Behind Enemy Lines: Talking Wild Card With Dolphins and Ravens Bloggers

As we get ready for the Wild Card Weekend matchup of the Dolphins and Ravens, Brian Miller from PhinPhanatic and Tony Lombardi from ProFootball24x7 were nice enough to offer some insights on their teams for this week's Behind Enemy Lines feature.

Sportz Assassin: How do both of you feel about how your teams are playing heading into the playoffs?

Brian Miller (PhinPhanatic): I like the fact that no one is giving us any real credit for getting there. Jim Mora says on air that the best AFC East team is New England and there has been little "props" for winning the division as most of the kudos surrounds simply the turnaround. The Ravens are three-point favorites in this game and the Phins are getting tired of feeling second rate.

Tony Lombardi (ProFootball24x7): The Ravens are really beginning to gel in Cam Cameron's offense and now they are getting contributions from Mark Clayton and Willis McGahee. Joe Flacco has come on strong since the last meeting with the Dolphins and has the third highest road QB rating among NFL quarterbacks. And of course the team's defense is always dependable. The Ravens could be a dangerous post season participant.
Sportz: Both teams were bad last year and made a ton of changes. Seriously, what were your expectations heading into the season?

Tony: Given uncertainties at quarterback, a perceived lack of depth in the secondary and preseason confusion on the offensive line, and a rookie head coach, I expected six wins at best from the Ravens.

Brian: I expected and predicted a 6-10 season. Last season the Phins lost six games by three points and two others by 10. Of those six games I believe three of them were on final play FGs. I thought this year we would a few of those.

Sportz: How long did you think it would take to get back into the postseason?

Tony: Optimistically, 2010.

Brian: Most Dolphins fans expected a three-year turnaround. Most targeted the 2010 season as the year we get into the playoffs. Next year will be tough as the schedule is not easy, but this team is still rebuilding so it will be interesting to see who is here and who is gone next season.

Sportz: What has your new head coach done to change the culture of your franchise?

Brian: Tony Sparano is a tough but fair coach. He does not tolerate mistakes and he does not tolerate stupid penalties. However, he treats his players like men and they respect him for it. Sparano brings attitude to this team and that is something that has been lacking in Miami since Don Shula. He is not a fun loving happy go lucky like Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt or brutal like (Nick) Saban. He is very much like Don Shula on that practice field and that carries over to the games.

Tony: There is a focus on team and there's far less individuality, bravado and obnoxious swagger. The team is very business-like in its approach week in and week out.

Sportz: What advantage do the Ravens have over the Dolphins in their game?

Brian: Defensive leadership. The Ravens are very stout on defense and they are led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. The Phins don't have a standout veteran "leader" on defense. I think their defense makes their offense a lot better.

Tony: The Dolphins need to run effectively to have a chance against the Ravens but that won't happen. Teams that put Chad Pennington on his back two or more times per game have a high degree of success. Pennington will be forced to the air and unfortunately for the Dolphins he'll also be forced to the ground and into ultimately create key turnovers.

Sportz: What advantage do the Dolphins have over the Ravens?

Tony: None, this game is a bad matchup for the Dolphins on both sides of the football

Brian: Chad Pennington. Pennington has been to the playoffs before and he is a very methodical and cerebral QB. He will need to be quicker this week against a pass rushing defense that will find a way to him. Still, he is very accurate and doesn't tend to do things outside of his capabilities.

Sportz: Who wins the game?

Brian: I think the Dolphins do. This is not the same football team that played way back in Week 7 (Ravens won, 27-13). They are a more cohesive unit who's defense is playing better football as well. This game will come down to one thing. Defense. The Ravens have the better one but it will be which one can force the most mistakes from the offense.

Tony: The Dolphins have barely beaten far weaker teams than the Ravens at home, even weaker teams that have traveled coast to coast (Seahawks by two, Raiders by two, 49ers by five). The Ravens have traveled well this season and Joe Flacco shows no signs of being rattled in a big road game. He maintained his composure in a very hostile environment at Texas Stadium in a must win game for both teams. Essentially that was his post season baptism. This week he answers the prayers of Ravens' fans. Ravens 23, Dolphins 13

Sportz: I love what Miami has done this year. From what this team was last year and the manner in which things happened was just awful. Seeing the Phins have success this year is one of the best stories of the season.

But I'm going with Tony on this one. I think the Ravens' defense is just that good and the offense doesn't do anything to put the team in bad situations. Baltimore wins a tough defensive battle, 16-10.

Thanks again to Brian Miller from PhinPhanatic and Tony Lombardi from ProFootball24x7 for coming into the 'House and getting us prepped for the Phins-Ravens Wildcard battle. Hopefully we will hear from one of them next week when the winner moves on to the Divisional Round against either the Steelers or Titans.