Ravens are the AFC’s gathering threat in playoff race

Winter roads are on the way and Belleville Mitsubishi wants to ensure you and your vehicle are. If the Dolphins can’t run the ball effectively the offense could be exclusively reliant on big plays in the final four games.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco recorded one of his best performances of his career as he finished the day 36 of 47 for 381 yards and four touchdowns.

The lack of an effective ground game wiped out much of the threat of the play action. “Iron sharpens iron. We challenge each other, and everybody is able to do it in a way that makes each other better”. And if the game starts out with receivers losing their footing on key plays why not lean on the running game that was working until the equipment change happens for the receivers? Harbaugh laughed when reminded of that comment after his team shredded the Dolphins and their six-game winning streak, but declined to add to it.

“I was playing, no matter what, this week”, said Smith, who was back after missing the last two games due to a back injury. “We knew going in we’d have to control the front”. Dolphins throw first of three interceptions as teams swap turnovers. He just exploded through a seam and outran everyone to the end zone.

Tannehill went 29 for 40 for 226 yards and three interceptions.

Baltimore scored on four of their first five possessions as Joe Flacco completed 27 of his first 34 throws for 258 yards. “Because they understand, at this part of the season, you’ve got to be on it early, because it can snowball one way or the other”.

“I wish I could take credit for all that, but no”, Flacco said.

HOLD THE LINE: Flacco was able to stay upright almost the entire game, thanks to a noteworthy performance by the offensive line. That was reflected in an 18-play, 88-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter that ate up almost nine minutes. The methodical march took up 8 minutes, 57 seconds.

“He threw a good ball to DeVante”, said head coach Adam Gase. We had nothing that really jump-started us.

“Let’s be honest, let’s just put it out there – Joe cut them up [Sunday]”, Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda said. “We felt like we could get behind their [linebackers] a little bit”. I thought (Flacco’s) vision was phenomenal.

“Like we wanted it to look”, was how coach John Harbaugh described it.

Although there were lots of promises after Sunday’s loss about coming in this week and righting the ship, the Dolphins (7-5) are taking on lots of water when it comes to their sinking playoff hopes. Meanwhile, Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi totaled just a dozen carries for 61 yards against the NFL’s top rushing defense.

Ravens: The Ravens split the handoffs. Dixon set a season-high with 56 yards on six carries.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker did extend his kicking streak to 35 straight attempts without a miss. The number of combined runs in the first quarter? Two. “No, probably not”, Harbaugh said with a laugh.

Ravens: CB Tavon Young (shoulder) left in the second quarter but returned after halftime.

On Sunday, Flacco was only hit twice and wasn’t sacked for just the second game this season.

Harbaugh said his staff hasn’t yet had long to dig into film on the New England Patriots, who the Ravens face at Gillette Stadium next Monday, so couldn’t talk in too much detail on what they’ll do for a team still strong even without tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Meanwhile, the Steelers can not afford to rest either, as their next opponent is the NFL’s best rushing offense, and they will be traveling to Buffalo to match up with the Bills, who put up a tough fight against the 10-2 Raiders yesterday despite falling to 6-6 on the season.