AFC Wild-Card Pick: Ravens at Dolphins
December 30th 2008
by Special K

Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Miami Dolphins  

Of all the wildcard road favorites this weekend, I feel most confident that the Baltimore Ravens can go into a hostile environment and leave with a road victory.  Great defenses travel well and the Ravens will be bringing their second ranked defense to Miami.  However, the Dolphins did have the fewest turnovers of any NFL team this season.  In week 7 against the Ravens, the Dolphins committed only one turnover but it was a costly one that resulted in a Terrell Suggs 44 yard interception for a touchdown that completely changed the outcome of the game.  The Ravens went on to an easy 27-13 victory and I predict a similar outcome for this game.

The Ravens have looked pretty solid all season under the leadership of rookie QB Joe Flacco.  You would never know Flacco was even a rookie with the great poise he has shown throughout the season.  Of course, having a defense with Ray Lewis behind you makes it a lot easier.  The Ravens have faced much stiffer competition than the Dolphins in the last month or so of the season which should prepare them very well for this game.

The Miami Dolphins are an amazing story this season going from 1-15 to the playoffs.  Chad Pennington could arguably be voted Most Valuable Player of the Year.  We all know how Pennington loves throwing to his tight ends.  However, the Ravens defense has only given up two TD's all season to opposing tight ends (Alge Crumpler and Jason Witten).  I look for the Dolphins to struggle when they get in the red zone.  Settling for field goals won't be good enough to overcome this Ravens team.

Take the Ravens and spot the points