MVN: Most Valuable Network

So once again, the Dolphins won the toss but gave away the ball.  The Ravens were rolling along quickly, going 1st and 10, 2nd and 2, 1st and 10, 1st and 10, then 2nd and 5.  But on that 2nd and 5, Le'Ron McClain was slammed in the backfield by Paul Soliai, causing a fumble.  Joey Porter jumped on it, and the Dolphins had great field position on their own 49.

The Dolphins quickly drove down half the field, making Baltimore's vaunted defense look a little bad, not facing a 3rd down until the end of the drive.  The Dolphins stood right on the doorstep, 4th and goal from Baltimore's 1.  Oddly enough, the Phins were cautious, trotting Dan Carpenter out to kick a 19 yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead after the PAT.  It was an odd decision, since the Ravens would have had to drive 99 yards to score if Miami didn't get in.

The Ravens got the ball back with strong field position after a shorter-than-usual kickoff by Dan Carpenter put the Ravens on their 36 yard line.  The Dolphins had the Ravens stopped on a 3 and out, but Andre Goodman was flagged for illegal contact on the 3rd down pass, giving the Ravens a first down.  They took full advantage, continuing their drive down the field.  They stalled out at the 5, and Matt Stover hit a 23 yard field goal to tie the score at 3.  

Baltimore would take the lead on a highly uncharacteristic mistake by Chad Pennington.  Pennington took a deep shot for Ted Ginn, who was double covered.  Making matters worse, he fell down.  Making matters even worse than that, the pass was a duck.  Ed Reed snagged the pass, then ran back on a beautifully executed interception return.  The only good for Miami on the play was Pennington was back at the goalline to try and make the tackle.  But it didn't help, he got run over by a blocker and Reed scored.  10-3 Ravens.  

The Ravens would tack one on late in the half, after a Miami punt deep in their own territory gave the Ravens great field position.  They managed the clock and a timeout to get to the Miami 13.  Stover tacked on a 31 yard field goal with 21 seconds left to extend the lead to 10 at halftime, 13-3.

Another Miami turnover, another Ravens score.  This time, Patrick Cobbs fumbled on a 3rd and 16 run.  Terrell Suggs recovered at the Miami 19.  The Ravens only needed 4 plays to get into the endzone, extending the lead even further to 20-3.

Miami had just received a punt to start the 4th quarter, and would finally find the endzone.  In fact, thanks to twoRavens penalties they only needed 5 plays to do it.  Pennington hit Ronnie Brown, who made a gorgeous concentrating catch in the back corner of the endzone.  Dan Carpenter's PAT was blocked, but Miami had still made it a game again at 20-9.

When the Dolphins held the Ravens to a 3 and out, Dolphin Stadium was jumping.  It seemed the momentum had truly shifted.  Unfortunately, Miami was unable to do anything on the next drive, getting stalled out at Baltimore's 44.  They probably would have gone for it, except it was 4th and 26.  Carpenter nailed a punt, with the Ravens fair-catching the ball at the 13.  But, a Miami player ran into the Ravens receiver, just momentum carrying him.  Unfortunately, that's a 15 yard kick catch interference penalty, giving the Ravens decent field position.

Often in playoff games, even with a seemingly lopsided score, it's one play that makes the difference.  In this game, it was former Miami Hurricane Willis McGahee busting a 48 yard run, setting the Ravens up on Miami's 4.  2 plays later, rookie QB Joe Flacco scampered into the endzone from 5 yards, putting the game away.  Miami had one last shot, but went 4 and out, sealing the victory for the Ravens.

THREE UP, THREE DOWN

THREE UP

1) Ted Ginn - This was another one of those games where the numbers don't really tell the story.  Ginn had 5 catches for just 38 yards.  So why was he an up?  There was a sequence late in the game where Miami drove down the field, before a Pennington interception killed the drive.  Pennington completed 7 straight passes, and most of those were to Ginn.  He made moves, came back for passes, went up to get passes, looked really good.  I'll admit, Ginn being my first up is a BAD sign.

2) Patrick Cobbs - 4 catches for 55 yards out of the backfield....yeah.

3) Channing Crowder - 6 tackles, 5 solo.

Honorable Mention to Brandon Fields, who averaged 44 yards a punt.  Dear Lord...honorable mention to the PUNTER.

THREE DOWN

1) Chad Pennington - His passing numbers are the basic Pennington.  25/38 for 252 yards and a touchdown.  So why is he making so rare an appearance in the down half of this segment?  FOUR interceptions.  He says he felt good about 3 of the passes, but I think any QB feels good when they throw the ball.  Doesn't mean it's a good decision.  Pennington was under lots of pressure and, unlike most times when he'd stay calm and not force things, today he tried to force a lot of passes that didn't work.

2) Rushing game - This is equal parts the Ravens' stifling run D and Miami falling behind on the scoreboard.  But remember the Dolphins combined running back, Ronnicky Brilliams?  He rushed for only 35 yards on 16 carries.  Again, not sure if the Dolphins should have tried the run more, after falling behind multiple scores.  But towards the second half of the year, Miami did get away from the run game, which is crazy when you have two starter quality backs.

3) Receiving core - Remember how I mentioned Patrick Cobbs had 55 yards on 4 catches?  He was the Dolphins LEADING RECEIVER.  It's the Dolphins #1 need right now...the team needs a dynamic playmaker at wide receiver.  Ginn is capable of being a #1 but we haven't seen it yet.  Bess is good but sort of a wild card.  We will get Greg Camarillo back, but A) at what capacity and B) can we count on him to be more than a possession receiver?  

The Ravens MVN contingent has posted a recap, none too respectful but hey, they won so they don't have to be.  If you still want to read it, check it out here.

But if you want to read a preview of our next opponent...oh, wait.  Yeah, this magical season has come to an end at 11-6.  But we're the defending AFC East Champions.  This loss was as much about a bad matchup, a better and stronger team than we were.  We hung close for most of the game.  They capitalized on mistakes, which we made way more of than we normally do.  This was a foundational year, that can now be built on and made into a dynastical (if that's a word) success.

My colleague Alex Carver should be posting his thoughts sometime soon.  We'll both be soon letting you know what we think the offseason priorities should be.  What positions need help? What players should the Dolphins draft?  Who, if anyone, needs to go?  Now that current team owner Wayne Huizenga says Bill Parcells will be staying (remember, Huizenga is a man that told Nick Saban to follow his hear to Alabama), the Dolphins need to get cracking tomorrow on a plan to get Miami some playoff wins in Year 2.

So the season comes to an end, but like the fans at Dolphin Stadium, we here at The Phish Tank stand and applaud at the end.  What more can you ask of a 1-15 team than winning the division and not embarrassing themselves in the playoffs?  Congratulations on a successful season, Miami Dolphins.  For once, we are anxiously awaiting next season.