Basics
Kickoff:Thursday, Oct. 26 at 8:25 p.m. EST, M&T Bank StadiumTV: CBS/WJZ-TV (Ch. 13) | NFLN | Amazon Prime
TV Crew: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (analyst), Jay Feely and Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
Radio: 98 Rock | WBAL-1090 AM | Westwood One
Local Radio Crew: Gerry Sandusky (play-by-play), Stan White (analyst), Todd Hep (analyst)
National Radio Crew: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Tony Boselli (analyst)
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Jersey Color: Purple Color Rush
Stakes
The Ravens have lost three of their last four games to fall to 3-4 on the season. If they win on Thursday Night Football, they're back to .500 and right in the thick of the AFC playoff picture at the halfway point of the season. A third-straight defeat, however, would be a tough blow to postseason chances.
History
The Ravens are 5-0 on Thursday Night Football. They are 8-6 against Miami in team history, including a couple of wild-card playoff wins in the 2001 and 2008 seasons. Baltimore has won six of the past seven games against Miami since the arrival of quaterback Joe Flacco and Head Coach John Harbaugh in 2008. Last year, the Ravens blew out the Dolphins, 38-6, at M&T Bank Stadium.
Key Storylines
The Ravens run defense vs. Jay AjayiAjayi ranks seventh in the league with 442 rushing yards, but is 39th in the NFL with 3.9 yards per carry. That's a drop from his 4.9 yards per carry last year. Still, Ajayi can bust loose at any time and put up 130 yards two weeks ago in Atlanta. He's a physical, relentless runner. The Ravens run defense is a prideful bunch and it's not happy being ranked last in the league (145.3 yards per game). Baltimore's top priority is shutting down Ajayi.
Baltimore's wide receivers
The health of the Ravens' wideouts is paramount to Baltimore's offensive success. Flacco was throwing to Michael Campanaro, Chris Moore and Griff Whalen last week in Minnesota. Mike Wallace (concussion), Jeremy Maclin (shoulder) and Breshad Perriman (concussion) were all sidelined. The Ravens need to get a passing attack going against Miami.
Another backup quarterback for the Ravens
Baltimore faced E.J. Manuel in Oakland, Case Keenum in Minnesota and will now get Matt Moore at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens sacked Manuel three times, but didn't pick him off. They picked off Keenum once, but didn't get a sack. Terrell Suggs said it doesn't matter who is under center for the Dolphins. Moore is a very capable backup who led a 17-point fourth-quarter comeback last week, throwing two touchdowns along the way.
Matchups to Watch
RG Jermaine Eluemunor/C Ryan Jensen vs. DT Ndamukong Suh
The rookie fifth-round pick will have his hands full with five-time Pro Bowler Suh coming to town. Suh is big, fast and nasty in the trenches. That sets up for fireworks with Jensen, who prides himself on being a physical, annoying blocker. Eluemunor had trouble last week against the Vikings. The Ravens can help their rookie with extra blockers or a strong run game that lets him go on the attack.
RT Austin Howard vs. DE Cameron Wake
Staying on the offensive line, Howard has a stiff challenge against the veteran Wake, who has six sacks through six games this season. After starting the year with just five hurries allowed in five games, Howard has surrendered eight hurries and one sack in the past two contests. There will be two strong rushers on the right side of the Ravens' line.
S Tony Jefferson vs. WRs Jarvis Landry/Kenny Stills
Jefferson was hard on himself this week after a couple missed tackles in Minnesota and especially after he misread a fake halfback toss against Chicago. Now the Dolphins bring some talented wideouts to M&T Bank Stadium. Landry has the second-most targets in the league (68), and has scored a touchdown in three straight games. Stills is a good friend of Jefferson's and has major big-play ability.
