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Ravens beat Dolphins in key AFC matchup

Dec 7, 2014 - 11:13 PM Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the visiting Baltimore Ravens overcame a sluggish start to post a 28-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins in a crucial AFC matchup.

Flacco was 25-of-33 for 269 yards and Justin Forsett added a rushing touchdown for the Ravens (8-5), who kept pace in the AFC North race. They are tied with Pittsburgh behind division-leading Cincinnati, which stands at 8-4-1.

Ryan Tannehill finished 23-of-33 for 227 yards and a touchdown for a Miami (7-6) team that entered the game owning the AFC's second wild-card spot due to tiebreakers.

Miami was at the Baltimore 4-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but wound up going backwards. Lamar Miller was tackled for a 2-yard loss on a carry and Tannehill was sacked following a false start penalty.

"We had three negative plays on that possession and that's tough," said Miami head coach Joe Philbin. "If we moved the ball forward, we were going to treat it as four-down territory."

Caleb Sturgis kicked a 34-yard field goal to draw the Dolphins within 14-13.

However, the Ravens extended their lead when Forsett ran for a 2-yard touchdown after a Flacco fumble was overturned on a review.

A 44-yard carry by Forsett on the next Baltimore drive helped set up Flacco's game-sealing touchdown on a keeper.

"Start off the way we did and come back and get stronger as the game went on is such a statement for our guys," said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.

The Dolphins got an early jump on the Ravens, scoring on their first two drives. Sturgis kicked a 46-yard field goal and Tannehill hit Brian Hartline on a quick slant for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:41 remaining in the first quarter.

Baltimore was lifeless on offense, opening the game with three consecutive three-and-outs.

When the offense finally started to click, the Ravens' drive was stunted by Flacco's first interception since Nov. 2. R.J. Stanford picked off Flacco in the end zone one play after wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. dropped what would have been a touchdown pass.

Baltimore tightened up on defense following Miami's hot start and forced a second straight punt. The Ravens were pinned at their own 3-yard line late in the first half, but Flacco orchestrated a 12-play drive that he capped by throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Flacco rolled to his right and fired to Smith in the flat with two seconds remaining.

The Ravens made a gutsy call on their opening possession of the third quarter. Flacco picked up two yards on a quarterback sneak to convert a 4th-and-1 from his own 34. He later completed a 14-yard pass on 3rd-and-11 to Marlon Brown, who hurdled a defender before going down at the Miami 13. Baltimore went up 14-10 when Flacco hit Kamar Aiken in the back of the end zone on the next play.

Game Notes

Elvis Dumervil registered 3 1/2 sacks and established a new Ravens single- season sack record with 16. He broke the record of 15 set by Peter Boulware in 2001 ... The Ravens have won five straight games against the Dolphins, including the playoffs ... Baltimore tight end Owen Daniels caught a pass in a 100th straight game ... Miami safety Louis Delmas was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury ... Forsett had 71 yards on 13 carries ... Smith caught seven passes for 70 yards.