1. We will outcoach the Ravens coaching staff. I have the ultimate faith in our coaching staff. If you think Bill Parcells isn't going to intimately involved in the game plan, you're nuts. Take the coach of the year (Sparano) + Bill Parcells + Dan Henning + Pasqualioni and stack em up against Harbaugh + Cam Cam + Rex Ryan. I think our guys have a clear edge. 2. We will win the turnover battle. We never turn the ball over. The Ravens need turnovers to win. Chad's not gonna take any chances. He will dink and dunk and be accurate. Flacco's a rookie, and expect for him to make mistakes. 3. Our DBs will make Baltimore one-dimensional. Our DBs have been playing lights out football. I think we'll be able to stop their passing attack and can make them one-dimensional. 4. Home Field Advantage/Disrespect. This team truly has an us-against-the-world attitude. I often roll my eyes at players who play that card (like the Patriots), but I think in this case, it is genuinely a motivating factor. I also think the crowd at the game feels the same way and will be extra vocal. I know I will! 5. Dan Carpenter. I trust this dude to make a big kick if needed. He's been clutch all year. He might be the deciding factor.
i agree with 4 and 5. 2 and 3 are possible but not definite and 1 i disagree with completely but its just opinions
4 is a non-factor IMO. The Ravens have been a great road team this season and Flacco is a better QB on the road. And the "respect" card has been overplayed. You're in the playoffs. Unless you are the Cardinals, your team is respected. Sure, you may not be compared to the Jints or the Steelers/Titans, but neither are the Ravens. 5 may be a factor. I love Stover, but his leg has weakened this season. If the Ravens need a 45+ yard FG, they may be in trouble. 3 may be a factor. I will say that, unlike their first meeting when it was Mason or nothing, that Flacco has been hitting his #1, #2 and #3 receivers. 2 will be decided on the field. Miami is great at keeping hold of the ball and Baltimore is great at taking it away. No one can determine prior to the game what is going to happen in that area. No one. What about 1? I don't know-that may work against the Dolphins in some respects. Harbaugh is numero uno for the Ravens. What he says (and wants) goes. What if Sparano gets a call from Bill halfway through the second quarter and tells him to make changes. Will that strengthen the team or sap Sparano's confidence as HC? Time will tell.
From what I know, it hasn't happened all season. Only time that they talk is on Mondays when Parcells, Sparano and Ireland meet up to discuss the opponent and whats going on with the team from what I've read. Other than that, they don't speak.
No one can determine any of this stuff before the game. Its all conjecture. But I appreciate your responses to my points. I think we'll win by 1 or 3 points. Its gonna be a tough game for both teams.
I'm worried about Rex Ryan, becuase the last time we played the Ravnes he completely shut down the Wildcat. Now, that could either work to our advantage or not I guess.
I agree but it's worth noting that Dan Henning has been coaching football since before a lot of us were born. He has gotten everything you could ask for out of the Miami offense.
call me nuts.. there us NOTHING anywhere that would back up such a silly statement. I think you assume much without the tiniest bit of proof. This is the kind of thing espn would say.
Biggest problem the Dolphins are gonna' have is that the Ravens have already arrived safely in Miami. Fins staff has no "answer" for this unexpected occurrence.
No offense GardenHead, but I think you might be underestimating Harbaugh as a coach as well as Cameron and Ryan. Harbaugh is a great motivator in my opinion and much like our coach in Miami, he doesn't allow any bull. Cameron was an awful head coach, no doubt about it, but he's a very good offensive coordinator. He's a smart coach when not asked to take on 53 guys. And lastly, Ryan is one helluva DC. Its no clear edge in my opinion because in the end, Parcells isn't on the field making the calls.
I watched Dan for 4 years at the University of Montana, you're right about him being clutch (he was for most of his career) but, last year in his senior year he missed a couple clutch kicks. Not like that matters though, Dan is a good kicker and if he's been clutch all year, he'll most likely be in this game
This is the stupidity that is going around the league. They all believe that Bill Parcells sits upstairs and coaches the games. I heard on ESPN & elsewhere this very notion over the last week, as the argument against Sparano getting the coach of the year award. People are making assumptions based on their belief that Parcells has Sparano as a marrionette on strings. If you have followed the Dolphins this year, at all, you would know that Sparano is the coach of this team, and that Bill Parcells respects his authority and has let Tony be "the man" all year long. But of course being ignored by national TV all year most people still assume this ignorant notion. We have been the most invisible team in the NFL this year. Even Detroit got their national game on Thanksgiving. And I will reiterate, we are the only team to never make an appearance on a Thursday or Saturday game on the NFL Network. 3 years of games, 3 years of no appearances. Shameful.
