<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins 1/4/2009</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:19:11 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:19:11 GMT</pubDate>
		<generator>RUWT?</generator>

		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Ravens' defense clamps down on Dolphins]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Ravens' ferocious defense closed
the book on one of the NFL's feel-good stories of the season.

Ed Reed returned an interception for a touchdown and the Ravens 
harassed quarterback Chad Pennington and the Miami Dolphins into
a slew of turnovers in a 27-9 victory in Sunday's AFC wild-card 
matchup.

Baltimore (12-5) picked off Pennington four times, more than 
half his regular-season total, in beating the Dolphins for the 
second time this season.

"We turned the ball over and we did some things that were 
uncharacteristic of us today," first-year Miami coach Tony 
Sparano said.  "Give credit to the Baltimore Ravens, heck of a 
football team, heck of a defense."

Le'Ron McClain had an 8-yard scoring run and Matt Stover kicked 
a pair of field goals for the Ravens, who will visit the 
top-seeded Tennessee Titans next Saturday in the divisional 
playoffs in a rematch of a Week Five contest won by the Titans, 
13-10, in Baltimore

Miami (11-6), which won the AFC East title following a 
disastrous 1-15 campaign in 2007, simply wilted under the 
Ravens' dominating defense, which has held an opponent to 13 
points or fewer 11 times this season.

After committing a league-low 13 turnovers during the season, 
the Dolphins committed five against Baltimore, which beat Miami 
here, 27-13, on October 19.

"We heard all week that they don't turn the ball over," Ravens 
linebacker Ray Lewis said. "But we force turnovers."

Reed, who led the league in interceptions with nine during the 
regular season, had two of the four picks, registering his 12th 
career touchdown and first in the postseason.

"No one is surprised by the way Ed Reed plays. Ed Reed is maybe 
the best player in the game," Ravens rookie coach John Harbaugh 
said. "You could certainly make an argument for it."

The former University of Miami standout gave the Ravens the lead
for good when he took back an errant toss by Pennington 64 yards
for a 10-3 lead with 2:30 left in the opening half.

"League MVP, league MVP no doubt, MVP or whatever you want to 
call it," Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton said. "He deserves 
all of the accolades.  Ed is such a good guy and he really knows
the game.  With the things he does, nothing really surprises 
us."

Jim Leonhard and Fabian Washington also intercepted Pennington, 
who was picked off just seven times in the regular season and 
had not thrown more than one in a game this year.

"It has been a special year; that's why it hurts so much," 
Pennington said. "You want to keep it going and see how far you 
can take it."

Baltimore's Joe Flacco was a pedestrian 9-of-22 for 135 yards 
but also rushed for a late touchdown in becoming the eighth 
rookie quarterback to start a postseason game since 1966.

McClain rushed for 75 yards on 19 carries and Willis McGahee 
added 62 for the Ravens, who snapped a three-game postseason 
losing streak and gave rookie coach Harbaugh the victory.

Pennington, who is in his first season with Miami after he was 
released by the New York Jets in August, threw for 252 yards on 
25-of-38 passing with one touchdown.

"I told Chad Pennington that he's my guy and that I believe in 
him," Ginn said. "I can't thank him enough for what he's done 
for us.  The guy's a real trooper."

"I can't thank him enough for what he's done for us," Sparano 
added.

With the Dolphins trailing, 20-3, Pennington finally got his 
team in the end zone, flipping a 2-yard scoring pass to Ronnie 
Brown.  Even that ended on a sour note when Frank Walker blocked
the extra point attempt.

The Dolphins' running game also was non-existent.  Brown was 
held to 19 yards on 12 carries and Ricky Williams managed 17 
yards on four rushes.

Despite forcing a fumble by Flacco at midfield on the opening 
possession, Miami got off to  an inauspicious start, failing to 
score on two cracks at the 1-yard line and settling for Dan 
Carpenter's 19-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

Baltimore also had a superb chance for an early touchdown in the
opening quarter, facing a 1st-and-goal at the 4-yard line.

However, the Ravens also couldn't punch the ball into the end 
zone and tied it at 3-3 on  Stover's 23-yard field goal with 
2:47 left in the quarter.

