After a couple weeks of exciting Thursday night games, we’ll see that streak end when the Miami Dolphins (4-2) travel to M&T Bank Stadium to take on the sliding Baltimore Ravens (3-4).
TNF will be broadcast the game on your local CBS station and the NFL Network at 8:25 p.m. As usual, I’ll be live blogging this one with you the whole way. I’ll try to make it fun for us. Somebody has to.
The Game: Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens (-3)
O/U: 37.5
The History
The Ravens and Dolphins have faced off 14 times since 1997 with Baltimore holding an 8-6 edge in the all time series.
The two team shave met twice in the playoffs. The first game was a 20-3 Ravens win on January 13, 2002 and the second was a 27-9 win on January 4, 2009.
In the 2002 playoff game, Elvis Grbac quarterbacked Baltimore to victory in his lone season with the team. He was 12 of 18 for 133 yards and a touchdown. Terry Allen rushed 25 times for 109 yards and a touchdown. Neither Grbac or Allen would ever take another NFL snap after that 2001-2002 season. The Dolphins were taken into battle by back up quarterback Jay Fieldler who not only led the team in passing, completing 15 of 28 for 122 yards and a pick, but was the leading rusher as well, picking up 16 yards on three carries. There’s a reason Miami scored just three points.
The 2009 playoff game was only slightly more competitive. Flacco finished 9-of-23 for 135 yards, no touchdowns and no picks. He did score on a five yard touchdown run. His opponent was Chad Pennington who went 25 of 38 for 252 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, one of which Ravens safety Ed Reed ran back for a touchdown.
The two teams played last season with Baltimore winning 38-6 at M&T Stadium on December 4, 2016. Joe Flacco finished 36 of 47 for 381 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Ryan Tannehill was 29 of 40 for 226 yards, one touchdown and three picks.
Since 2008, Miami has beaten the Ravens only once, a 15-13 win on December 6, 2015. Of Baltimore’s eight victories in the series, all but one have come since 2005.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-2)
The Dolphins roll into this game on an improbable three game winning streak. They’ve beaten the Tennessee Titans, the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Jets over the last three weeks and actually seem on the upswing. This was just a week removed from a complete shutout at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. I can’t make sense of this Dolphins team.
Here’s what I do know; Jay Cutler will not play Thursday night after an MRI revealed he had multiple cracked ribs. In fact, Cutler may not play for a few weeks and, frankly, that’s not a bad thing. Stepping in from the bullpen Sunday, back up Matt Moore was 12 of 21 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Miami’s injury report is filled with guys who didn’t practice Wednesday that will probably play. Jay Ajayi is likely being held out as a precaution as is Jarvis Landry. Ajayi has been on every injury report this season and Landry was listed last week too. Both guys suited up, with Ajayi gaining 51 yards on 23 carries to go with three catches for 26 yards. Landry caught seven passes for 93 yards and a score.
Last week the Dolphins sacked Josh McCown three times and got four stops in the backfield. They held the Jets to 4-of-11 on third downs, but did give up 28 points in the first three quarters. On the bright side, Miami did keep a goose egg on the board in the fourth as the offense put 17 points on the board to steal the victory.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-4)
If the Ravens had played any more like ass for the last month, Kanye West would be serenading them with one of his shitty songs outside their practice facility right now. They’ve lost two straight and four of their last five games. To open the season this Baltimore squad looked like they were one of the better teams in the league. It turns out they had just played the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, two of the few teams worse than they are.
First off, let’s talk about the bad we know. Wideout Michael Campanaro and outside linbacker Tim Williams are both listed as doubtful. Running back Terrence West and tight end Maxx Williams are both definitely out. To tell you who is listed as questionable would be ridiculous as pretty much every starter, especially on offense, was hit with the Q.
Are there any positives to take from Baltimore’s 24-16 defeat at the weak, fumble-prone hands of Case Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings? Well, Joe Flacco didn’t throw any interceptions, so there’s that. Really, that’s it.
Flacco was 27 of 39 for just 186 yards and a touchdown. That’s a lot of completions for not a lot a lot of yards. No receiver caught for more than 38 yards (that was tight end Ben Watson who did it on five catches). Flacco was sacked five times and to make up for it, the Ravens defense got to Keenum exactly zero times. They never even got a good sniff of his musk.
Now, to be fair, the Vikings have one of the NFL’s elite defenses, but the Dolphins aren’t too shabby on that side of the ball either, especially up front. Baltimore has to find a way to consistently move the ball, because their own defense can’t be counted on to get teams off the field. Minnesota was 7-of-15 on third downs Sunday and had the ball for 32:01 minutes.
The Pick
I finally picked the Dolphins right last week and I’ve decided to ride my hot streak. I like Matt Moore at quarterback here. All he has to do is keep the chains moving and he has the athleticism to do it with his feet when the plays break down. Miami probably should have just ridden with him in the first place instead of signing Jay Cutler. Baltimore is a mess and could be in store for some wholesale changes by the end of the season. Dolphins 20, Ravens 19
Last week
Straight up: 12-3
Against the spread: 7-8
Season
Straight up: 60-46
Against the spread: 50-56
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
