The Dolphins have a huge game coming up this week against the Baltimore Ravens, a team that is also 7-5 and fighting for a playoff spot. Many football gambling fans are looking at this game as a pseudo playoff game, with the loser being at an extreme disadvantage in the head to head tiebreaker. The Ravens pass defense is ranked a dismal 31st in the league allowing 273.9 yards through the air per game, which means Ryan Tannehill has the opportunity to win this game by using his arm.
The Ravens’ pass defense has been shredded in the last 2 games allowing 775 passing yards and 6 touchdowns. They are also banged up with Jimmy Smith out for the rest of the season, and Lardarius Webb playing with constant back issues. This means they have been forced to rely on Anthony Levine at corner, who has not been having a smooth transition from the safety to corner back position. Philbin and Lazor must come up with a game plan that is going to attack the Ravens’ porous secondary. This is a game where they need to keep the ball in Tannehill’s hands.
Over the last 9 games Tannehill has had a QB rating over 100 in 5 of those contests, so it is clear that he is improving. Against the Ravens secondary, Tannehill will have the opportunity to make plays. Look for Jarvis Landry and Dion Sims to continue to get more targets, as they continue to develop more chemistry with Tannehill each week. Brian Hartline may be out for this game with a bruised knee, however in years past this would be a major loss, however this season Hartline has been an after thought in Miami’s passing attack, so this should make way for Rishard Matthews to get more playing time. Matthews has sparsely been used this season, however when he does see some action, he makes the most of it by catching 2 touchdowns and having 2 twenty plus yard receptions on a total of 9 receptions for this season.
There should be no reason why the Dolphins should not be able to nickel and dime their way down the field in the passing game against the Ravens. The key though will be for the offensive line to give Tannehill enough time to throw the ball. Baltimore has an outstanding pass rusher in Elvis Dumervil, who is currently tied for second in the league with 12.5 sacks this season, and another very good pass rusher in Terrell Suggs who has 7 sacks. Ja’Wuan James is going to have his hands full this game, along with the rest of the offensive line, but they need to give Tannehill time, because Tannehill has proven this year that when he does have time to throw he can be dangerous. The other key is that when Miami gets inside the redzone they need to score touchdowns like they did against Denver, not settle for field goals like they did against the Jets.
Tannehill has clearly made strides in the right direction this season, and in a big game like this against a below average pass defense, he has the chance to prove his worth and led the Dolphins to a much needed victory. I believe in Tannehill and I think as long as he is not running for his life, then he can make this a game where he can carry the team on his back to a victory. What does the rest of phins fans think of Tannehill being able to win this game for Miami?