Defending champs cruise in opener

MIAMI -- The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens looked the part.

The Miami Dolphins looked awful at playoff time, as usual.

Bruising defense, a grinding ground game and one pivotal pass helped Baltimore beat Miami 20-3 in a wild-card playoff game Sunday.

The Ravens struggled at times during the regular season and needed a win last week over Minnesota to make the playoffs. Now they've advanced to the divisional round Sunday at AFC Central champion Pittsburgh.

"These are the January Ravens," tight end Shannon Sharpe said. "The September, October, November and December Ravens -- we got rid of those guys."

For Miami (11-6), the ending was painfully familiar. The Dolphins are the only team to reach the playoffs each of the past five years, but they've made an early exit every time by a combined score of 164-16.

"You've got to look at who you've been fooling all year," Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas said. "We didn't beat anybody. You can say all you want about 11-5. I'd rather be 1-15 for a year and get some people in here. I'm tired of us being good and not great."

Good wasn't good enough against the Ravens. Their defense allowed only 151 yards, and Miami's lone score came after Baltimore fumbled the opening kickoff. The Dolphins managed just one first down in the opening 23 minutes and finished with nine.

The Ravens (11-6) also showed surprising punch on offense. They rushed for a season-high 226 yards, converted 10 of 16 third downs and scored on touchdown marches of 90 and 99 yards, their longest of the season.

Terry Allen carried 25 times for 109 yards and a score, and Jason Brookins added 65 yards in 10 attempts.