Ravens Ready For 'Biggest Challenge of The Year' vs. Dolphins
The Baltimore Ravens have a lot on the line when they face the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. The top two AFC teams will battle it out for the No. 1 seed as a Ravens win will all but secure it.
After dismantling the San Francisco 49ers 33-19 last week, Baltimore now comes up against another high-powered offense as the Dolphins resemble a track team with their speed.
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If the Ravens can take care of business, then the Super Bowl will run through Baltimore and with that kind of carrot dangling in front of them, head coach John Harbaugh is ready for it.
“It's an exciting situation to be in," Harbaugh said. "I think you get in this time of the year, you play yourself into this kinds of games where you have an opportunity where the games mean so much, where winning one game brings such a big reward because of what you've done up until this point. That's a well-earned thing and the Dolphins have earned the same thing so it's that kind of a game.”
Toppling the Dolphins won't be an easy feat and perhaps the Ravens can take a leaf out of the Dallas Cowboys' playbook last week as they limited the big plays and for the most part, kept the much-vaunted running game in check.
After coming off such a resounding win against the 49ers, there could be a fear of a letdown as the game was built up for so long, but with Harbaugh steering the ship, he knows what kind of team Miami is and isn't taking them lightly.
“We're dug in deep in our preparations for very good Miami Dolphins team," he said. "A challenge in so many ways, all three phases, very talented team, tough, physical, fast, very well-coached team. They execute at the highest level so we've got the biggest challenge we've had so far this year and we're excited about it and we're looking forward to the game.”
With back-to-back games that have a "playoff" feel to them, it is a good way to prepare for the postseason for Baltimore.
After pushing aside the 49ers, should the Ravens do the same with Miami, it will fill them with great confidence should the two meet again in the playoffs.
It will be a big challenge for the Ravens and one that they are more than up for as a big carrot is dangling in front of them if they win - home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