Yeah I think so, I don't really remember him ever missing any but I checked around and saw he missed some. I'm wondering if they were just blocked, this year alot of our PAT's/FG's were blocked.
We can Match the Ravens toughness.. physical and Mental...The Ravens are the toughest team in the League but imo we have come a looong way in that department as this season has progressed.
I agree with the Ravens being the toughest team in the league. We've ended 2 running backs seasons (Steelers rookie Rashard Mendenhall and I think we put Chris Perry out for the year too) and Brandon Jacobs hasn't been the same since they played us. Same with Chris Johnson. This is the most physical front seven in the league in my opinion. Not something to boast about, just an insight into just how hard our guys hit.
How about a semi serious version: 1. Because secretly, the Ravens want to lose, so they can stay in South Beach? Baltimore this time of year, or South Beach...you make the call. 2. Miami never has lost a game when they have completely sold out Dolphins Stadium...of course we never have completely sold out Dolphins Stadium... 3. Our cheerleaders are hotter then the Raven's cheerleaders. 4. Because Boomer is going to use profanity when proclaiming our impending victory...we are 1-0 when he does that... 5. Because we will sacrifice a chicken..or a bucket of chicken..worked for Serrano...
we're gonna win! [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FUB8SrlQAE"]YouTube - You're Gonna Lose![/ame]
true but they did give us the london game, for what its worth. even though we sorta volunteered for that i suppose
This sounds great. But the difference, in my mind, will be for us to at LEAST match the intensity of the Raven's defense. They will come out wanting to punch us in the mouth. We have to be up to the task.
1. Are you serious? Our coaching staff has more then enough to hang their hats on. We don't need validation from you. Our season has been solid, and we've played for 16 weeks in a row...Most of the time not skipping a beat. Tribute that to our coaches 2. This is prob. the most realistic point, the Phish take care of the ball well, but we have made the best turn it over often. Suggs Pick6 comes to mind. 3. You have the 25th ranked pass defense, you're 10th in rush Defense. Is a new team going to emerge? Have you picked up some Ringers? Did you clone our defense? 4. Home field advantage is a decent point, but we have been road warriors this year too. Joe actually has a better passer rating on the road (3rd best in the NFL) 5. The kicker is going to get some work this game no doubt, and has been more consistent past 40 yards then Stover....What kind of Playoff experience does he have? Missin PAT's wont cut it. Why the Ravens will DOMINATE. 1.We have the NUMBER 2 RANKED DEFENSE IN THE LEAGUE, have given up the fewest first downs, forced the most three and outs and have the MOST interceptions. 2.We own the Time of Possesion with the best in the league avg per game, we pound the rock..Jason Ferguson or a beat up NT will not stop our guys! Did I mention we have the fourth best rushing attack? Not because we have a two thousand yard rusher, but because we Punish the other side. We have a bowling ball named Lo Neal and a tank named McClain. 3.We have warriors on both sides of the ball. Ray Lewis,Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, Bart Scott, T Sizzle, Samari Rolle, D-Mason, McClain, McGahee,Todd Heap.etc. Where can you match this? 4.We WILL PLAY HARDER FOR 60 MINUTES. You can't match out intensity, our toughness, or our will to WIN 5.Cam Cameron will systematically dismantle your basic vanilla defense with soo many looks you might have to call Zach Thomas at half time for a clue. You look at our offense from an outsider from the stats.... Look deeper, we can throw the long ball, pound you into submission, nickle and dime you all the way down the field (much like Pennington can). You have this idea that Joe can't throw, or this game is TOO big for JOE..You're WRONG, IT WILL BE PROVEN TOMORROW! GOOD LUCK NEXT SEASON. "WOULD YOU GIVE IT ALL YOUR THE TEAM, WOULD YOU DIE FOR YOUR BROTHER NEXT TO YOU?"- Ray Lewis GO RAVENS.
*truth* You'll see how true it is tomorrow. It was a nce run by the Phish, but the Fairy Tale is over.
games are decided on the field not with what prior statistics or our analytic thoughts have to say. we will see tomorrow.
Don't count those chickens to soon. The two road teams that LOST so far were picked to Win (Were the better stat team) and it didn't help. "Thats why you play the game!"
Harry, bro I hope you stick around after the game, you and your fellow Ravens fans have been a pleasure to chat with.
Are you kidding? Phins got a lot of national run. I remember thinking if I hear the word "wildcat" one more time I'm gonna throw up! HH
hahaha, they just went over it again on espn. I already know how we are going to get you at least once.. look for an entrochment today out of that formation. We are going to slow down your reads.
Yea, that went well huh.. great game bro, y'all whipped us in every phase. Next year, we'll both be back so we'll get another shot at you. I hope you stick around Harry, been a pleasure having you aboard.