3 things learned from the Miami Dolphins incredible comeback at Ravens

The Dolphin’s defense looked like they never got off the bus for more than half the game. But then, they did what they had to do to get the ball back to the offense. I’ll take it.

Going down 7-0 does sort of take the wind out of your sails but it’s not that much of an excuse to act like you showed up for a huge game. The defense for two and half quarters looked dejected and just kind of were going through the motions.

They had no push upfront letting Lamar Jackson sit back there all day to find receivers. Those receivers eventually got wide open and it was very easy for the Raven’s offense to move the ball.

It was encouraging to see the Dolphin’s defense step up and stop the Raven’s offense on that marathon 18-play drive.

But the Ravens just continued to have their way with the Dolphin’s defense. After Miami scored cutting it to 14-7, in one play Lamar hit Rashod Bateman on what looked like the easiest pitch and catch you’ll ever see. Bateman got Xavien Howard all turned around and he was wide-open in the middle of the field.

That’s what could happen if you’re running man and the pressure doesn’t get there. But man alive it was an easy 75-yard score. It looked like Howard could have possibly knocked him out inside the five but Bateman just jogged in. Maybe it was one of those things where at home it looked closer than it was and Howard knew there was no way he was catching up to him and diving at him would be worthless. Who knows is what I’m going to tell myself.

In the second half, when the offense started to cook, the defense started getting stops and getting the ball back to the offense.

Shootouts happen and sometimes you aren’t playing your best or even any good. But, it’s nice to see that when it counted that the defense rose up and did their job.

I don’t want to make a habit of this. I’d rather the talent on the defensive side of the ball play up to their ability. I don’t like seeing that vaunted defensive line get absolutely nowhere especially when there were injuries on Raven’s offensive line. I want this to be a real defensive line and not one that puts together stats in games where they’re up a bunch of points.

Huge test on Sunday against Josh Allen and the Bills. They are familiar with him so nothing they do should be much of a surprise.