Ravens defense dictates terms

C.W. GRIFFIN, Miami Herald

Ravens safety Ed Reed jumped into the end zone after intercepting a pass by Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington and returning it 64 yards for a TD in a 27-9 victory.

Baltimore forced five turnovers, including a 64-yard interception return for a TD by Ed Reed, to end Miami’s turnaround year.

By STEVEN WINE, Associated Press

Last update: January 4, 2009 - 10:33 PM

MIAMI – The Baltimore Ravens had Chad Pennington spinning, ducking, on his heels and on his back. When he did manage to get a pass away, they were often there to snatch it.

The Ravens came up with four interceptions, including one returned 64 yards for a touchdown by Ed Reed, and won 27-9 Sunday to spoil the Miami Dolphins’ first playoff game in seven seasons.

Baltimore stuffed Miami’s ground attack and negated the Wildcat formation, but most of all the Ravens harried Pennington into uncharacteristic mistakes. After throwing only seven interceptions during the regular season, he had four during a 22-minute flurry midway through the game.

“We heard all week that they don’t turn the ball over,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. “But we force turnovers.”

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.

“We’re going to Tennessee,” Reed said. “Be there.”

The playoff victory was the first for the Ravens since they beat Miami in a first-round game in January 2002. The result put the brakes on this season’s remarkable resurgence by the Dolphins (11-6), who won the AFC East after going 1-15 in 2007.

“It has been a special year; that’s why it hurts so much,” Pennington said. “You want to keep it going and see how far you can take it.”

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.

Baltimore’s secondary also had Miami overmatched. Pennington, who finished 25-for-38 for 252 yards, said the Ravens made good plays on three of the interceptions, and he regretted throwing only one.

“I just couldn’t get them to go my way,” Pennington said.

On the game’s pivotal play in the second period, Reed made an over-the-shoulder catch of Pennington’s deep throw after intended receiver Ted Ginn Jr. fell.

“Like playing center field,” Reed said.

He 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. That put Baltimore ahead to stay 10-3.