Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 4, 2013 http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20131006015&home=15&vis=33 (AP) -- Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco are both likely eager to get back on the field after Week 4 losses. They probably just want it to hurt a little less when they square off Sunday in Miami. Tannehill has been sacked a league-high 18 times, including four in Monday night's 38-17 loss to New Orleans, and the Ravens' 23-20 defeat to Buffalo last Sunday prompted general manager Ozzie Newsome to trade for offensive line help. The problem has been there all year for the Dolphins (3-1), but it has received more attention in the week following the loss to the Saints than it did following their three wins. "It's a big concern," coach Joe Philbin said. "Eighteen sacks is 4 1/2 a game. That's too many." Flacco has been sacked 12 times, tied for the seventh-most, and he was dropped four times against the Bills while also throwing a career-high five interceptions. On top of that, the Ravens (2-2) are 28th in rushing with 64.0 yards per game and tied for last in the league with 2.6 yards per carry. "I think the whole O-line is disappointing right now," coach John Harbaugh said. "There's no one more disappointed than they are right now. We've got to run block better, we've got to pass block better." It led Newsome to acquire left tackle Eugene Monroe from Jacksonville on Tuesday for a pair of 2014 draft picks. The Ravens abandoned the running game against the Bills, attempting a franchise-low nine rushes. "I just felt like we weren't running the ball well enough to win the game running the ball," Harbaugh said. "Looking back on it, I feel the same way. After watching the tape, I feel we did exactly the right thing to try to win that game." Running back Ray Rice has 89 yards on 30 attempts in three games, and Bernard Pierce leads the team with 151 yards on 56 rushes. Miami ranks 10th in rushing defense, holding opponents to 98.5 yards per game. It limited the Saints to 68 yards on the ground, but Drew Brees more than made up for it with 413 yards passing and four touchdowns. The Ravens suffered through a similarly humbling loss in Week 1 to the Broncos, but they've responded by allowing 38 points in three games since Peyton Manning's seven-touchdown night. Flacco acknowledged the 23 points they gave up to the Bills weren't all on the defense. "A lot of that falls on me today and just throwing the ball to the wrong team," Flacco said. "If we don't do that, then this game probably looks a little different." While turnovers were an issue for both teams in Week 4, neither has been particularly impressive taking the ball away. The Ravens have six and a minus-2 differential and the Dolphins have seven and a minus-1. "That's something we have to get corrected," Philbin said after his team turned the ball over four times against the Saints. "I reminded the players the last time the Dolphins won the division (in 2008), they had a plus-17 turnover margin for the season. That's something we need to start heading toward." The Dolphins would also like to see an improvement in the chemistry between Tannehill and wide receiver Mike Wallace, who is fourth on the team in receptions (15) and yards (176). Torrey Smith, Flacco's No. 1 target, is third in the league in receiving yards with 435 on 21 catches. His 20.7 yards-per-catch average is second in the NFL. Who Flacco's other receiving options will be Sunday is still up in the air. Jacoby Jones has missed the last three games with a sprained right MCL while Marlon Brown injured his thigh last week. Baltimore has lost four straight regular-season road games despite winning playoff games in Denver and New England last year on its way to the Super Bowl. Miami has won three in a row at home and is seeking its first 4-1 start since 2003 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted October 4, 2013 24 21 Baltimore is a lot better than they've shown thus far this season. I think they shut down the Miami running game and make life difficult on Tannehill. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted October 4, 2013 Depends if the Ravens decide to run the ball 4 times or 40. If the former: 27 16 If the latter: 24 30 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheese Head 11 Posted October 4, 2013 Ravens need to get Ray Rice involved in this one to make it happen. I don't think it is going to happen. Ravens: 17 Dolphins: 24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theMileHighGuy 656 Posted October 5, 2013 Rice gets stifled despite more carries, and Flacco gets raped by the Phins defense. 24 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted October 6, 2013 Rice gets stifled despite more carries, and Flacco gets raped by the Phins defense. 24 17 This is basically my exact take on the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted October 6, 2013 Depends if the Ravens decide to run the ball 4 times or 40. If the former: 27 16 If the latter: 24 30 They have the best QB in the league... they can't afford to run the ball 40 times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted October 6, 2013 Yea... I wish the Lions had a 100 million dollar QB... Anyway, I see the Dolphins winning it. 17-14. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phins4life 271 Posted October 6, 2013 Main factors in this one... - Grimes vs Smith - Our front seven vs Rice - Tannehill's ability to rise above an inept O-line and not fumble the ball every time he gets hit i from behind - Wallace? We haven't exactly struggled without him, but it might be nice to get a little return on that 60 mil investment and see him push the secondary back a little. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted October 6, 2013 Yea... I wish the Lions had a 100 million dollar QB... Anyway, I see the Dolphins winning it. 17-14. Kinda surprised you don;t, actually. "Only" 75 million to the great Matthew Stafford? Cheap ass Lions... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 6, 2013 Dolphins LE Cameron Wake (knee) is active for Sunday's Week 5 game against the Ravens. Wake will only end up missing one game after sitting out last Monday's loss to New Orleans. The Dolphins inactives are QB Pat Devlin, RB Mike Gillislee, CB Dimitri Patterson, OL Danny Watkins, CB Will Davis, LB Josh Kaddu, and OL Dallas Thomas. Ravens LT Eugene Monroe is inactive for Sunday's Week 5 game against the Dolphins. With Monroe still getting acclimated to the Ravens offense, Bryant McKinnie will continue to start at left tackle. Also inactive are WR Marlon Brown, NT Terrence Cody, WR Jacoby Jones, OL Jah Reid, C Ryan Jensen, and DE Marcus Spears. Deonte Thompson (concussion) is active and will see heavy snaps opposite Torrey Smith. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted October 6, 2013 (edited) The Ravens don't know how to utilize their best playmaker(s) on offense Ray Rice and Benard Pierce. As long as they continue to iver utilize Flacco, I think they lose. They haven't shown that they are willing to run the ball yet so I'm going with the Dolphins here. 24 16 Edited October 6, 2013 by dutchff7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted October 6, 2013 (edited) 24 21 Baltimore is a lot better than they've shown thus far this season. I think they shut down the Miami running game and make life difficult on Tannehill. Had to be a FG fest! So close... Edited October 6, 2013 by KempBolt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
