ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio was struck by something Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen said following Baltimore’s 33-19 win at San Francisco on Christmas night, but not just because it succinctly described the Ravens’ effort against the 49ers.
Paolantonio believes Queen’s summation serves as a peek ahead to the showdown between Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on New Year’s Eve.
Queen was a key part of the Ravens’ performance against the high-powered 49ers, posting seven tackles and an interception. After the game, the 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker stepped to the podium and offered what Paolantonio called the “quote of the year.”
“We play a brand of football that people don’t want to play,” Queen said. “Everybody wants to be out here cute playing basketball on grass and stuff, and we ain’t with all that. You can do all that stuff. You’re just going to get hit in the mouth every play, honestly.”
Paolantonio made note of what Queen had to say.
“What Patrick Queen said was not only a review of what happened in San Francisco, it was a prelude to the Dolphins coming in,” Paolantonio said on Glenn Clark Radio Dec. 28. “The Dolphins have the best offense in pre-snap motion in the NFL. The Ravens have the best defense in post-snap motion and disguise in the NFL. This is the chess match: Mike McDaniel vs. Mike Macdonald. This is the chess match: Pre-snap motion vs. post-snap motion and disguise.”
The Ravens are first in the league in points allowed per game (16.3), sacks (54) and takeaways (26) and sixth in yards allowed per contest (297.3). They are second in defensive DVOA behind the Browns.
Macdonald is credited for confusing opposing quarterbacks with various pressure packages and coverage looks, but the Ravens also play a physical brand of defense that is hard for opponents to match up against. Paolantonio has touched on both topics during ESPN’s “NFL Matchup,” which previews every week with film breakdowns.
“We have talked about what Mike Macdonald has done defensively in order to confuse quarterbacks, to get after quarterbacks,” Paolantonio said. “… They get after the quarterback because they do such a good job of confusing them. As Ron Jaworski used to say, ‘renting space in their mind after the snap.’ And that’s what the Ravens do. I’m not trying to belittle Mike Macdonald. It looks a lot like what Rex Ryan has done in his career, and I think Mike has probably borrowed a lot of the concepts.”
Another difficult test awaits the Ravens in the Dolphins, who have the best total offense (411.5 yards per game) and scoring offense (30.9 points per game) in the league. Their offensive DVOA ranks third. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (1,641 yards, 12 touchdowns) is an MVP candidate, while running back Raheem Mostert (18 rushing touchdowns) is one of the most effective red-zone weapons in the league.
The Ravens also have firsthand experience of how explosive the Dolphins can be when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gets hot. This year’s game looms as a critical battle in the AFC playoff race. The Ravens enter the contest at 12-3, while the Dolphins come to Baltimore at 11-4. With a win, the Ravens would clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC. A loss would open the door for the Dolphins, who would hold the tiebreaker over the Ravens.
The huge game comes on a short week after a long flight home, but Paolantonio is certain the Ravens can handle it.
“I don’t know of any team in literally the 30 years that I’ve been covering the NFL that had to go on the road and play the No. 1 seed in the NFC on Christmas night, then turn around on a short week and play one of the top two teams in the AFC and have the AFC No. 1 seed on the line,” Paolantonio said. “I just have never seen this before. It is one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever seen any team undertake. I think the Ravens, however, are about as tough-minded a football team as you could possibly have.”
For more from Paolantonio, listen to the full interview here:
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