Baltimore Showdown

By : Mike Rifkin

On Sunday the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins will meet in a clash of AFC Playoff hopefuls looking to go to 2-0 on the young season. Miami is coming off a 20-7 win over the New England Patriots. It was the Dolphins fourth consecutive win over the Patriots. In the game the Dolphin defense had three sacks, forced three turnovers and scored a defensive touchdown. Receiver Tyreek Hill had eight catches for 94 yards in his Dolphins debut. In three games against the Ravens Hill has 16 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown. It will be interesting to see the matchup of Hill and Jaylen Waddle against Ravens corners Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters who for my money is the best cornerback duo in the NFL. 

For the Ravens they are coming off a 24-9 win over the New York Jets. Lamar Jackson threw for three touchdowns, Two to Devin Duvernay. The Ravens defense had three sacks and forced two turnovers. The Ravens will be without Offensive lineman Ja’Waun James who tore his Achilles last week and Cornerback Kyle Fuller who tore his ACL. We don’t know the status of offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley who is coming off Ankle Surgery and it looks like Running Back JK Dobbins will be back after tearing his ACL in training camp last year. 

Last season the two teams met in Miami and the Dolphins won 22-10. It was their second consecutive win during their seven game winning streak. In that game both teams had four sacks, but the Dolphins forced two turnovers including an Xavien Howard fumble return for a touchdown. Tua Tagovailoa relieved Jacoby Brissett and went 8-13 for 158 yards and a rushing touchdown. Lamar Jacksonwas 26-43 for 238 yards a touchdown and an interception and ran for 39 yards on nine carries. 

Two AFC playoff hopefuls meet on Sunday in Baltimore, who will go to 2-0?