Intriguing Game- Week Two
Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens
Dolphins: When I was previewing divisions during the Summer, I remember saying there was a ton of pressure on Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins drafted him fifth overall back in 2020 and has had trouble staying on the field due to injuries. I like what I saw from Tua in week 1. He was in control of the game and had that command I always discuss of his offense. Sunday also marked the debut of Tyreek Hill, and he was impressive as well. The tandem of Cheetah and Jaylen Waddle will be a feared one this year, write it down. I’m a fan of this defense. They have athletes in each tier of the unit, and they play together as a unit. It’s never just one guy, it’s several guys making key plays when it matters the most. One issue I’ve had with the Miami Dolphins is how they start off regular seasons. They’ll win a game, then proceed to lose several games in a row. After the losing streak, they go back to winning. They have an issue remaining consistent. Just imagine if they came out the gate firing on all cylinders, they would be a scary team. They were dominant against the Patriots on Sunday. The defense played well, and the offense moved the ball down the field. On Sunday, they play in their first road game of the season.
Ravens: They were in cruise control in East Rutherford in week one. Those were the Baltimore Ravens we’ve come to know. The team where the defense is punishing the opponent and displaying that physical brand of football, not what you saw last seasons when the injury bug decimated the team. Prior to the game on Sunday, the news came out that Lamar Jackson failed to reach to an agreement on a contract extension. I remember telling Mr. Cole Johnson that I see him betting on himself just as the New York Yankees star, Aaron Judge has. Lamar got off to a good start on Sunday. He was spinning the ball down the field and had confidence in his throws. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Lamar can throw the football consistently if he chooses too. If you watch him, he wants to drop back and make passes, but when the play breaks down, that’s when he’s running. When the Ravens are healthy, they’re a tough out. Things are going well for them when they’re making plays consistently and they’re having fun on the sidelines. On Sunday, they will welcome the Miami Dolphins to town for their home opener.
Dolphins X-Factor: Melvin Ingram– Anywhere he’s gone, Melvin has a strong impact on the defense. Look what he did for the Kansas City Chiefs just last year! He’s always been that disruptive force and can rush the passer. What people are now realizing is how good he is at releasing off the snap of the football. Melvin can also battle through traffic. He sets the edge very well.
Ravens X-Factor: Kenyan Drake– The former Miami Dolphin. It took him some time to get acclimated within the offense. When that happens, don’t shy away from them, continue to feed them the ball and that will get their confidence up. Kenyan comes off as a runner who likes to bounce to the outside, but he doesn’t mind running the ball up the middle. I look for the Ravens to feed him early on and often.
Final Thoughts: When these two last played, the Dolphins stunned the Ravens. How did they do it? They stacked the box with 11 men meaning they shut down the run and dared Lamar to beat them. The Dolphins played with a steady diet of cover zero which means no safety played back and they blitzed which ended up stifling the Ravens because they had no answer for it. Much of that Miami defense from last year is still intact. I’ll be watching this Miami group of receivers against the Baltimore secondary. Though the Ravens will be without Marcus Peters, this is still a stout group with Marlon Humphrey. This is the matchup that could determine the outcome of the game. Will the Dolphins be able to create that separation? Or will the Ravens secondary be too dominant to move the ball on? The next matchup I’m watching is the Dolphins defense against Lamar. Stopping a dual-threat quarterback is a team effort. All eyes will be on their front seven. Containing Lamar is key. Dare him to beat you with his passing.
Prediction: Ravens 23, Dolphins 20
