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SPORTS
Ravens stop Dolphins' run
Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington (10) walks off the field after the Dolphins lost to the Baltimore Ravens 27-9 during an AFC wild-card NFL playoff football game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.
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MIAMI -- The NFL's Comeback Player of the Year fell short of producing a come-from-behind victory Sunday.
A stingy Baltimore Raven defense took advantage of five turnovers to win the AFC Wild-Card game 27-9 and end a turnaround season for former Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington and the Miami Dolphins.
The Ravens stifled Miami's running game, forcing Pennington to go to the air. Despite throwing four interceptions and falling behind 20-3 in the fourth quarter, Pennington led the Dolphins to a touchdown, cutting the Ravens' lead to 20-9.
Pennington led the offense into Ravens territory again, but a botched play pushed the Dolphins out of field-goal range. The Ravens scored a touchdown on the following series, putting the game out of reach.
The loss closed a storybook-like season for Pennington and the Dolphins. The team finished the regular season with an 11-5 record, captured the AFC East title and made the playoffs for the first time in seven years, something nearly unthinkable after last season's dismal 1-15 record.
Pennington joined the Dolphins this season after the New York Jets released him following their acquisition of Brett Favre during the summer. Miami made it into the playoffs with a victory over Favre and the Jets.
Last week, Pennington was named the NFL's 2008 Comeback Player of the Year, becoming the first player in the 11 years of the award to win it twice.
Baltimore stuffed Miami's ground attack, had no problems with the Wildcat, and harried Pennington into uncharacteristic mistakes. His four interceptions in one game were uncharacteristic, having thrown only seven all season.
With a rookie coach in John Harbaugh and a rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco, wild-card entrant Baltimore (12-5) won for the 10th time in 12 games and will play Saturday at AFC South champion Tennessee. The playoff victory was the first for the Ravens since they beat Miami in a first-round game in January 2002.
"Our defense gave us a bunch of chances today," Flacco said.
The result put the brakes on this season's remarkable resurgence by the Dolphins. A soft schedule contributed to Miami's turnaround, and there was nothing soft about the Ravens. They forced a flurry of turnovers against a team that tied an NFL record with only 13 during the regular season.
Reed had two interceptions, and Jim Leonhard and Fabian Washington made one apiece. Terrell Suggs recovered a fumble by Patrick Cobbs early in the second half at the Miami 19, and four plays later Le'Ron McClain scored on an 8-yard run for a 20-3 lead.
Pennington, playing his first game since being chosen the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, went 25-for-38 for 252 yards. Baltimore allowed just 52 yards rushing, and the Dolphins were limited to 7 yards on two plays from the Wildcat, the innovative formation that helped jump-start their revival.
Field position hurt the Dolphins, who started consecutive possessions at their 20, 6, 20, 20, 20 and 2. But the biggest problem was Baltimore's ball-hawking defense, which led the NFL during the regular season with 26 interceptions, including a league-high nine by Reed.
He made an over-the-shoulder catch of Pennington's deep throw after intended receiver Ted Ginn Jr., fell. Reed headed toward the left sideline, eluded a tackler, reversed his field and sprinted for the right corner of the end zone, scoring after Suggs leveled Pennington at the 5-yard line.
Trailing 20-3, the Dolphins tried to rally with a 58-yard drive to the 13 before Reed again intercepted Pennington late in the third quarter.
It was a defensive performance reminiscent of the Ravens' 27-13 victory at Miami in October. The Dolphins won nine of 10 after that defeat to earn their improbable playoff berth.
But Miami finally ran out of surprises. After Ronnie Brown made a one-handed catch for a 2-yard score to make it 20-9, Willis McGahee ran 48 yards to set up the Ravens' final touchdown with 3:53 left.
Baltimore offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's unit didn't have to do much else. Baltimore totaled 286 yards, and Flacco was only 9-for-23 for 135 yards.
But with the result, Cameron won more games at Dolphin Stadium this season than in 2007 as Miami's head coach.
