Game summary and scoring drive details: Ravens-Dolphins wildcard game

January 4, 1:22 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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                                                     GAME SUMMARY

The Ravens defense forced a fumble, sacked Chad Pennington three times and intercepted the football four times as Baltimore thoroughly frustrated the Dolphins and cruised to a 27-9 victory in Miami on Sunday. The Ravens scored 14 points off those turnovers. Their special teams even blocked the extra point on Miami's only touchdown of the day.

The Dolphins couldn't capitalize when they got close to the end zone as they turned the ball over via penalties or give-aways. The Dolphins got to this point by being careful with the football. They had given the ball up 13 times all season and Chad Pennington had a reputation for not giving the game away, putting his team in a position to execute and managing the offense. Not today.

QB Joe Flacco, who wasn't sacked all day ran for one touchdown but he completed only 9 of 23 passes for 135 yards. He took care of the ball however and that was what the Dolphins had expected of their QB.

Baltimore's running game was solid with 151 yards coming mostly from Le'Ron McClain who had 75 yards and a touchdown. McGahee had the longest run of the day as he ran 48 yards from scrimmage at a key point in the fourth quarter.

Miami gained 51 yards on the ground and had he been able to avoid INT's, Pennington's day would have been a good one. He passed for 252 yards on 25 of 38 passing.

On one key drive in the third quarter he completed eight passes and the team was down at the Baltimore 14 yard line with the score 20-3. Ed Reed intercepted the next pass and another good opportunity was lost. Reed picked off two Pennington throws and scored a TD as a result of one of them.

You might also like the story of the Cards win yesterday over the Falcons, right here

 Summary of scoring drives follow:

Sparano vs. Harbaugh, Pennington vs. Flacco, Wildcat vs. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. The game of two former 5-11 turn-a-rounds began with the Dolphins as a slight underdog. And then the action started.

The Ravens first drive began with power running and then a passing play that brought the Ravens right into Dolphins territory but guess what? The Miami defense forced a fumble with Joey Porter recovering it. The crowd felt a lot better after that.

Pennington used all his weapons as usual and just when you thought the Dolphins drive would stall, Chad made a great pass to one of his RB's. With the ball just outside the 1 yard line, two attempts to punch it in failed and the Dolphins chose to kick it and scored three.

Score: Dolphins 3-0                              Game Clock: 8:17 left in the first quarter

The Ravens couldn't make a first down the usual way so they took a pass interference call to get one instead. That brought them close to mid-field. Flacco got them down to the five with good passes and McGahee added some run yards. The drive stalled as Todd Heap had a sure touchdown taken from him when the ball was wrestled out of his arms. Ravens kicked a field goal.

Score: 3-3                                                 Game Clock: 2:47 left in the first quarter

Miami couldn't make a first down and punted the ball away. The Ravens started their drive on the 25 yard line and gained a first down as the quarter ended. Ravens were forced to punt and Miami took over on their own 20. But the drive came to a screeching halt with a Ravens interception of a ball thrown to Ted Ginn. Ravens took over in Miami territory.

Score 3-3                                                   Game Clock: 8:56 left in the half

With a few minutes left on the clock a Miami drive came to a screeching halt as Pennington's throw down the field to Ted Ginn was off-line and intercepted by Ed Reed who took it all the back to the end zone for a touchdown.

Score 10-3                                                 Game Clock: 2:36 left in the half

Miami couldn't get a first down and the Ravens took over with 1:37 to play on their own 39. After Flacco threw to his favorite veteran target, Derrick Mason the Ravens had a first down at the 18 yard line. The Ravens used their final time out, failed to advance the ball and Matt Stover kicked a field goal.

Score 13-3                                                  Game Clock: .16 left in the half

 Miami chose to play it safe and handed the ball off for no gain as the half came to a close.

The second half commenced with Miami receiving the kick and promptly turning the ball over via Pennington's third interception of the day. The Ravens ran it to the 39 yard line of Miami but weren't able to convert a third down. Pennington threw the INT to Davone Bess who was covered both inside and outside. One of the things that characterized Miami's good season was its lack of turnovers and Pennington's good judgment. That's clearly lacking in this game.

Score 13-3                                                   Game Clock: 12:34 left in the third quarter

The Ravens went three and out and Miami took over on their own two yard line. After a first down, RB Cobbs was stripped and the ball was recovered by the Ravens. They took over at the Miami 20. Le'Ron McClain ran the ball into the end zone from the 8 for the second Ravens touchdown of the day.

Score: 20-3                                                   Game Clock: 7:33 left in the third quarter

The Dolphins looked less than stellar as they were penalized for a false start but Ronnie Brown picked up a first down on his longest run of the day. Chad threw four straight completions and went no-huddle as the passing game started to percolate.  After four more completions the team was at the Baltimore 14 and Pennington was intercepted again by Ed Reed who ran it eight yards until he was taken down.

Score 20-3                                                      Game Clock: 1:52 left in the third quarter

The Ravens went three and out again and punted it away. Miami put together their longest successful drive of the day that ended in its first touchdown via a two yard pass to Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins were helped by two pass interference calls on the drive. The extra point was blocked by the Ravens.

Score 20-9                                                     Game Clock: 13:56 left in the fourth quarter

Miami's defense forced the Ravens to punt and the Dolphins took over again at their own 32. Pennington's passing game continued to carry the offense into Baltimore territory.  Pennington is finding holes in the coverage underneath but a missed handoff under pressure of a blitz pushed the Dolphins back and they were forced to punt. A penalty on the kicking team gave Baltimore the ball at their own 29.

Score 20-9                                                     Game Clock: 7:37 left in the fourth quarter

The Ravens ran the ball successfully with the longest gain coming on Willis McGahee's 48 yard run, putting the Ravens at the Miami four yard line with less than five minutes left in the game. Dolphins fans are getting the picture. And then, one of the ugliest QB runs I've ever seen landed Joe Flacco in the endzone on a draw play. Touchdown Ravens and surely, game Ravens.

Score 27-9                                                       Game Clock: 3:52 left in the game

Miami's front line allows yet another sack. And despite decent field position the Dolphins couldn't get a first down. They handed the ball back to the Ravens on the Miami 43 yard line with 2:24 on the clock.

The Ravens ran out the clock and the game ended, mercifully for the Dolphins and with joy for the Ravens who go on to Tennessee next week to meet the top seeded Titans.

 For more info:  Complete game stats right here