Ravens-Dolphins Live Blogging: Second Half Goodness

> Something you don't hear enough: NFL punting is pretty astounding now. Between the Chargers and Ravens, we've seen some simply amazing punting this weekend. A big point in a good defensive team, really.

> With Simms preaching Caution! Caution! You could lose the game you are already losing!, the Dolphins choose to run on third and long, and put it on the ground anyway. Be more careful with your losing, Miami!

> LaRon McClain follows it up with a touchdown burst, and I can hear Chris Berman's Sarah Palin impersonation already. 20-3 Ravens, the same score as the last time these teams met in the playoffs, and I give the Dolphins one chance in a hundred to come back in this game. Note -- that isn't win, that's just to come back. This game is forkable, and I guess the Ravens can beat playoff teams. Now that the Eagles have made it, this will make two.

> Patrick Cobbs falls on what could have been a bigger kickoff return, and the reaction shot is of Bill Parcells in the skybox. Who will spend an ungodly amount of money to bring in the Tuna for a rousing run to slightly better than .500? Because that's what he does now, kids...

> The Dolphins construct a drive on rhythm short passes to the backs and Ted Ginn Jr., and it's hard to imagine they can do this long enough to get all of the points back, but it is, at least, moving the sticks. Simms then talks about how it's good for an offense to stay on the field. I'm waiting for him to tell me how breathing air is also a good idea... and Ed Reed, naturally, ends the eight straight completions with Yet Another Huge Play, along with Pennington's fourth pick of the day. That fork just got a lot bigger, and Simms hasn't revisited the Chad For MVP motif.

> With 14:30 left, Davone Bess breaks many ankles and sets the Dolphins up for a first and goal at the five; he's really the only Dolphins offensive player to impress today. Will the fourth quarter have some drama? Ronnie Brown gets it to the 2 on a swing pass, and then catches a much harder one to the left for the touchdown. We still have a game... and then the Ravens defense blocks the point after, which could be huge if this game gets tighter. 20-11, Ravens.

> A three and out, with two incomplete long balls where the receiver was open, follows. Curious playcalling there by the Ravens, who showed confidence in trying to go for the knockout blow, but took no time off the clock. I don't think it's going to wind up costing them the game -- I still have no confidence in the Fish Offence to make up this much grounds -- but they certainly are leaving the door open.

> First play after the punt has Chad Pennington going deep over the middle, in the vicinity of Ed Reed. Miraculously, he doesn't intercept it. If I'm Pennington, I think I try to avoid him, really.

> Chains move on a crossing route, and Pennington scrambles to an outlet for another 10. The Chadster now has 223 yards with his 4 picks and 1 TD; another 100 yards and 2 TDs, and he'll be an MVP again. Ravens starting to look winded, and the Fish move the chains again on a Ricky Williams run.

> Simms, with 9:25 on the clock, advocates the field goal, because we all know that converting a 2-point play is just easy. I can only assume that he's speaking at a frequency that only I can hear.

> Ginn takes a 20-yard loss with a reverse handoff. The 3rd and 25 is just field goal posturing, and they don't even get that, as Ginn can't stay down. With 7:46 left, that might be the last meaningful play of the game.

> Lo Neal converts on a third down play, and we're in Clock Killing Time. Baltimore will win this game with their QB going 9 for 22 for 134 yards, which is to say, without any real need of a QB. I apologize in advance, Steeler Fans, for the fact that I'm going to pick them to take out the Chargers...

> Willis McGahee, who I still assert is terrible, breaks a long run to ice it, and there's not going to be much more to say about this one. 0-3 in playoff picks, baby! Eagles are a lock!

> Flacco ices it with a 5-yard QB draw, and it's 27-9. The only drama left in this one is if the Ravens will throw a prevent defense that prevents the under bet from covering. I'm thinking no.

> CBS flashes the "Shaun King and Big Ben" graphic of rookie QBs who won their first playoff game. Neither of those clubs won it all, and Raven Fan is really hoping for more than Shaun King's career, of course.

> This is how lame celebration buckets have become; we now have shots of it happening significantly ahead of the actual act. I told you that the second half would be boring, right?

Ravens 27, Dolphins 9 is your final... and we'll be back for a distressingly scrutinized running blog for Eagles-Vikings in 30 minutes. I'm sorry, kids, but Papa Shooter doesn't get paid enough for the Fox bridge show, especially after Fox made my awful Red America song prediction come true with a free style rap and their stupid freaking robots. See you later.