AFC Wild Card Round Recap: Ravens Run Wild Over the Dolphins

The sixth-seeded Baltimore Ravens entered the AFC Wild Card round screaming like a banshee, and exited much in the same way in a resounding 27-9 road victory over the third-seeded Miami Dolphins.

In a rematch of their Week 7 contest that marked the turning point for both teams, the Ravens came out on top by virtue of their victory in the turnover department; Baltimore's defense forced five turnovers, highlighted by two Ed Reed interceptions including one returned for the game's first score.

Though the Ravens' offense began on a sour note with a Le'Ron McClain fumble, the Dolphins only managed a field goal and would fail to score for much of the game. Miami's vaunted Wildcat offense was rendered ineffective by the Ravens defense for the second time this season, with RB Ronnie Brown managing only 19 yards on 12 carries as the Dolphins' leading rusher.

Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron leaned heavily on the ground attack, as QB Joe Flacco was unable to move the ball as efficiently as in recent weeks. Le'Ron McClain finished the day with 75 yards and a TD, while Willis McGahee reeled off an impressive 48-yard run en route to McClain's score. Despite completing only 9 passes on 23 throws, Flacco was masterful in his elusion of the Dolphins' pass rush, taking no sacks and also committing zero turnovers.

Although the Dolphins managed to get in the endzone on a Chad Pennington TD pass to Ronnie Brown in the final quarter, Miami's fate was seemingly sealed when kicker Dan Carpenter's PAT was blocked. On the ensuing possession, Flacco would score on a QB draw to secure the lead and the Ravens' victory.

Pennington, known for his efficiency all year, was victimized by the Ravens defense and threw 4 uncharacteristic interceptions; the Dolphins had only turned the ball over an NFL-record-low 13 times in the regular season, while the Ravens' defense led the league in interceptions with 26.

With the Dolphins' magical season over, the Ravens advance to the AFC Divisional Round and travel to Nashville to face the top-seeded Tennessee Titans in a rematch of their Week 5 meeting, which the Titans won 13-10 on a last-minute drive highlighted by a controversial roughing-the-passer call.