Ravens Roquan Smith Wants To 'Go Through The Best To Be The Best'

The Baltimore Ravens are on the path to first place in the AFC, but will have to defeat the Miami Dolphins to secure it.

The Baltimore Ravens have been one of the best teams in football this season and are one win away from clinching first place in the AFC and a bye in the playoffs. 

However, in order to clinch the one seed, the Ravens will have to take down the 11-4 Miami Dolphins and their high-speed offense. 

"It's definitely a track team on grass, but we wouldn't like it any other way," Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith said. "We prefer to go through the best to be the best, so we're looking forward to the matchup. I think it's going to be a great one. At the end of the day, the field is 100 yards long – and what is it, like 53 yards wide – so you can only go so far. I think it's just more so doing our jobs and getting back to our responsibilities. I think if we do that, we'll slow a lot of that down, but obviously, it's a lot easier said than done. We're going to be ready for it."

Roquan Smith is fifth in the NFL in total tackles with 151.  / USA TODAY SPORTS

Miami's offense consists of some of the fastest players in the NFL including Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane. It will be missing one of its speedster in Jaylen Waddle, who is out for the game with a high ankle sprain. 

The Dolphins have the top scoring offense in the NFL this season, averaging 30.9 points per game through 15 games. They are also averaging the most yards per game in the league at 411.5. 

On the other side of the ball, the Ravens have the top scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just 16.3 points per game to opponents this year. There is a slight drop-off when it comes to yards allowed per game, as they are fifth in that category at 297.3. 

On paper, this will be a battle between two of the best units in the NFL in Miami's offense against Baltimore's defense. It could prove to be the most challenging game that either unit has had this season. 

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The Ravens will be hosting the Dolphins for the game on New Year's Eve at M&T Bank Stadium and kick-off will be at 1 p.m.