by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Sep 16, 2022
Game time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Ravens -3.5
FanDuel: Ravens -3.5
BetMGM: Ravens -3.5
Caesars: Ravens -3.5
Season record
Dolphins: 1-0
Ravens: 1-0
Week 2 in the NFL season is already off to a hot start with Kansas City showing why it's Kansas City. What will Sunday bring in what should be a week filled with questions that need to be answered upon the like? Given the fact that Al McMordie is 56-33 in his last 89 is a testament to how much you should be paying attention to our champion handicappers and following along with what they do this year. Want to get on the action? Make sure you follow Al and all of our other handicappers during this NFL season.
Dolphins - Ravens preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Dolphins: won 20-7 vs. Patriots
Ravens: won 24-9 at Jets
There’s nothing better than a classic Week 2 matchup that will be the pinnacle of Overreaction Monday pending on the result of this game. And quite honestly, considering how last season ended and how last Sunday progressed, why am I staying on the Miami Dolphins bandwagon against the Baltimore Ravens?
There’s nothing better than a classic Week 2 matchup that will be the pinnacle of Overreaction Monday pending on the result of this game. And quite honestly, considering how last season ended and how last Sunday progressed, why am I staying on the Miami Dolphins bandwagon against the Baltimore Ravens?
Because Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill are that duo and I’m here for every bit of it.
The new QB-WR combo in Miami got off to a hot start last week in the 20-7 win over the Patriots. Tua threw for 270 and a score, while Hill reeled in 94 yards on eight catches. So far, things are looking well and it’s only a matter of time before Tua just flings a ball so far that Hill runs to the beach to catch it.
The Dolphins are off to a strong start in the Mike McDaniel era, and the success of that era is going to hinder on what Tagovailoa can do. It helps to get him more weapons, and there’s no weapon better than a speedster that can score every time he touches the ball.
“It feels awesome having someone like Tyreek,” Tagovailoa said. “I’ll keep saying this, the dude is a cheat code. It’s not easy covering this guy when he’s motioning, running routes off of motions and doing his thing. I love it.”
If Hill is a cheat code, it’s going to make Tagovailoa’s life so much easier. On top of having Jaylen Waddle on the other side to be a speedy, slot weapon, as well as tight end Mike Gesicki who came on strong late last year, Tagovailoa is set up with the weapons to have a great year and possibly get the Dolphins into the playoffs.
Waddle had a nice 69 yards and a touchdown last week and had 61 yards in the last meeting against the Ravens last season. And in a year where the Buffalo Bills are expected to run roughshod through the AFC, if there is ever a time for someone to finish a solid second, it might be the Dolphins.
“I think each and every game we’ll do our best to feature him unless the defense has to fully commit to take him away,” McDaniel said, “which is good news for the Miami Dolphins because we have some other playmakers.”
The Ravens, meanwhile, in the midst of trying to decipher through the drama of Lamar Jackson’s contract situation. But Jackson looked like the MVP on this one, throwing three touchdowns, one of them to Rashod Bateman. Jackson has six touchdowns in two career starts against Miami.
“Obviously, speed — they have two of the fastest receivers in football playing for them,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Two running backs who run that scheme extremely well, and what I mean by that (is) the wide zone-type scheme. So, that’s kind of how they’re built on offense.”
Prediction
The Ravens are banged up still and this isn’t the Jets. It’s not going to be that complicated, and unless the Baltimore defense gets to Tua and forces him to make more than two mistakes, the Dolphins should be able to outscore them even in Baltimore. Dolphins by 10
Betting trends
Dolphins are 12-7 ATS as an underdog in their last 19.
Dolphins are 8-2 ATS off a division game the past three years.
Ravens are 13-13 ATS as a favorite the past three years.
Ravens are 36-20 ATS against AFC East opponents since 1992.
Statistical leaders
Dolphins:
Passing: Tua Tagovailoa -- 270 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: Chase Edmonds -- 25 yards
Receiving: Tyreek Hill -- 94 yards
Defense: Two tied -- 1 sack
Ravens:
Passing: Lamar Jackson -- 213 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Kenyan Drake -- 31 yards
Receiving: Mark Andrews -- 52 yards
Defense: Two tied -- 1 sack
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
