Lamar Jackson is back to looking like Lamar Jackson, and the Ravens are back to looking like the Ravens. In his first action since missing a month with a hamstring injury, Jackson threw four touchdown passes in leading Baltimore to a dominant 28-6 victory over the Dolphins in South Florida.
The Ravens improved to 3-5, winning their second straight game, while Miami fell to 2-7, unable to capitalize on its win last week over Atlanta.
The Dolphins scored a field goal on their opening drive and forced a quick three and out. Then, Miami crumbled, and Baltimore took over for the duration of the contest. Tahj Washington fumbled deep in Dolphins territory, and four plays later, Jackson found Mark Andrews on a quick rollout to take a 7-3 lead.
On Baltimore's next drive, Jackson extended a third-and-4 play, finding Isaiah Likely for a 35-yard catch-and-run. Two plays later, Andrews got open on a crossing route after two Dolphins defenders collided, scoring from 20 yards out.
Miami secured a second field goal before the half to cut the deficit to a single possession, but its opening frames were marred with miscues, miscommunications and misfortune. That included an incorrect tripping call that wiped out a long pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle; running back Ollie Gordon II simply tripped over himself when going to block; he did not trip the pass rusher at all. The Dolphins ended that possession with a punt.
The Ravens exited the locker rooms refocused, completely taking control of the game. Jackson guided an 11-play, 68-yard touchdown drive that utilized half of the third-quarter clock, leading to boo birds from the Hard Rock Stadium faithful after Miami answered with a feeble three and out. Jackson's final touchdown toss went to Rashod Bateman from 9 yards out.
Though the Dolphins outgained the Ravens 225-109 in the first half, Baltimore outgained Miami 166-39 in the third quarter alone with a 10-2 advantage on third downs.
The Dolphins' faint hopes of a comeback vanished early in the fourth quarter when Malik Washington fumbled in the red zone and Tagovailoa threw up a prayer that was picked off by Ravens first-round pick, Malaki Starks, whose first career interception put finishing touches on the win.
The Ravens will aim to win their third straight next week when they visit the Vikings. The Dolphins, who may look different by the time Tuesday's trade deadline passes, host the Bills in Week 10.
Jackson finished 18 for 23 for 204 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, good for a 143.2 passer rating. His 18 completions were spread out across eight different receivers, and his three touchdown passes to tight ends tied a career high.
Jackson now has 18 touchdown passes and just one interception in five career games against Miami.
This game exemplified just how much Jackson means to this team. The Ravens threw one touchdown pass in three games combined without Jackson. Plus, after getting ahead early, Baltimore was able to lean on Derrick Henry. On a night he crossed the 12,000-yard mark, he finished with 119 rushing yards, 89 of which came after halftime.
Baltimore's defensive effort was far from perfect -- more on that in a bit -- but it was certainly good enough, a trend that has continued after an awful start to the season.
In the first half, the Ravens set the offense up for its first touchdown when Alohi Gilman stripped Tahj Washington and recovered the fumble. The unit bent but didn't break multiple times, too.
In the second half, the Ravens forced two more turnovers to slam the door shut. The three turnovers forced are their most in a game this season.
The Ravens allowed just 87 rushing yards, and over their past three games, they are allowing just 86 rushing yards per game. Over their first five games, they were allowing 146.
Gilman has been a terrific add. Acquired from the Chargers for edge rusher Odafe Owen, Gilman has allowed the Ravens to play three safeties -- himself, Starks and All-Pro Kyle Hamilton -- at a much higher rate, and Hamilton being closer to the line of scrimmage has helped the rush defense in particular.
The Dolphins got inside the Ravens' 35-yard line five times. Here's how those drives ended:
Miscues, miscommunications and misfortune piled up. Early on, the Dolphins were set to go for a fourth and 1, but Larry Borom false started. Mike McDaniel then sent out his field goal unit, and Riley Patterson pushed a 35-yard field goal wide right.
Three possessions later, the Dolphins, then down 14-6, got into the red zone, but a fourth-and-2 fade route to De'Von Achane went awry; Achane and Tagovailoa weren't on the same page, and Tagovailoa's pass landed nowhere near his running back.
That's how -- despite holding a 225-109 yards advantage -- the Dolphins trailed at halftime. Then the Ravens dominated the second half and turned what was a tight game into a blowout.
Miami simply doesn't have enough margin for error to withstand issues like these. Tagovailoa had some good moments but wasn't on the same page as his intended receivers far too often. The inability to finish drives eventually led to the bottom falling out on offense as Miami desperately tried (and failed) to play catchup.
The outcome was no longer in doubt, but Malaki Starks just got a moment he'll never forget. The Ravens' first-round rookie picked off Tua Tagovailoa on a deep pass and celebrated appropriately.