Baltimore's defense started to impose its will in the second 
quarter, picking off Pennington twice, including Reed's long 
return for a 10-3 lead with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half.

"It felt like a 200 from track, so it took a while to catch my 
breath," Reed said of his zig-zagging return. "I don't think I 
caught my breath until like the third quarter. It was fun."

Stover tacked on a 31-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining 
as the Ravens carried a 13-3 lead into the locker room.

McClain's touchdown run midway through the third quarter 
extended the cushion to 20-3.  It was set up following a fumble 
by Patrick Cobbs, which Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs 
recovered at Miami's 19-yard line.

"We kept pounding today," McClain said. "We gave up the ball 
early, but after the fumble everyone gathered around me and told
me not to worry and keep running north and south.  You have got 
to keep gutting it out."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nfl]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/84511-Ravens-defense-clamps-down-on-Dolphins</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/84511-Ravens-defense-clamps-down-on-Dolphins</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:52:51 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Ravens visit Dolphins in rematch]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[Baltimore (11-5) at Miami (11-5), Sunday, 1 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- While the Miami Dolphins are the feel-good 
story of 2008, the Baltimore Ravens are not far behind.

In a matchup between teams that few - if anyone - would have 
predicted to be in the postseason, the Ravens visit the Dolphins
on Sunday in the AFC wild card round.

It's a rematch of a regular-season contest in Miami on October 
19, which the Ravens won, 27-13, to spark their run toward a 
playoff berth following last season's dismal 5-11 mark that cost
head coach Brian Billick his job.

Baltimore had limped into Miami on the heels of a three-game 
losing streak, albeit against the top three teams in the AFC. 
However, rookie quarterback Joe Flacco finished 17-for-23 for 
232 yards and a scoring pass to ignite a four-game winning 
streak.

The Ravens shut down the Dolphins' running game and forced Chad 
Pennington to throw 35 times, one of which was intercepted and 
returned for a touchdown by linebacker Terrell Suggs.

That contest marked a turning point for Flacco, who had thrown 
one TD pass and seven interceptions in his first five games, but
tossed 13 scoring passes and just five picks the rest of the 
way.

Facing a must-win game to get into the playoffs in the 
regular-season finale against Jacksonville, Flacco was superb in
throwing for 297 yards on 17-of-23 passing in the Ravens' 27-7 
victory.  He completed 14-of-17 for 246 yards in the first half,
when the Ravens took a 24-7 lead.

The rookie's maturity and the return to form of a ferocious 
defense has sparked a revival under first-year coach John 
Harbaugh in Baltimore, which lost nine straight games at one 
point in 2007.

"I wouldn't even know where to start on that," Harbaugh said of 
the turnaround.  "Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, the offensive 
line, Derrick Mason.  Where do we stop?"

The Ravens' defense will be a daunting task for Miami to solve, 
having allowed the third-fewest points in the league and not 
allowing an opposing running back to rush for 100 yards in 35 
consecutive games.

Yet the Dolphins have been remarkably resilient in bouncing back
from last season's 1-15 debacle. They are the first one-win team
in NFL history to reach 10 victories the following season.

Miami completed its rags-to-riches tale with a 24-17 victory 
over the New York Jets to wrap up the AFC East Division title.

Pennington, who was cast aside by New York when the Jets 
acquired Brett Favre in August, outplayed the three-time NFL MVP
as the Dolphins finished the season with five consecutive 
victories.

"It's always a sweet feeling to be a champion," Pennington said.
"My teammates and coaches accepted me from the get-go and it's 
just been an unbelievable ride.  We're really enjoying ourselves
right now."

The Dolphins have been enjoying themselves since the loss to the
Ravens, winning nine of the next 10 games to complete an 
improbable run into the postseason.

Miami also features a first-year coach in Tony Sparano, whose 
squad matched the 1999 Indianapolis Colts' NFL single-season 
improvement record of 10 wins.

"I couldn't be prouder for any of my players in the locker room,
but certainly for the guys that were here last year," Sparano 
said.

"They're a different team right now," Ravens safety Ed Reed said
of the Dolphins. "We're a totally different team."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nfl]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/84001-Ravens-visit-Dolphins-in-rematch</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/84001-Ravens-visit-Dolphins-in-rematch</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:31:47 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
	
			
	</channel>
</rss>









