Miami Dolphins at Ravens recap
The last ranked offense faces off against the next to last offense in a Thursday night thriller.
Not much thrilling happened on the first drive of these offenses going on failed drives. Although mishaps on the special teams by the Dolphins with a poor punt then a poor punt return by Jakeem Grant let the Ravens have good field position on the 40 for the second series. Where they passed for the first TD of the game, to make matters worse the Dolphins defense had too many players on the field.
Slow start getting going for the Miami Dolphins offense this game with nothing really working. In fact after three series they had negative total yards. This is no way for Matt Moore to impress for consideration on keeping the starting QB job from a mending Jay Cutler.
Kenny Stills got the first big positive play with a 20 yard pass reception much like last game with that crazy catch that got things going. But it was all for naught on third down where the offense just couldn’t muster the blitz pick ups yet again. And the Dolphins defense has started shaky as they have the last game or two.
Early on it has been a losing field-position battle resulting in good starting points for the Ravens on which they got a TD and two FG’s. Whereas the Miami Dolphins kept faltering on negative drives and not even getting close to FG range. Also leaving a lot of third and long down situations and the blitzes from the Ravens that followed.
The special teams unit has played nearly as bad as the offense during the first half as time is running short with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Until the five-minute mark where Cody Parkey missed from fifty yards wide right. His first miss on the season over fifty yards he had been 8-for-8.
As advertised
Odd tradition: for whatever reason the Miami Dolphins have laid eggs when playing the Ravens many more times than not.
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Still missing in action
Damien Williams: who has usually been good pass blocking allowed the first sack of the day on a third and long. And fell down on a screen pass play where he had an open field all the way to the goal line.
Kiko Alonso had a bad hit to the head of Ravens QB Joe Flacco who slid late as Alonso was covering field to get to him. The hit knocked Flacco from the game. And Alonso also was beaten on a TD to Benjamin Watson that backup QB Ryan Mallett tossed.
The offense: on just the second drive to reach past the 50 yard line early in the fourth quarter, it ended in a 63 yard interception and score. The first time was a missed FG. Then again with just over four minutes to play a pass was intercepted on the fifty yard line for a second pick six making it 40 – 0.
Pleasant surprises
Leonte Carroo: got open and made a few nice catches during the first half. Did the same as the third quarter ended getting a first down.
Vincent Taylor: blocked a 46-yard field goal.
Phi-injury report: Nate Allen right calf. The team’s pride.
Phin fact: The Miami Dolphins have been outscored 60-3 in first half of games not played at Hard Rock Stadium this season.
Dolphins end this game with a winning record despite being outscored 152-92 this season.
This is the largest loss since a 1997 41-0 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Nothing went right this game, like the first attempted fourth down conversion ending in a sack. When the Ravens drove late in the game near the goal line their RB never had a handle on the ball it fumbled into the end zone where a Ravens player fell on it for a TD making it 33 – 0. There were missed calls by the Refs on the Miami Dolphins. I’m not stating this as game changing but it could set the tone for some players this game.
And that tone is going to cost Alonso and Suh some fines. There was three defensive fouls called on one play late in the game. Many scrums broke out during the game. The offense never clicked. Special teams were not much better. This is a game to put in the past as one of the most forgettable games in team history losing 40 – 0. They still have a winning record and can make up for this outing the next few games in prime time if they are not flexed out.