When: 1 p.m. ET Sunday Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida TV: CBS

The postseason begins this weekend for the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens, two teams with identical 7-5 records who will meet in what could be a playoff eliminator.

There is a six-team race for the final wild-card berth in the AFC. The Dolphins currently hold that spot as the No. 6 seed. The Ravens are the ninth seed. The winner of Sunday's game will own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Who will prevail? ESPN Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley and ESPN Dolphins reporter James Walker break down the matchup:

Walker: Jamison, Baltimore's defense hasn't played to its usual standards, especially against the pass. What's gone wrong and how do the Ravens fix it?

Hensley: The Ravens' struggles can be traced to a depleted secondary that lacks confidence. There's simply a lack of talent there. Jimmy Smith, the top cornerback, suffered a season-ending foot injury in October and Lardarius Webb, the other starting corner, hasn't been the same since injuring his back in training camp. The Ravens are relying on Anthony Levine, a safety-turned-cornerback who now has a bull's-eye on his back. The slow development of two high draft picks at safety -- Matt Elam and Terrence Brooks -- has only compounded the problem. The Ravens have allowed 775 yards passing and six touchdown passes the past two weeks. They're ranked No. 31 in pass defense. The only way the Ravens are going to disrupt an efficient passer such as Ryan Tannehill is by getting pressure on him. Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs can't let Tannehill have time to pick apart this patchwork secondary.

The Ravens have turned around their running game with Justin Forsett, and teams such as the Denver Broncos and New York Jets have attacked the Dolphins on the ground. How concerned are the Dolphins about their run defense?

Walker: Saying this is a huge concern would be an understatement. It is by far the biggest issue plaguing the Dolphins down the stretch. What is strange is their run defense wasn't a problem until the past two weeks. Miami was ranked eighth in run defense after Week 11. But giving up 478 yards in the past two games now has the defense ranked 21st against the run. That is a huge decline. There haven't been any major injuries among the front seven. The Dolphins suddenly forgot the fundamentals of tackling and holding the point of attack. They were forced to put eight (and sometimes nine) in the box the entire second half Monday to stop the Jets. Miami was lucky Geno Smith was the quarterback, because there were plays to be made in the passing game. The Ravens should be a tough matchup for Miami because they also can run the football and have a much better passing game.

Speaking of stopping the run, the Dolphins were interested in linebacker C.J. Mosley in this year's draft. How has he fit in with Baltimore, which took him 17th overall?

Hensley: You don't want to compare Mosley to Ray Lewis because there will only be one Ray Lewis. But Mosley possesses some of the same attributes. Just like Lewis, Mosley has great instincts and great athleticism. He runs sideline to sideline and has the agility to elude blockers. Mosley just does it in a more low-key manner.

Many were surprised that the Ravens picked an inside linebacker in the first round because there were bigger needs at safety and offensive line. But the Ravens went with the best player on their board, and Mosley has a chance to be the centerpiece of this defense for the next decade. Mosley and teammate Daryl Smith are the only NFL defenders to record at least 90 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble this season. Mosley is on track to accomplish something Lewis never did as a rookie: go to the Pro Bowl and win NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The expectation is that Mosley will play a big factor in Sunday's game. His playmaking ability up front is crucial in going against a Dolphins offense that ranks 10th in running the ball.

The Dolphins were able to finish off a team in the fourth quarter when they beat the Jets on Monday night. How much of a confidence boost will that be?

Walker: It was a strange dynamic after Monday's victory. The Dolphins' coaches and players were happy after finally winning a close game. They improved to 1-3 this season in games decided by four points or fewer. The team knew it was a step in the right direction. However, the reaction outside the locker room -- from fans and media -- was mostly opposite. The Dolphins looked lost for three quarters against an inferior, limited opponent. The expectation was that Miami has progressed beyond this point. The performance also didn't inspire much confidence going into a tough two-week stretch against Baltimore and the New England Patriots. So it really depends on the perspective.

Look into your crystal ball, Jamison. Do the Ravens make the playoffs?

Hensley: Can I answer that question after this game? A loss would put a serious dent in the Ravens' hopes of getting back to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Ravens can't afford to lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Dolphins a week after doing the same to another AFC playoff contender, the Chargers. I see the Ravens finishing at 10-6 this season -- and that might not be good enough. What I see knocking the Ravens out of the postseason is their crummy conference record (3-5). That's why Sunday's game at Miami is a must-win.

Tannehill is beating teams with his efficiency and his legs. How tough is it for opponents to adjust to the Dolphins' style of offense?

Walker: First-year offensive coordinator Bill Lazor did a good job of scouting Tannehill and the rest of his personnel. He has taken out the elements of the offense Tannehill doesn't execute well, such as throwing the deep ball, while featuring some of his best skills, such as his athleticism. Tannehill is the second-leading rusher on the team with 289 yards, and he's averaging 6.4 yards per carry. It's a nice changeup, particularly for an offense that doesn't produce a lot of big passing plays.

Some opponents adjust better than others. The successful teams do a good job of roughing up Tannehill early. If opponents get sacks or take a couple shots on Tannehill to set a tone, the Dolphins have been reluctant to make a lot of read-option calls. But Tannehill can get in a groove when he's protected in the pocket and able to slide and avoid contact on running plays. Look for the Ravens' defense to be physical with Miami.