By far this is the toughest game to handicap this weekend. I find reason to believe the Raiders will dominate this time around versus the Jets. The Packers hold a considerable advantage on their home turf and the Bucs haven't proven they can win in cold weather.
Which brings us to the game that will be played under the sun without a coaching controversy. The Dolphins will battle with the defending Super Bowl champions, Baltimore Ravens.
This is how I would approach this game....
Baltimore Ravens
Offense
The key to the offense will be how well the offensive line opens up holes for which ever running back they have in the backfield. The Dolphin defense is very quick and running outside the tackles will not work. They must run inside, especially since the Dolphins have found it hard to replace Gardener. Placing two bodies on big man, Tim Bowens is critical.
Elvis Grbac will not get many opportunities to go down the field versus Madison and Surtain. When he does he better be on target. Look for the Ravens to catch the Dolphins in play-action. Shannon Sharpe will be the #1 target on Sunday for Grbac.
Defense
There is no mystery to this defense. They are tough, physical, quick to the ball. You name it. They have Pro-Bowl caliber talent at all three parts of the defense: Boulware, Lewis, Woodson. They are the leaders at their position and this is what makes them so great.
How do they stop Miami? They must stop the run. Gailey will not abandon the running game, but he will try a little trickery here and there. The Ravens won't have to put seven or eight men in the box, their front four are very effective. With Miami's inconsistent running attack, they should be fine with just four and Lewis roaming the middle. They should play lots of Cover 2. Feidler can't read it and hates to throw against it.
Miami Dolphins
Offense
Everyone knows Chan Gailey is finished in South Florida and on to college. He has nothing to lose, therefore the Ravens will have to stay on their toes and expect alot of play-action, naked TE bootlegs and QB rollouts. Don't be surprised if he goes deep to Chambers on the first play of the game. Smith is going to get the ball, without a doubt. If the ground game gets going early, Miami will force Baltimore to stack the box and this will open up opportunities for Feidler. Feidler can not turn the ball over. The Dolphins can not turn the ball over. Period.
Defense
Very much like the Ravens defense. Physical, quick and 11 men on the ball. Leader at d-line (Taylor), linebacker (Thomas), secondary (pick one). They are just flat out good! #5 in the league in yards, #1 against the pass, 11.5 ppg @ home. What else can you say about this defense.
How do they stop the Ravens offense? They don't, the Ravens will do that. What they have to do is create turnovers. Grbac is just the man to help them too. The secondary wasn't as active in the TO department this year, but they shut down big receivers like Tim Brown (3-20), Rice (1-7), Bruce (3-36), Troy Brown (5-46), and Owens (4-43). Their corners can play with anyone. Ismail, Sharpe and Travis Taylor are no exception.
I anticipate the Dolphins putting eight men in the box and forcing the ball into Grbac's hands. You'll see lots of blitzing out of the Dolphins OLB's trying to catch Elvis from the blind side. I think this will be Grbac's toughest game of the season. Remember he missed the first game versus Pittsburgh and the second game was more offense than defense (26-21).
Result
You won't see a high scoring game. It may not even be very entertaining to most, but what you will see is a hard hitting, physical football game. I think this game will be settled on the field. No controversy, no climate conditions to deal with....just plain football.
Dolphins 17 Ravens 13
Which brings us to the game that will be played under the sun without a coaching controversy. The Dolphins will battle with the defending Super Bowl champions, Baltimore Ravens.
This is how I would approach this game....
Baltimore Ravens
Offense
The key to the offense will be how well the offensive line opens up holes for which ever running back they have in the backfield. The Dolphin defense is very quick and running outside the tackles will not work. They must run inside, especially since the Dolphins have found it hard to replace Gardener. Placing two bodies on big man, Tim Bowens is critical.
Elvis Grbac will not get many opportunities to go down the field versus Madison and Surtain. When he does he better be on target. Look for the Ravens to catch the Dolphins in play-action. Shannon Sharpe will be the #1 target on Sunday for Grbac.
Defense
There is no mystery to this defense. They are tough, physical, quick to the ball. You name it. They have Pro-Bowl caliber talent at all three parts of the defense: Boulware, Lewis, Woodson. They are the leaders at their position and this is what makes them so great.
How do they stop Miami? They must stop the run. Gailey will not abandon the running game, but he will try a little trickery here and there. The Ravens won't have to put seven or eight men in the box, their front four are very effective. With Miami's inconsistent running attack, they should be fine with just four and Lewis roaming the middle. They should play lots of Cover 2. Feidler can't read it and hates to throw against it.
Miami Dolphins
Offense
Everyone knows Chan Gailey is finished in South Florida and on to college. He has nothing to lose, therefore the Ravens will have to stay on their toes and expect alot of play-action, naked TE bootlegs and QB rollouts. Don't be surprised if he goes deep to Chambers on the first play of the game. Smith is going to get the ball, without a doubt. If the ground game gets going early, Miami will force Baltimore to stack the box and this will open up opportunities for Feidler. Feidler can not turn the ball over. The Dolphins can not turn the ball over. Period.
Defense
Very much like the Ravens defense. Physical, quick and 11 men on the ball. Leader at d-line (Taylor), linebacker (Thomas), secondary (pick one). They are just flat out good! #5 in the league in yards, #1 against the pass, 11.5 ppg @ home. What else can you say about this defense.
How do they stop the Ravens offense? They don't, the Ravens will do that. What they have to do is create turnovers. Grbac is just the man to help them too. The secondary wasn't as active in the TO department this year, but they shut down big receivers like Tim Brown (3-20), Rice (1-7), Bruce (3-36), Troy Brown (5-46), and Owens (4-43). Their corners can play with anyone. Ismail, Sharpe and Travis Taylor are no exception.
I anticipate the Dolphins putting eight men in the box and forcing the ball into Grbac's hands. You'll see lots of blitzing out of the Dolphins OLB's trying to catch Elvis from the blind side. I think this will be Grbac's toughest game of the season. Remember he missed the first game versus Pittsburgh and the second game was more offense than defense (26-21).
Result
You won't see a high scoring game. It may not even be very entertaining to most, but what you will see is a hard hitting, physical football game. I think this game will be settled on the field. No controversy, no climate conditions to deal with....just plain football.
Dolphins 17 Ravens 13
