Lamar Jackson returns in type as Ravens rout Dolphins

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If there was any doubt, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made certain the soccer world knew he was again.

In his first sport in 32 days, Jackson threw 4 landing passes in a 28-6 win over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday evening. The 2-time NFL Most Useful Participant had missed the previous three video games with a hamstring damage, however he did not present a lot rust in his return.

Jackson accomplished 18-of-23 makes an attempt for 204 yards as he as soon as once more celebrated in South Florida, the place he grew up. Of Jackson’s 13 video games with 4 or extra landing passes, three of them have come in opposition to the Dolphins — his most in opposition to any crew.

In successful their second sport in 5 days, the Ravens improved to 3-5 and seem set to go on a run. Baltimore’s subsequent 4 opponents — at Vikings and Browns and residential in opposition to the Jets and Bengals — are a mixed 9-22 (.290). The Ravens at the moment are 1.5 video games again of the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3), who play host to the Indianapolis Colts (7-1) on Sunday.

Listed below are crucial issues to know from Thursday evening for each groups:

What to make of the QB efficiency: There was a query on how a lot Jackson would run coming off a hamstring damage. He solely had 5 speeding makes an attempt however his 13-yard scramble within the third quarter transformed a 3rd down to increase what can be a landing drive. Jackson was elusive within the pocket and threw three landing passes when underneath duress, that are probably the most by a quarterback this season.

Pattern to look at: The Ravens held a crew underneath 17 factors or fewer in three straight video games, which ties the longest steak by any crew this season. That is fairly a turnaround for a Baltimore protection that had been closely criticized after permitting an NFL-worst 35.4 factors per sport within the first 5 weeks of the season. It may be chalked as much as the Ravens protection getting more healthy and never having to face the likes of Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff, which they did within the first month of the season. With two compelled fumbles and an interception, the Ravens recorded their most turnovers since that they had three of their final assembly in opposition to the Dolphins in 2023.

Stat to know: Andrews definitely loved the return of Jackson, catching landing passes of two and 20 yards within the first half. This was Andrews’ twelfth profession sport with a number of landing catches, that are probably the most by any tight finish since he entered the league in 2018. Andrews has caught 48 landing passes in Jackson’s 90 begins and has totaled 5 landing receptions in 21 video games when Jackson was sidelined. — Jamison Hensley

Subsequent sport: at Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 9)

Even when Thursday evening was the primary Dolphins sport you watched all season, don’t be concerned — you’ve got primarily seen all of them.

The Dolphins outgained Baltimore within the first half, gained the time of possession battle, averaged practically 6 yards per play and held a Lamar Jackson-led offense to simply 109 yards — however nonetheless trailed 14-6 at halftime because of a sequence of all-too-characteristic miscues.

There have been those that have been their fault: a false begin on fourth-and-one that arrange a missed 35-yard area purpose, an incomplete cross on fourth-and-two from deep within the crimson zone, and a misplaced fumble on their very own 18 that arrange Baltimore’s first landing of the evening. There was additionally the one which wasn’t their fault — a questionable tripping name on working again Ollie Gordon II that worn out a 36-yard catch.

The frustration on the sideline wasn’t simply palpable — it was filmed in excessive definition. Each coach Mike McDaniel and Gordon have been proven mid-outburst within the first half, all whereas the Ravens regarded just like the crew destined to show round their sub-.500 begin to the season. Miami now enters a 10-day mini-bye earlier than internet hosting the Buffalo Payments in Week 10 and travelling to Madrid to play the Washington Commanders in Week 11. With the commerce deadline coming Tuesday and a 2-7 file weighing down any optimism for this season, it is cheap to marvel how totally different this roster — or teaching employees — will look the subsequent time Miami takes the sphere.

QB Breakdown: One week after carving up the Falcons’ league-leading cross protection for 4 touchdowns, Tua Tagovailoa got here right down to earth a bit in opposition to Baltimore.

His reference to receiver Jaylen Waddle regarded sharp within the first half, and he confirmed a burgeoning chemistry with tight finish Greg Dulcich. However Miami struggled to stretch the sphere exterior of Waddle and the Ravens largely stored the ball in entrance of them. Tagovailoa bought the ball out rapidly, however struggled when his first learn wasn’t there. On cross makes an attempt inside 2.5 seconds of snapping the ball, Tagovailoa accomplished 17-of-23 passes for 197 yards. On makes an attempt that took longer than 2.5 seconds, he accomplished simply 5-of-11 passes for 35 yards with a -23.2% completion share over expectation. He completed 25 of 40 for 261 yards with no TDs and the choose.

Greatest gap in gameplan: The Dolphins ran the ball 37 occasions in final week’s win over the Falcons; clearly, the sport script impacted its playcalling Thursday evening however Miami ran the ball 20 occasions in opposition to the Ravens with De’Von Achane dealing with 14 of these makes an attempt. Earlier than the sport bought uncontrolled, the Dolphins did not set the tone on the line of scrimmage like they did in Week 9, turned the ball over thrice with out taking it away, and got here away empty-handed in three crimson zone journeys. That is a virtually assured recipe for dropping a sport.

Most stunning efficiency: All of it. Miami turned in a whole effort final week in what gamers and coaches referred to as one in every of their greatest complementary video games underneath McDaniel. They spoke all week about staying constant and never permitting that win to be a one-off. However all three phases fell flat Thursday. Miami did not appear like a crew prepared to show the nook; it regarded like a 2-7 crew.

Turning level: On second and 1 early within the second quarter, Tagovailoa discovered Waddle for a 36-yard achieve that gave Miami the ball on the Ravens’ 7-yard line — however any celebration was lower brief by flag within the backfield. Gordon was penalized for tripping Ravens linebacker Mike Inexperienced, however he had appeared to slide and unintentionally fall into Inexperienced. The Dolphins punted two performs later and Gordon was seen irate on the sideline. Miami managed to chop its deficit to 14-6 on its following drive however did not convert on fourth down from the Ravens’ 13-yard line simply earlier than the half. The Dolphins’ felt lifeless after that and did not put factors on the board for the rest of the evening. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Subsequent sport: vs. Buffalo Payments (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 9)