| | Third-quarter play takes wind out of Dolphins
Associated Press
MIAMI -- Elvis Grbac grinned as he called the play in the
huddle.
The Baltimore Ravens were backed up at their 10, facing
third-and-1 and nursing a 7-3 lead in the third quarter against the
Miami Dolphins. Offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh sent in the
call -- a deep pass likely to catch the Dolphins by surprise.
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Winning Ways
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Shannon Sharpe and Harry Swayne were each looking for their 12th consecutive playoff win Sunday, and the Ravens' victory gave Sharpe a dozen straight and the NFL record for consecutive postseason wins for a single player. Swayne played with Baltimore last season before ending up in Miami this year. Herb Adderly also won 11 straight playoff games as a member of the Packers and Cowboys in the '60s and '70s.
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Streak
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Teams
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S. Sharpe
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12
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DEN, BAL
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H. Swayne
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11
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DEN, BAL, MIA
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H. Adderly
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11
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GB, DAL
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"We knew they'd give us one-on-one coverage on the outside,"
Grbac said. "We were really pumped up."
Grbac hit Travis Taylor in stride for a 45-yard gain, perhaps
the biggest play in Baltimore's 20-3 wild-card win Sunday. Eight
plays later, Grbac hit Taylor with a 4-yard touchdown pass, capping
a 99-yard drive that left the Dolphins trailing 14-3.
"I think that drive really broke their back," Grbac said.
The Ravens won with dominating defense and a strong ground game.
But they also won because they were willing to gamble deep in their
own territory.
Coach Brian Billick applauded Cavanaugh's call.
"Running the ball was the common-sense thing to do," Billick
said. "I guess I don't have a lot of common sense. Matt called a
beautiful game."
The Dolphins were geared to stop the run because they had
trouble doing it. Baltimore had a season-high 226 yards rushing,
including 109 by Terry Allen.
"That's as impressed as I've been with our running game,"
Billick said.
Grbac threw only 18 times, compared with 50 running plays. So it
was surprising when he dropped back almost to the goal line to
throw on third-and-1.
"It wasn't something in the game plan," Grbac said. "It was
something we came up with on the sideline. It was two guys making a
great play."
The Dolphins were in a blitz, but the Ravens' blockers picked it
up and Grbac had plenty of time. Cornerback Patrick Surtain said he
thought Taylor would break off the route toward the sideline. That
allowed Taylor to get two steps behind the defender.
"They hit me on one play," Surtain said. "That's going to
happen in this league. Elvis made a terrific throw.
"It was demoralizing. That play kind of switched the
momentum."
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FFL Playoff Challenge
