There are only four games remaining in the 2014 NFL season and with the playoff race heating up in December, two teams competing for a playoff spot will face this Sunday in Miami when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Miami Dolphins. Both teams are currently sitting in second place in their respective divisions, holding on to realistic hopes of not just earning a wild card berth into the playoffs, but of actually wining their divisions. These teams are fairly well matched on offense and defense and as game forecasts, analysis, and predictions appear on sports columns and fan pages, the actual outcome of the game, may be decided by and go in favor of, the one team who wants it more.
Injuries in the secondary units have ravaged both the Ravens and Dolphins. For Baltimore the presence of corner Jimmy Smith will be sorely missed while Lardarius Webb's struggles continue since he suffered a back injury earlier in the year. Miami's losses in the secondary are just as devastating with Cortland Finnegan, Michael Thomas, and 2nd year backup player Jamar Taylor all gone for the rest of the season. The Dolphins were forced to look outside their locker room for help and brought back former player RJ Stanford, who had a nice game against the division rival Jets on Monday night. It has been the Ravens however, who, judging by the results over the last two games, seem to have suffered the most having given up 775 passing yards and 6 touchdown passes. Adding to an already 31st ranked defense in Baltimore's case, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata has been suspended for four games by the NFL, essentially nullifying the rest of Ngata's season. Miami's defense, even considering all the injuries, ranks higher than Baltimore's in just about every category.
It is a different story when it comes to the offensive side, and this clearly falls to the Ravens who outrank the Dolphins at just about every analytic metric used. Baltimore's offensive line is ranked # 2 in the entire NFL, and while Miami had made incredible improvements since last year, injuries have taken a horrific toll. It has been the creative game planning and play calling by head coach and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin and Bill Lazor, who have minimized what otherwise could have been an unrecoverable set of circumstances for the Dolphins as they keep finding ways to keep quarterback Ryan Tannehill surprisingly erect and functional in the face of football calamity. Miami's offensive line also managed to open holes and clear running lanes for primary running back Lamar Miller on Monday against the Jets' formidable defense. Ngata's absence may be Miami's cue to capitalize on its running game as a way to set up the play action passes for the Dolphins.
It looks, at least on paper, as it will come down to Baltimore's offense going against Miami's defense, however, Miami's offense will be looking to make the best of the Raven's casualties and the opportunities on offense for Miami may be too many to dismiss. This game however, may come down to what team is more motivated and wants to reach the post season the most.
For Miami, the landscape ahead appears challenging but they are still in control of their destiny. Baltimore's outlook is even brighter because Cincinnati, currently the division leader, has a tough remaining schedule and only has a one game lead over the Ravens, while for Baltimore, the schedule isn't as tough. The challenge for the Ravens is emerging at the end with a better record than the Bengals because they were swept by Cincinnati during the season. Miami, if they were to beat New England, would win the division as long as the Pats drop another game including the one against Miami, but the Dolphins still have to beat the Jets and the Vikings. Both the Ravens and the Dolphins have a lot to play for and the game on Sunday should reflect that. Expect Miami to win the motivation battle and beat Baltimore by a score of 38-28.