Ravens vs. Dolphins: What's the Game Plan for Baltimore?

The Baltimore Ravens will look to build on their two-game winning streak when they face the Miami Dolphins this Sunday.

Baltimore is coming off a thrilling 33-27 win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football. That gave the Ravens their second straight win, the first time they've done that in the midst of what's been a disastrous 2015 campaign. 

Not only does Baltimore come into this week at 4-7 and all but eliminated from playoff contention, it also lost a host of key players to season-ending injuries. Despite all of this adversity, the Ravens have kept playing hard and competing to win games.

Here's how they should look to do so against the Dolphins.

Offensive Game Plan

The game plan Baltimore employs this week vs. Miami should essentially be the same one it had against Cleveland. 

That was a run-heavy game plan that featured a lot of play-action passes by Matt Schaub. That's because the Browns have one of the NFL's worst run defenses. The Dolphins aren't much better.

In fact, coming into Week 13, Miami ranks 32nd in run defense while Cleveland ranks 31st. The Ravens must attack the Dolphins on the ground and use that success to open up the passing game off of play action.

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

They must do this despite the fact that they're without starting running back Justin Forsett after he broke his arm in Week 11. In his place, Javorius Allen and Terrance West played very well as they both looked like capable starting backs. 

Against the Browns, West rushed for 37 yards on just seven carries. Allen finished the game with 84 total yards (29 receiving, 55 rushing) and a 13-yard touchdown grab.

Those two have what it takes to carry Baltimore's offense and allow Schaub, who is filling in for the injured Joe Flacco, to make easier throws and help this unit put up enough points to win. 

Defensive Game Plan

The good news for Baltimore's defense is Miami is very one-dimensional as its ground game is often non-existent. The Dolphins rank 27th in rushing offense coming into Week 13, and they rushed for just 12 yards on nine carries last week in a 38-20 loss to the New York Jets. 

The Ravens front seven has been great this season and is a big reason why this defense ranks fourth in yards per rush allowed (3.7 yards per carry). They should be able to keep the Dolphins from finding any success running the ball. 

The passing game hasn't been much better, but it has been good enough for the Dolphins to put up a lot of points at times this season. A big reason why is quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who is about as hot and cold a passer as you'll find. 

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

When he's on, Tannehill is a very dangerous passer who can expose Baltimore's enigmatic secondary for big plays. He's thrown for 2,991 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season while completing 62 percent of his passes.  

However, Tannehill is one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the NFL. He's playing behind a bad Dolphins offensive line that's allowed him to be sacked 33 times this season, the sixth-most of any team. 

The key to keeping Tannehill off his game is getting pressure on him early and often. If not, Tannehill will have enough time to pick apart the Ravens and be the latest quarterback to have a big game against them.

Matchup to Watch

C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith vs. Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas

As mentioned above, the Dolphins don't have much of a ground game, but they have enough weapons in the passing game to put up a lot of points on Baltimore.

That is, unless the Ravens' defensive line and linebackers can keep the heat on Tannehill throughout this game. The easiest way to do that this year has been in the middle against Miami's offensive guards. 

Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner have been one of the worst starting guard combos this season and are a big reason why this offense has struggled so much. According to Pro Football Focus, those two have allowed a combined 12 sacks, eight QB hits and 31 QB hurries. 

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They will often be tasked with blocking Daryl Smith and C.J. Mosley, who form one the of the league's best inside linebacker combos. The two have combined for six sacks and 68 stops (tackles causing an offensive failure), according to PFF. 

Thomas and Turner should be able to dominate this game, and if they can, that will go a long way in Baltimore's defense shutting down Miami's offense. 

Prediction

The Ravens have fought and battled through adversity all year while the Dolphins have often folded under it. Baltimore is too prideful of a franchise to not go out and compete week in and week out, regardless of what its record is.

This is the time of the year where we really start to see the want and desire teams compete with really come into play. Miami is too often playing like a team just waiting for the season to end, whereas the Ravens play like every game still means something.

Winning this game means something to the Ravens, and that's ultimately what helps them gut out another hard-fought win. 

Final Score: Ravens 23, Dolphins 17