- Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned from a hamstring injury, throwing for 204 yards and four touchdowns.
- The loss increases pressure on Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, whose job security is reportedly in question.
- Baltimore’s victory narrows the gap with the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Baltimore Ravens provided further evidence that they’re on the way back – if not quite yet all the way back – by putting a 28-6 beatdown on the sinking Miami Dolphins on Thursday night in the first game of Week 9.
Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson certainly appeared to be restored to full strength, playing for the first time in more than a month since he injured a hamstring in Week 4 at Kansas City. His presence and incomparable ability seemed to further stabilize a team that finally seems to be recovered from what had been a season-long tailspin.
As for the Fins? Yep, per usual, the winners and losers extended well beyond what was evident on the scoreboard, so let’s unpack the subsets:
WINNERS
Lamar Jackson
After he was surprisingly inactive Sunday against the Chicago Bears, the two-time league MVP and South Florida native was predictably dominant against the Dolphins, a team he historically shreds. Jackson passed for 204 yards, connecting on nine consecutive throws in the second half at one point, and four touchdowns and looked plenty spry while doing it even if he didn’t have to leave the pocket much. With a 143.2 passer rating Thursday, Jackson has gone 140+ in four of his five outings against Miami.
Ravens tight ends
Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar combined for seven receptions, 105 yards and three TD grabs, Andrews collecting two of them. It’s a dangerous group when they and Jackson are firing on all cylinders – and you can officially dispense with the notion that Andrews might be moved ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Jaelan Phillips
With four tackles and a sack of the ever-elusive Jackson, he made a nice closing argument to contending teams looking to acquire a first-rate pass rusher ahead of the 4 p.m. ET trade cutoff on Nov. 4. Set to be a free agent after the season, Phillips could be poised to further jack up his asking price over the next few weeks if he lands with a better team, one that could further showcase his talents, in the coming days.
Derrick Henry
It helps having Jackson back, and Henry rushed for 119 yards − much of it in big chunks (four of his 19 carries generating 81 yards). It was actually the second time he’s reached the century mark in the past three games, yet another positive sign amid Baltimore’s swelling surge.
LOSERS
Mike McDaniel
The Miami coach, along with GM Chris Grier, are on seats as hot as any in the league when it comes to their employment status. Just four days after an inspired performance during a 34-10 win at Atlanta provided something of a reprieve, the Dolphins again looked lifeless in front of a clearly disenchanted fan base at Hard Rock Stadium.
‘I think we came to play,’ McDaniel said afterward, though his tone belied that assertion to some degree, especially after his team’s uninspired second half.
Want to sum this game up? Miami turned the ball over three times while Baltimore didn’t once. The Dolphins couldn’t convert any of their three red-zone opportunities while the Ravens nailed all three of theirs. Game, set and match.
Normally, it might make sense to fire a dead coach walking after a Thursday night game, but it seems equally likely McDaniel will at least make it to Week 11, when the team plays in Madrid, after which Stephen Ross could more logically pull the trigger during the team’s full bye week. Still, the owner did leave his box early on a night when his team wasn’t competitive and when the fans who did show up were vocal (whether or not they wore bags over their heads) before heading for the exits well before the final gun.
Tua Tagovailoa
It was all downhill after he drove Prime Video analyst and former teammate Ryan Fitzpatrick to work. Tagovailoa looked swagged out in his visor – his teammates at least vocally supported that in the days prior to the game − but apparently it exhausted all of its luck in Atlanta after shielding his swollen eye. Eyes wide open Thursday, Tua passed his way to 261 inefficient yards and a pick that did nothing to suggest he or his coach are long-term answers for this franchise.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Ravens have made up a game-and-a-half on the AFC North leaders in the span of four days. The gap could continue to close if the Steelers can’t handle the explosive Indianapolis Colts and their league-best 7-1 record at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday. Factor in Baltimore getting a mini bye and facing four more teams in succession with losing records before hosting Pittsburgh on Dec. 7, and it’s becoming apparent why the Ravens are favored by the oddsmakers to retain the divisional crown despite their 3-5 start.
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit
Slips of the tongue can certainly be forgiven in the midst of a dog game. Maybe that’s why Michaels conflated the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” with the “Monday Night Miracle” and why Herbstreit invoked the “push tush.” Carson Wentz absolves you, fellas – better luck next week in Denver.
Derrick Henry
Why do the Ravens keep running that, uh, ‘push tush’ with Andrews given it’s so ugly looking and quite predictable? Apparently because it’s a better option than giving the ball to Henry in short-yardage situations, whether due to his lengthy build-up speed or blocking deficiencies.
World Series
Generally, a good strategy − one of the few seemingly employed by Major League Baseball − to avoid going head to head with the NFL in prime time, which explains why the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers traveled on Sunday and Thursday. But Shohei Ohtani, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Co. probably could have taken the NFL to the woodshed on this night … but they’re instead relegated to trying to command the eyeballs of the highly coveted 18-to-34-year-old demographic on Friday and, they hope, Saturday nights.