Ravens Capitalize on 5 Dolphins Turnovers

Ed Reed with 2 interceptions versus Dolphins in 27-9 Ravens Playoff Win

AFC Playoffs Wild Card Weekend: Baltmore Ravens 27 Miami Dolphins 9

Baltimore won their Wild Card playoff game at Miami (27-9) last Sunday by virtue of outstanding defensive pressure and turnovers.

The Baltimore Ravens had the Miami Dolphins and Chad Pennington under pressure throughout the game as they forced four interceptions, including one returned 64 yards for a touchdown by Ed Reed, and won 27-9. Reed led the defense with 2 interceptions, while Jim Leonhard and Fabian Washington each accounted for the other two. Pro Bowl selection, Terrell Suggs recovered the Dolphins fumble. Pennington was sacked three times.

The Dolphins led the NFL this season with the fewest give-aways (13).

With the victory, the Ravens advance to the AFC divisional round and play the top-seeded Titans in Nashville.

Baltimore Ravens 27 Miami Dolphins 9 - Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Dolphins took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 19-yard field goal by Carpenter to cap an 8-play 50-yard drive. The Ravens repsonded with a Matt Stover 23-yard field goal with 2:47 left in the quarter to knot the game at 3-3. Stover's field goal capped an 11-play 59-yard drive.

However, it was Reed's play in the second quarter that ultimately did the Dolphins in.

Facing a 3rd-and-8, the Dolphins were put in a passing situation. The Ravens countered by blitzing and at the same time placed double coverage on Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn. Feeling the pressure, Pennington rolled to the outside and tossed the bomb deep down the side of the field. However, Reed made an outstanding over-the-shoulder catch and returned the interception down the sideline for a 64 yard touchdown. Reed's touchdown came with 2:30 left in the half. Stover's PAT was good for the 10-3 Ravens lead.

A 31-yard Matt Stover field goal with 16 seconds remaining in the first half extended the Ravens lead to 13-3. The field goal capped a 7-play 46-yard drive which consumed 1:21.

In the second half, Terrell Suggs recovered Patrick Cobbs fumble at the Miami 19. Four plays later Le'Ron McClain scored on an 8-yard run for the 20-3 Ravens lead.

Trailing 20-3, the Dolphins were in the midst of a 58-yard drive to the Ravens 13 yard line when Reed came up with his second interception on the day.

 

 

Pennington finished the day 25-for-38 for 252 yards with 4 interceptions and 1 TD pass. The Ravens further suffocated the Dolphins offense allowing only 52 yards rushing. In addition to the Ravens defensive pressure, the Dolphins offesne was left to start with poor field position.

Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco was 9-for-23 for 135 yards with no turnovers. Flacco scored the final points of the game on a 5-yard touchdown run with 3:53 remaining to produce the games final, 27-9.

The Ravens defensive performance was much like their 27-13 victory at Miami earlier in the season (Ocotber 19, 2008).

Ravens3107727
Dolphins30069

 

TeamQtr.TimeScoring PlayDriveScore
Dolphins18:17D.Carpenter 19 yd. Field Goal8-50, 4:150-3
Ravens12:47M.Stover 23 yd. Field Goal11-59, 5:303-3
Ravens22:30E.Reed 64 yd. interception return (M.Stover kick)10-3
Ravens20:16M.Stover 31 yd. Field Goal7-46, 1:2113-3
Ravens37:33L.McClain 8 yd. run (M.Stover kick)4-19, 2:0920-3
Dolphins413:09R.Brown 2 yd. pass from C.Pennington (kick blocked)5-74, 1:5120-9
Ravens43:53J.Flacco 5 yd. run (M.Stover kick)8-71, 3:4427-9

 

StatisticsRavensDolphins
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS1618
By Rushing85
By Passing711
By Penalty12
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY5-12-42%2-10-20%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY0-0-0%0-1-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS286276
Total Offensive Plays (inc. times thrown passing)5662
Average gain per offensive play5.14.5
NET YARDS RUSHING15152
Total Rushing Plays3321
Average gain per rushing play4.62.5
Tackles for a loss-number and yards3-82-4
NET YARDS PASSING135224
Times thrown - yards lost attempting to pass0-03-28
Gross yards passing135252
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED23-9-038-25-4
Avg gain per pass play (inc.# thrown passing)5.95.5
KICKOFFS Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks6-4-33-2-1
PUNTS Number and Average5-43.43-44.0
Had Blocked00
FGs - PATs Had Blocked0-00-1
Net Punting Average37.437.0
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not Including Kickoffs)12910
No. and Yards Punt Returns2-212-10
No. and Yards Kickoff Returns2-543-69
No. and Yards Interception Returns4-1080-0
PENALTIES Number and Yards7-594-34
FUMBLES Number and Lost1-12-1
TOUCHDOWNS31
Rushing20
Passing01
Interceptions10
EXTRA POINTS Made-Attempts3-30-1
Kicking Made-Attempts3-30-1
FIELD GOALS Made-Attempts2-21-1
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY2-4-50%1-3-33%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY2-3-67%1-2-50%
SAFETIES00
FINAL SCORE279
TIME OF POSSESSION26:3433:26

 

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