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Ravens' defense drowns the Dolphins

Source: Agencies | January 6, 2009, Tuesday | Print Edition

CHAD Pennington waited in front of his end zone, the last line of defense for the Miami Dolphins. A blocker buried him - just like the Baltimore Ravens treated Pennington and the Dolphins all day.

The block allowed Ed Reed to complete a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown, and the Ravens came up with four other takeaways on Sunday in Miami to win 27-9, spoiling the Dolphins' first playoff game in seven seasons.

Baltimore stuffed Miami's ground attack, had no problems with the Wildcat, and harried Pennington into uncharacteristic mistakes. After throwing only seven interceptions during the regular season, Pennington threw four in one game.

With a rookie coach in John Harbaugh and a rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco, wild-card entrant Baltimore (12-5) won for the 10th time in 12 games and will play on Saturday at NFC South champion Tennessee. The playoff victory was the first for the Ravens since they beat Miami in a first-round game in January 2002.

"Our defense gave us a bunch of chances today," Flacco said.

The result put the brakes on this season's resurgence by the Dolphins (11-6), who finished 1-15 in 2007.

A soft schedule contributed to Miami's turnaround, and there was nothing soft about the Ravens. They forced a flurry of turnovers against a team that tied an NFL record with only 13 during the regular season.

Reed had two interceptions, and Jim Leonhard and Fabian Washington each picked off a pass. Terrell Suggs recovered a fumble by Patrick Cobbs early in the second half at the Miami 19, and four plays later Le'Ron McClain scored on an 8-yard run for a 20-3 lead.

Pennington, playing his first game since being chosen the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, went 23-for-36 for 234 yards. Baltimore allowed just 52 yards rushing, and the Dolphins were limited to 7 yards on two plays from the Wildcat, the innovative formation that helped jump-start their revival.

Field position hurt the Dolphins, who started consecutive possessions at their 20, 6, 20, 20, 20 and 2. But the biggest problem was Baltimore's ball-hawking defense, which led the NFL during the regular season with 26 interceptions.

He made an over-the-shoulder catch of Pennington's deep throw after intended receiver Ted Ginn Jr. fell. Reed headed toward the left sideline, eluded a tackler, reversed field and sprinted for the end zone, scoring after Suggs leveled Pennington at the 5-yard line.

Trailing 20-3, the Dolphins tried to rally with a 58-yard drive to the 13 before Reed again intercepted Pennington late in the third quarter.


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