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Nevermore - Dolphins One and Done Thanks to Ravens' Defense

By Sean Fowler | January 5, 2009 | The Phish Tank

var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(320,224,468929,"http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css")}catch(ex){}}() A season of rebuilding. A team led by a rookie head coach, and a cast-away quarterback. Yet somehow, some way, this team fought and clawed its' way to a division title and a home playoff game. But in a season full of good breaks, a bad one must come. It seems the bad break was the opponent. The Ravens barely made the playoffs, but that was mostly due to their division and a stacked AFC. So once again, the Dolphins won the toss but gave away the ball. The Ravens were rolling along quickly, going 1st and 10, 2nd and 2, 1st and 10, 1st and 10, then 2nd and 5. But on that 2nd and 5, Le'Ron McClain was slammed in the backfield by Paul Soliai, causing a fumble. Joey Porter jumped on it, and the Dolphins had great field position on their own...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Game Recap, Miami Dolphins, NFL, Playoffs

Just like old times: Titans vs. Ravens once again

By Drexel Perry | January 5, 2009 | Total Titans

In 2000, the Tennessee Titans' path to a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay was obstructed by a rugged Baltimore Ravens team that upset them in an epic playoff battle. Eight years later, those pesky Ravens are once again standing in the way of the Titans' journey to a Super Bowl trip to Tampa. Thanks to yesterday's convincing victory over the Dolphins, the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans will renew one of the league's most fiercest rivalries in next Saturday's playoff showdown....

Read more | 9 Comments | Tags: AFC, Al Del Greco, Alge Crumpler, Baltimore Ravens, Eddie George, Kerry Collins, NFL, Playoffs, Ravens, Ray Lewis, Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans, Titans

Ravens roll over Dolphins, and await the Titans

By Mike Brown | January 5, 2009 | Ravens Roost

Was there ever any doubt? Did anyone really think the Dolphins were physical enough to slow down the Baltimore Ravens defense? Well, the reality of it is, no they weren't. Reminiscent of the Ravens 2000 defense this unit shut down everything the Dolphins could throw at them. Miami quarterback Chad Pennington had only thrown 7 interceptions coming into this game, and by the time it was over he had increased that number to 11, as the oppertunistic Ravens defense picked Pennington 4 times. The Ravens defense knew they would win out when Ed Reed picked off a Pennington pass and returned it for a quick 6 points. This was a kidney punch which sent the Dolphins into distress mode, and they could never find an answer for it. The Ravens defense constantly pounded the Dolphins offensive line, harrassing Pennington into making mistakes, and the Ravens D was there to capitlize on them, taking the heart...

Read more | 6 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Ed Reed, Joe Flacco, Miami Dolphins, Titans, Willis McGahee

NFL WILDCARD WEEKEND PREDICTIONS PART 2

By Pete1020 | January 4, 2009 | Community

After Day 1 of the NFL Wildcard Weekend, we have seen the MVP and the Rookie of the Year eliminated, while the division winners of the worst divisions in the NFL have advanced. Day 2 of Wildcard Weekend gives us...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles

NFL Power Rankings: Ranking the 12 Playoff Teams

By Greg Trippiedi | January 4, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Knowing the outcome of Saturday's games makes this a bit tougher to do, because I have to act like I don't know the outcomes of those games to rank the 12 teams pre playoffs. It would be easy to put Atlanta or Indy on bottom, but I had both teams reaching the round of eight. So, with that in mind, here's how MVN saw the Playoff Power Poll as of yesterday.1. Pittsburgh SteelersThe Steelers never led the MVN Power Rankings in any week but they are the most battle-tested, injury resistant team in the post season. Ben Roethlisberger had his best month in December, and figures to play in the AFC Divisional round coming off a concussion, but even if backup Byron Leftwich has to play, the Steelers might be in even better hands.2. Tennessee TitansHard to say how effective DT Albert Haynesworth and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch will be...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, power rankings, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans

PLAYOFFS Week 1: Ravens @ Dolphins Preview

By Sean Fowler | January 4, 2009 | The Phish Tank

Time for a Ravens Redux.The afterglow of the Dolphins' stunning entrance into the playoffs has faded and fast. This scrappy team suddenly finds itself a slight underdog AT HOME facing a rematch against the Baltimore Ravens. Let's take a look at the game and see if that's a smart bet to make.Baltimore Offense vs. Miami DefenseThe Ravens rank 18th in total offense. Which is practically a direct average of their 4th ranked rushing attack and 28th ranked passing attack. I wonder what they like to do? The Ravens are definitely a play action team. While Miami must clearly focus on stopping the run and can even afford to overfocus on that just a little, they cannot sleep on rookie QB Joe Flacco. He'll burn the 25th ranked passing defense down the field. It's just going to be one of those games where the Dolphins' backfield has to continue its resurgence....

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Game Preview, Miami Dolphins, NFL, Playoffs

MVN Previews the NFL's Wild Card Round

By Anthony Hall | January 2, 2009 | MVN Outsider

To preview the four games slated for this weekend's Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs, MVN asked a variety of bloggers who cover the teams involved to chime in with a few quick thoughts on their game and a prediction...Atlanta at Arizona:Saturday's late game marks the return to the playoffs for two teams that have been suffering from postseason drought. The 11-5 Atlanta Falcons have not seen a week 18 game since 2004 and the 9-7 Arizona Cardinals haven't been past the regular season since 1998. While the Cards come in as NFC West Division Champs, don't think for a second that they are the stronger team. Limping past Seattle this past Sunday after being slaughtered by the Patriots the prior week, the Cards aren't the team to be reckoned with this Wild Card weekend. That distinction goes to the NFC's hottest team, the Falcons. Riding a three game...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers

NFL Playoff Preview: Can the NFL's Best Hold Off the Up-and-Comers?

