NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions, Baltimore vs Miami

Sunday, 1-4-9 at 10 pacific. Baltimore Ravens(11-5)@ Miami Dolphins(11-5)

Dolphins- The Miami Dolphins were 1-15 last year, only avoiding going 0-for by winning a three point game over none other than the Baltimore Ravens. But this year during training camp, Chad Pennington got run out of New York, when the Jets were able to get Brett Favre, so he fell to the once lowly Dolphins. Wouldnt that be a great story if Pennington goes back to New York late in the year and clinch a playoff spot by beating the team that cut him lose in August? Well thats exactly what happened last week when Pennington took the Dolphins back to Meadow Lands and clinched the AFC East with a win over the Jets. What an amazing story for Pennington. But was that too much of a High? I dont think so, because the Dolphins have said all along that they are not satisfied with just making the playoffs, they want more. Dolphins have a under rated Defense, and need them to play well to keep the Dolphins close late. If that can happen, Pennington has a chance to lead the Dolphins to another victory.

Ravens- The Ravens, for years, have been known for their stellar defense. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed lead the defense and can shut down almost any attack from any offense. The Ravens won a Superbowl on defense a few years ago, but will they be able to do it again this year? The Ravens offense is certainly nothing extraordinary, they have a pretty decent running game, and a rookie Quarterback in Joe Flacco, who can really throw the ball well, and make some things happen. But this is the playoffs and this is a little different. Will Flacco and the rest of the offense do enough to get the win? Well see on Sunday when Rookie Coach Jim Harbaugh leads his team on the road into Miami.

Prediction- The Ravens went into Miami in week 7 and put a 27-13 win up against the Dolphins, will it be the same result in the playoffs? Both of these teams were not at all expected to be here when the pre season predictions came out, but they have both had a very solid season at 11-5. Unlike the other rookie Quarterback that was in the playoffs(Matt Ryan) Joe Flacco does not have quite as solid of a running game, and I have a feeling that Joe Flacco will be put into some pressure 3rd and long situations with the hard charging Dolphins defense and Joey Porter coming on a blitz. I think the Ravens defense is better, but I like the Dolphins offense better and full of confidence after going into Penningtons old stomping grounds and clinching the division in New York. I like the Dolphins, in front of the home crowd, in the lowest scoring game of the weekend Dolphins win 20-10 in a slow moving, low scoring, defensive style football game.