Dolphins

An offensive wrinkle that had spread through the NFL over the past two seasons appears to be losing steam within the very team that introduced it to the league in 2008. The Miami Dolphins kick-started the employment of the Wildcat, a formation that usually entailed a direct snap to running back Ronnie Brown and gave him the freedom to either run with the football or pass it to an open receiver. After employing the tactic more than 170 times in the previous two years, the Dolphins have run the Wildcat just 20 times this season.

Ravens run offense vs. Dolphins run defense: In two meetings in 2008, the Ravens beat the Dolphins with a dominating run game. With Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain, their ground attack totaled 290 yards on 69 carries. In three home games this season, Ray Rice has averaged 95 yards. Miami, which is tied for 11th against the run, has been solid against the AFC North the past two weeks. The Dolphins contained Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall (37 yards rushing on 15 carries) and Cincinnati's Cedric Benson (69 yards on 20 carries)

The Ravens have ruled out Tom Zbikowski for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. The free safety missed all four practices this week because of a bruised right heel that forced him to sit out the team's game against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 24. Dennis Pitta was limited for the second consecutive day after suffering a concussion Monday, but the rookie tight end was upgraded to probable after passing a post-practice test....

1. Joe Flacco continues hot streak. The Ravens quarterback has the NFL's highest rating (105.0) since Week 3, throwing nine touchdowns and one interception over that time. Miami has five interceptions in seven games this season. 2. Limit the Dolphins to field goals. Miami's Dan Carpenter has kicked 10 field goals the past two weeks. The Ravens have the league's third-best red-zone defense. 3. Marshal Yanda quiets pass rusher Cameron Wake. The Ravens offensive tackle held Pittsburgh's LaMarr Woodley to no sacks a month ago. Wake is eighth in the NFL with 6 ½ sacks.

Kevin Cowherd: Ravens 27, Dolphins 20: Ravens must overcome emotional jolt of seeing their quarterback rocking a "faux-hawk" during bye week. Jamison Hensley: Ravens 27, Dolphins 16: Coming off a much-deserved bye, the rested Ravens will put the game away in the fourth quarter this time. Edward Lee: Ravens 20, Dolphins 17: Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and Brian Hartline are the types of receivers who can torture the Ravens secondary. By the same token, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain will have a big day on the ground.

  Chargers viable home   Ken Murray Baltimore Sun No self-respecting team would want to deal with Randy Moss. For every big catch or touchdown he makes, you get 10 times the trouble from the insolent, disinterested Moss. At 33, Moss can still make plays, but he takes off more plays than he makes. Who wants to put up with that? OK, so there will be somebody out there who thinks $3.38 million for half a season is a bargain. Remember, the waiver process starts at the bottom.

DAVIE, Fla. — There's nothing flashy about Chad Henne. Not his appearance: The Miami Dolphins quarterback has sported a military-style crew cut since grade school. Not his statistics: He's completing 61.6 percent of his passes, throwing for 4,614 yards and 20 touchdowns in the 24 games he has played in 2 1/2 seasons. Some NFL quarterbacks produce those numbers in a single season. And certainly not his mentality. "It's my job to lose," Henne said earlier this season of being the quarterback this regime has built its entire three-year rebuilding project around.

When the cheering is replaced by silence or even boos, the Miami Dolphins know they're in control. This season, the Dolphins are 4-0 on the road, turning opposing stadiums into destinations as intimidating and forbidding as rose gardens and amusement parks. So when Miami visits M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday for a showdown with the Ravens , quieting the fans will be part of the objective. "That feels good," Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown said during a conference call with Baltimore media Wednesday.

Want to help Chad Henne's development? Sign Randy Moss. Want to turn some field goals into touchdowns? Sign Randy Moss. Want to help Brandon Marshall? Make the playoff run come into focus? Add some electricity to a team needing some? The Dolphins should sign Randy Moss, who admittedly has gone through two teams this year hoping to find a new contract and a smile. But the Dolphins have a wild card here. Chad Pennington and Moss played together at Marshall. That can be huge in the negotiations that no doubt are taking place right now. Moss might get claimed before he gets to the Dolphins on the waiver wire.