First, an announcement: I can’t do the live blog for the first playoff game, as I have to attend a funeral service, but Jarrett might cover.
Now to the game.
The Ravens downed the Dolphins in week 7, 27-13 in Miami, but the Purple Birds will meet a totally different team on Wild Card weekend. Chad Pennington has been named NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and rightly so. He’s revived his career in Miami, and stud workhorse Ronnie Brown has taken loads of pressure off the former Jets QB. A new threat for the ‘Fins is Ricky Williams, who has taken carries to keep Brown fresh.
The Ravens have had their own emerging surprises since then, with Joe Flacco becoming a formidable NFL QB, Le’Ron McClain being a top running back, and Ray Rice, whose coming out party was against Miami, is finally back. Todd Heap has become a part of the air game again, and Mark Clayton has been as hot as any receiver in the AFC.
Just as a side-note, for some unheralded stats, Jameel McClain leads the NFL in safeties, Sam Koch is 2nd in the league in punts inside the 20 and 1st in the NFL in punts inside the 10 and 5 yard lines. Matt Stover now holds the all-time NFL record for consecutive made extra points. He could go down as one of the greatest NFL kickers ever when he retires.
I hate Greg Camarillo. Uggh. Ravens win 24-17.