It's Not Over

Whoa everyone! Calm down! Yes, we just lost to that guy. Philip Rivers stuck it to our 31st ranked pass defense in the fourth quarter which led his team to 21 points. Snatching victory from what we all thought were the jaws of defeat. Yes, winning would have put us into the driver's seat when it comes to our playoff seeding. Yes, we are now the ninth seeded team in the AFC. Yes, Philip Rivers makes weird faces when he is excited.

The city of Baltimore has had a rough week so far. First, Maryland loses a heartbreaker on senior day to Rutgers. Second, Rivers (and his stupid bolo ties) makes a miraculous comeback. Third, Nelson Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz will not be an Oriole next season. Now long tenured Oriole right fielder Nick Markakis is heading to Atlanta. If that wasn't the worst news yet, now reports emerge that Haloti Ngata has been suspended the remainder of the season for using adderall. Thank God he didn't use some bogus excuse that his Royal Farms chicken was laced with it. All this bad news in town has left Baltimore sports fans speed dialing their local suicide hotline.

All that aside, we are given yet another opportunity this week against a team that would make the playoffs instead of us due to tie breakers. The Dolphins are currently the sixth seeded team in the AFC and would be marching into a division winners house more than likely to lose, unless it's Cincy (prove me wrong Dalton, oh wait you can't!). The same Dolphins team that barely eeked out a win to a "professional" football team, the New Jersey, er I mean New York Jets. Let's think about that for a second. Geno Smith and a barrage of running backs nearly beat them. They, the Jets, had 210 rushing yards not in the game, in the first half! I think even Rex Ryan was averaging six yards a carry.

That being said, I would expect a heavy dose of Justin Forsett against the 21st ranked rushing defense in the league. Miami is very tough against the pass and have a decent rush headed by Cameron Wake. I'm predicting Forsett will be going off for a tune of 155 yards and two TDs. Expect even Taliaferro to get some work in. If Flacco passes more than 25 times something is seriously wrong. Not that their D is that good (seriously are we not doing phrasing?) but clearly the run is very effective. I mean the Dolphins do rank second in the league against the pass. I would expect them to use a decent amount of play action passes where I think Joe will be a hell of a lot better than Geno Smith. Who knows, maybe a Jacoby Jones siting in the backfield could happen. Nah, Kubiak will probably stick to the three headed monster in Forsett, Pierce and Taliaferro. Each could total over 50 yards.

That three headed monster will get a lot of use due to us hopefully protecting a lead. Miami isn't a deep pass happy team. They are 22nd in the league in pass offense while ranking 28th in yards per attempt. To put that in perspective sports fans, even Tampa Bay has a better passing offense. That isn't to say that Miami is without weapons. Mike Wallace is still a speedster (with alligator arms) and Jarvis Landry has been coming on as of late. The linebackers and safeties also need to keep an eye out for tight end Charles Clay (you know, if he actually plays). Our defense has made world beaters out of worse QBs (but they kept Brees mostly under wraps, by Brees standards that is).

So step back off the ledge friends. Remember our recent successes and hope for more in this season and hopefully postseason. If you are one of those poor souls who just hates everyone right now I get it but you got to believe! This season isn't over! Don't be such a pessimist!