NFL game, I know you’ll love it. Should the Dolphins score a touchdown the entire stadium breaks out into the corniest song you’ll ever hear. It’s a ritual of theirs so God bless them. Check out the plaza on the lower level, it’s really nice! Enjoy, and Go Ravens!!!
December 15th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Now, listen up chums, because I’m going to divulge something very important to you good people and trust me, what I say is true. Winning isn’t actually all it’s cut out to be. In fact, being rubbish can be a whole lot more fun and than winning all the time.
As you know, my first sport is the beautiful game of soccer (we call it football) and I support a team called Newcastle United, based in the North East of England. Newcastle last won a meaningful trophy the year after I was born. And that was 38 years ago. The club’s last championship was won before my father was born, hell, my departed grandfather might not even have been born in 1927.
For years and years the club existed as a “sleeping giant”, still attracting good crowds, but just not producing the goods. We supporters were a band of brothers and sisters showing our pride in our region and out city, no matter how rubbish the team was.
Then it all turned sour in the mid-1990s, when all of a sudden we started winning. In 1992 we won promotion to the Premiership (England’s top league) and then we had a string of seasons in the upper reaches of the league. We thought times were good, but we were deluding ourselves.
For those of us who lived with what we thought was the pain of bad times, we’d reached the promised land and it wasn’t much fun.
All sorts of people had crawled out of the woodwork to support the club and the down-to-earth, shop-soiled working man was cast aside in favour of sexy corporate entertainment types.
Wins were devalued, since they happened more often than not. How much would you Ravens fans, or even more so Dolphins fans, value a win in the above fixture? You know, for Patriot types, Sunday will see just another win (probably) - that’s fun, I guess, but not as much fun as a rare win.
And when you’re winning, it’s a lot harder to moan with justification. And come on folks, everyone likes to moan and complain - it’s human nature. Look at the fans of the Patriots trying to moan about their defence - even though they’ve won every single game, they’re desperate for a good moan.
So, maybe five or ten years from now the Ravens will be flying high and I guarantee a little voice deep inside of you will be telling you it was more fun back in 2007.
Being hopeless is sadly under-rated, so enjoy it while you have the chance.
December 15th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
By the way, the stadium in Miami was built by Joe Robbie and was designed specifically with soccer in mind - Robbie had a dream of the FIFA world cup being played in Miami. But, alas, when the FIFA world cup came stateside in 1994, baseball meant it couldn’t be played in the stadium Robbie had built for it.
December 15th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Andrew,
I for one have to say that a losing season gives me more topics to write about, but all in all I’d rather have a win than a loss. And as for the Ravens, their working class fans will never be cast aside, rest assured brother.
I’ve become so dependent on the rise and fall of this team they’ve become a part of me, and a win for them is a win for me in my own little way. I guess you could say I’m addicted, much the same as you are to Newcastle United , and that’s a good thing. The way I see it is; ‘If you have to have to have a Jones for something, there are a lot worse things than football. On that I’m sure we agree.
I’ve just seen where Newcastle United defeated Fulham 0-1. The headline at BBC Sport read; “Joey Barton’s injury-time penalty earns Newcastle a scarcely-deserved victory away at Fulham.” I don’t know whether to say congratulations, or I’m sorry!
The Ravens are due for a win, and I think all of us could stand a shot in the arm. I’m more than ready to comment on good news for a change rather then repeat the forecast of doom that never seems to end.
Thank you for your excellent comments, I find myself looking forward to hear what you have to say about Raven related news, and life in general.
December 16th, 2007 at 1:56 am
Andrew, thanks for the words of wisdom on the world of merry ole football (soccer). I have to agree with you on the point that a win does mean more when you are losing than if your winning. Like Mike said losing definitly gives us stuff to write about. It is far easier picking the team apart than pointing out the what went rights. I really do not want to be the team the Dolphins beat. No my biggest prayer is to see Miami somehow someway be the team to beat New England. Wouldn’t that be something?
December 16th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Ah, Miami’s visit to New England.
A Samson shorn of his locks and eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slaves, summoned north to entertain the Philistines at Foxborough. Will the Gods of the NFL grant them strength to tear down the temple of Dagon?
December 16th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Rooting for an underdog team, getting so close to a win then losing in a heartbreaking way…yeah, I guess there’s kind of a “sweet sadness” to being loyal to a team that’s not winning but you know is really trying to win…and yes, Andrew is right about the true-blue fans staying with the ship while the fashionable corporate tag-alongs jump ship like rats. But still, let’s get after Miami today and taste a victory—-and leave the stage set for a winless Miami to take down New England like Samson and the temple on another Sunday.
December 16th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Let’s just hope they don’t take us down first!
December 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Oh dear, what happened?
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