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Ravens defense too much for Dolphins
Source: Agencies |
January 5, 2009, Monday
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THE Baltimore Ravens' much-vaunted defense smothered Miami yesterday as the Dolphins' Cinderella season ended with a 27-9 defeat in their AFC wildcard clash.
The Ravens intercepted Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington four times and forced a Miami fumble before cruising into the divisional playoffs at Tennessee on Saturday.
"Our defenses gave us a bunch of chances today," Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters after Baltimore secured their 10th win in 12 games.
"We can't wait to get down to Tennessee and see them again," he said of the Titans, who beat the Ravens 13-10 during the regular season.
Ed Reed had two of Baltimore's interceptions, returning one for a game-changing 64-yard touchdown in the second quarter. His second interception halted a third-quarter drive by the Dolphins, who had won five consecutive games and nine of their last 10 in the regular season after going 1-15 last year.
"That (first interception) was a great play by Ed Reed, over the shoulder. Not too many safeties make that," Pennington told reporters.
Of the four interceptions, three of those I felt really good about," Pennington said.
SPECIAL YEAR
Pennington, who became the Dolphins' leader after being released by the New York Jets in August to make way for Brett Favre, said it was hard to stomach the defeat.
"It has been a special year," he said. "That's why it (the loss) hurt so much."
Baltimore also took advantage of a Miami fumble for a third-quarter touchdown as they scored 20 consecutive points after the Dolphins had taken a 3-0 lead.
Miami finally found the end zone on Ronnie Brown's fingertip grab of a two-yard pass from Pennington early in the fourth quarter.
That ended 11 postseason quarters without a touchdown for the Dolphins, who were playing in their first playoff game in seven seasons.
But the frustration continued when the extra point attempt was blocked.
COSTLY ERRORS
Miami, the worst team in the NFL last year with its 1-15 record, had allowed a league-low 13 turnovers during the regular season but could not handle the aggressive Ravens defense.
Reed helped ensure that, intercepting a Pennington pass at the Baltimore 36 and rambling 64 yards for the game's first touchdown after the two teams had traded first-quarter field goals.
That put Baltimore ahead 10-3 and the Ravens upped the count to 13-3 on Matt Stover's 31-yard field goal just before halftime.
Another Miami mistake, a fumble by Patrick Cobbs at the Dolphins' 18, led to Le'Ron McClain's eight-yard run for a Baltimore touchdown and a 20-3 lead.
Pennington's touchdown pass to Brown narrowed the gap to 20-9 before Flacco wrapped up the scoring on a five-yard touchdown run with four minutes to play.
"It was a lot of fun to be out on the field today," the rookie said.
The Ravens intercepted Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington four times and forced a Miami fumble before cruising into the divisional playoffs at Tennessee on Saturday.
"Our defenses gave us a bunch of chances today," Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters after Baltimore secured their 10th win in 12 games.
"We can't wait to get down to Tennessee and see them again," he said of the Titans, who beat the Ravens 13-10 during the regular season.
Ed Reed had two of Baltimore's interceptions, returning one for a game-changing 64-yard touchdown in the second quarter. His second interception halted a third-quarter drive by the Dolphins, who had won five consecutive games and nine of their last 10 in the regular season after going 1-15 last year.
"That (first interception) was a great play by Ed Reed, over the shoulder. Not too many safeties make that," Pennington told reporters.
Of the four interceptions, three of those I felt really good about," Pennington said.
SPECIAL YEAR
Pennington, who became the Dolphins' leader after being released by the New York Jets in August to make way for Brett Favre, said it was hard to stomach the defeat.
"It has been a special year," he said. "That's why it (the loss) hurt so much."
Baltimore also took advantage of a Miami fumble for a third-quarter touchdown as they scored 20 consecutive points after the Dolphins had taken a 3-0 lead.
Miami finally found the end zone on Ronnie Brown's fingertip grab of a two-yard pass from Pennington early in the fourth quarter.
That ended 11 postseason quarters without a touchdown for the Dolphins, who were playing in their first playoff game in seven seasons.
But the frustration continued when the extra point attempt was blocked.
COSTLY ERRORS
Miami, the worst team in the NFL last year with its 1-15 record, had allowed a league-low 13 turnovers during the regular season but could not handle the aggressive Ravens defense.
Reed helped ensure that, intercepting a Pennington pass at the Baltimore 36 and rambling 64 yards for the game's first touchdown after the two teams had traded first-quarter field goals.
That put Baltimore ahead 10-3 and the Ravens upped the count to 13-3 on Matt Stover's 31-yard field goal just before halftime.
Another Miami mistake, a fumble by Patrick Cobbs at the Dolphins' 18, led to Le'Ron McClain's eight-yard run for a Baltimore touchdown and a 20-3 lead.
Pennington's touchdown pass to Brown narrowed the gap to 20-9 before Flacco wrapped up the scoring on a five-yard touchdown run with four minutes to play.
"It was a lot of fun to be out on the field today," the rookie said.
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