Malik Washington just lost a fumble on a carry inside the Ravens' red zone, and that's the story of the game for Miami. This was the hosts' fifth drive inside the Ravens' 35-yard line, and the result of those drives are ...
The Dolphins' (slight) chances of a comeback just evaporated.
That's four touchdown passes for Lamar Jackson, this one a 9-yarder to Rashod Bateman one play after a beautiful 39-yard connection with Zay Flowers.
Baltimore had four first downs all of the first half; it has nine through two second-half drives.
After a stop-and-start first half, the Ravens' offense pieced together arguably its best drive of the game to start the second half: 11 plays and 68 yards over 8:09, ending with Lamar Jackson's 3-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Kolar.
Jackson had his first long run of the game -- a 13-yard scramble to convert a third-and-6 -- and is now up to three touchdown passes on the night, all to tight ends.
The Dolphins have outgained the Ravens 226-109 and have 10 first downs to Baltimore's four, but several missed opportunities have cost them dearly.
Also, edge defender Chop Robinson (concussion) is out, while running back Ollie Gordon II (ankle) is questionable to return.
Another drive deep into Ravens territory, another unsatisfying end to the drive. Tua Tagovailoa appeared to want a fade route from De'Von Achane. Achane didn't really run that route ... or any route, really. It's still 14-6 Baltimore.
It looks like an ankle tweak for Gordon II, who serves as Miami's short-yardage back and comes in when De'Von Achane needs a breather.
That's a huge sigh of relief for the Ravens.
This could be really bad news for the Ravens. Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore's do-it-all safety, was down on the ground for a while receiving medical attention after helping make a tackle. He was able to jog off.
Malik Washington's big return (plus a penalty on the Ravens on the play) set the Dolphins up well inside Ravens territory, and while Miami couldn't take full advantage, it did get a 43-yard Riley Patterson field goal. It's 14-6, Baltimore.
It's been a frustrating start for Tua Tagovailoa and his top target, Jaylen Waddle. They had a 36-yard connection wiped out by penalty, and Tagovailoa has thrown behind Waddle on a pair of occasions, including once on the most recent drive.
This would be a tough blow for Miami's defense. Robinson had six sacks last season and has one this year. He walked off the field with a towel over his head.
Tua Tagovailoa appeared to have a 36-yard connection to Jaylen Waddle on a perfect double move, but the officiating crew called a tripping foul on Ollie Gordon II. Replays showed there really was no tripping; Gordon slipped and didn't appear to do anything illegal.
So instead of first and goal at the Baltimore 7-yard line, the Dolphins had second and 16 inside their own territory, and they ended up punting.
The Ravens had just one passing touchdown over their last three games with Lamar Jackson out. They now have two in just over one quarter with him back. Jackson found Mark Andrews on a mesh route after two Dolphins defenders collided.
Andrews and fellow tight end Isaiah Likely have already been a big part of the attack, and that's music to Ravens fans' ears.
The Dolphins ripped off several long runs to get inside the red zone, but a pair of self-inflicted wounds led to a disappointing end to the drive. Larry Borom false started on fourth and 1, forcing Mike McDaniel to take the offense off the field, and Riley Patterson missed a 35-yard field goal.
It'll be worth watching if the Dolphins can keep the running game up; De'Von Achane had 22- and 6-yard runs. He also had a 19-yard catch.
What an excellent, excellent play by recently acquired safety Alohi Gilman. Tahj Washington got open and easily gained the yardage for a first down, but Gilman came over, raked the ball out and recovered the fumble.
It took until fourth down, but the Ravens' offense turned the turnover into seven points, with Lamar Jackson finding Mark Andrews for a touchdown.
Miami is on the board first courtesy of a 49-yard Riley Patterson field goal. The Dolphins got a good return and a 20-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle on their first play from scrimmage, but the Ravens did a good job buckling down, especially against the run, to limit the damage.
We'll now see Lamar Jackson for the first time in about a month.
The Dolphins start with the ball.
In 2019 -- Lamar Jackson's first year as the full-time starter -- he threw for five touchdowns and zero interceptions in the season opener against the Dolphins, setting the tone for an MVP-winning season.
In 2023, Jackson threw for five touchdowns and zero interceptions in Week 17 against the Dolphins, capping his second MVP season.
No player has ever had three games of five passing touchdowns and zero interceptions against a single team. Jackson would love to become the first, but he'll happily take a win of any sort tonight, too.
The Dolphins had already ruled out tight end Julian Hill, and safety Ashtyn Davis was doubtful and will not play, but all four players listed as questionable -- edge rusher Bradley Chubb, wide receiver Dee Eskridge, cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu -- are active.
The Ravens are as healthy as they've been in weeks, and that's reflected in their straightforward inactives list. Lamar Jackson is back most notably, and Baltimore had everyone as a "full" participant in practice Wednesday.
