Tom Petty was right. The Waiting is the hardest part.

It seems like weeks since the end of the season and the start of the playoffs. The Ravens returning for the fifth time in their history and the Dolphins their first since 2001.

There is some familiarity with Baltimore winning a crucial game earlier in the year to stop a three game losing streak but this is the playoffs and both teams are much better than that week seven encounter.

The Dolphins have two time Comeback player of the year in Chad Pennington, who no doubt had a measure of satisfaction beating his old New York Jets team to win the AFC East. Now he looks to get a shot back at Baltimore. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams will have to provide a one-two punch on the ground to a stingy Ravens run defense. The X factor here is Ted Ginn Jr. who woke up a bit later in the season and helped the team to some key wins.

The Ravens had turned the ball over 12 times before their first meeting with Miami. They’ve turned it over only nine since then. Ball control will be another key for both teams as turnovers get magnified in the post season atmosphere.

The match-ups look good for Baltimore heading into this game. But, here are my concerns. First Joe Flacco. He has maintained his cool most of the year but you have no idea when you put the word playoff before a game what it does to a player. I think oddly enough being on the road helps him in that department. Second, the secondary must be ready to answer the challenge. Samari Rolle and Fabian Washington should both be ready for game time. Pennington did have success through the air with almost 300 yards in the first meeting. Third, discipline on defense. The Ravens got in trouble in two previous games (Colts/Giants) with trying to make big plays as opposed to making solid plays, playing their gaps and being fundamental. The did a fantastic job on the Wildcat but I would expect some other wrinkles to it to disguise it. Stay at home.

I think the Ravens should be able to run but if they stack the box, you could see Todd Heap or Mark Clayton come up big in this contest. Mason has been Flacco’s security blanket all year but others will have opportunities to come up big, as they should use play action and try and strike deep on the Dolphins where they are vulnerable.

For the defense if Miami can’t run then they must beat Baltimore with the pass and with Ed Reed playing his best football right now I don’t like those odds. Overall I think Baltimore has enough on the road to advance to the next round in front of a record crowd in Miami.

Ravens 21 Dolphins 13