By Greg Trippiedi | January 2, 2009 | MVN Outsider

When we look at the 12 team NFL playoff field, I think we can separate the teams into three categories: The Elite, The Sideshow, and the Atlanta Falcons.The Elite Teams (in no specific order)Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina PanthersThe SideshowIndianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and Miami DolphinsAnd,Atlanta FalconsThis will probably be the most competitive playoff bracket the NFL has seen in years. There are six teams to beat, not the one elite team that we have seen lose in years past. I'll tell you right up front that I have no dog in this fight, as all of the teams I cover have been eliminated through regular season battles.After two rounds of playoff games, you can expect to see two or more of the elite teams in play, one or fewer of the sideshow teams, and maybe or...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, NFL Playoffs, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans

NFL Power Rankings: Ranking the 12 Playoff Teams

By Greg Trippiedi | January 4, 2009 | MVN Outsider

MVN Previews the NFL's Wild Card Round

By Anthony Hall | January 2, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers

NFL Playoff Preview: Can the NFL's Best Hold Off the Up-and-Comers?

By Greg Trippiedi | January 2, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, NFL Playoffs, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans

NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Some of the League's Best Will be Left Out of Playoffs

By Greg Trippiedi | December 28, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The final rendition of the MVN NFL Power Rankings will (attempt at least) try to credit teams for a season well done, even if we expect their season to come to an end this week. The disparity of talent on the teams in the playoff may have never been as strong as it will be this year. Denver and Arizona might both host home playoff games, and neither of those teams are worthy of being ranked in the top 20. Meanwhile, let's give it up to teams like the Eagles, Buccaneers, Bears, Patriots, Saints, and Redskins. While all those teams will need help to make the tournament, all of those teams could have been Super Bowl contenders in years' past. This year just happens to be the year of the very good teams, which should make for an exciting tournament with no clear cut favorite.1. Tennessee TitansThe Titans are the...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, power rankings, Tennessee Titans

NFL Top Ten: Best Games from the 2008 Season

By Greg Trippiedi | December 27, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The regular season may not be over just yet, but it has already produced plenty of classic games. I had the pleasure of picking ten games that might show up again on NFL Classics in the future. All games had to be heavily competitive to be considered, but bonuses were given to games with great storylines, great endings, and really critical results. Here are the top ten games from the first 16 weeks of the regular season:Number 10 (October 26)Giants defeat Steelers 21-14At the time of this game, whether or not the NFC had overtaken the AFC was very much in the air. The Eagles had taken care of the Steelers at home earlier this season, but the Steelers were hosting the Giants in this one. The Giants controlled much of the action in the first half, but the Steelers came out and scored in the second half, and led...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Top Ten

NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Pennsylvania teams eventually rise to top

By Greg Trippiedi | December 18, 2008 | MVN Outsider

1. Tennessee Titans (12-2) The Titans hold the top spot at least one more week through the loss, but they will have to beat Pittsburgh at home without Albert Haynesworth and Kyle VandenBosch to hold it any further. Good luck guys.2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1)The Eagles jump up to number two this week behind the strength of a third consecutive win, and the Steelers knocking off the Ravens, who beat the Eagles back when this was a team in turmoil. 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) Do the Steelers have the greatest defense of all time? Only a championship would validate this. The offense apparently isn't going to assist them until the final two minutes of every game.4. Baltimore Ravens (9-5) The Ravens aren't going to fall too far, falling victim to the "Tuck Rule curse". They should have taken care of business in Pittsburgh, and then it wouldn't have come down to...Read more

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, power poll, Tennessee Titans

Notable pro-bowl snubs; 2008 Edition

By Greg Trippiedi | December 17, 2008 | MVN Outsider

It's because of the way that the pro bowl selection process works that makes snubs inevitable. The fans get one third of the vote. The players get one third of the vote. And the coaches get one third of the vote. Herein lies the problem: no one knows anything. The coaches and players are too busy watching film on their opponents to be able to accurately grade players on teams they don't play. Same with the players. And don't get me started on the fans: who if they would have had their way would have sent Redskins K Shaun Suisham to Honolulu, and he's one of the larger reasons the Redskins have lost 5 out of their last 6 games.With all that out of the way, the selection trio from hell actually did a relatively good job this year. But they still inexcusably omitted some overqualified players in order to...Read more

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Pro Bowl, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Snubs, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins

NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Giants can no longer be called best in NFL

By Greg Trippiedi | December 10, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The New York Giants have topped the MVN power rankings for the last two months, but they simply aren't playing like the best team in the NFL anymore. Luckily for the Giants, the elite teams all seem to be playing in the NFC. But don't get me wrong, the Eagles game was still huge for the Giants, because the Giants had a chance to knock the Eagles out of playoff contention and couldn't capitalize. If the Eagles get in as the No. 6 seed, and win in the wild card round, guess who might not win a playoff game this year? Yep. I'm talking about big blue.The Giants will stay as the best team in the NFC for at least one more week, but they better take it to an inferior Dallas team, otherwise, we're talking about the first round bye being in question (the final two games for the...Read more

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, power poll, Tennessee Titans

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