The Baltimore Ravens made a powerful statement with their dominant 28-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s four touchdown passes led the way as Miami failed to sustain the early energy. This contest represented a big turnaround for both teams after the two had experienced opposite ends of the spectrum last week.
Through the first half of the game, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looked like he had great chemistry with his top receiver Jaylen Waddle. Miami could not keep up their offensive firepower as the game went on. Tagovailoa had torched Atlanta’s defense just a week ago, tossing four touchdowns, but he was up against a much stiffer challenge in the Ravens defense.
Tua Tagovailoa’s Early Success
Though Tagovailoa’s performance was concerning and the overall result disappointing, Tua’s start to the game was encouraging. He did, and he hooked up with Waddle, who dashed for an incredible 36-yard gain which set Miami on the Ravens’ 7-yard line. Beyond that, Tagovailoa showed developing chemistry with tight end Greg Dulcich, making Miami’s offense even more potent.
On throws released in under 2.5 seconds from the time he snapped the ball, Tagovailoa went 17-for-23 for 197 yards. When taking deeper shots—defined as pass attempts over 20 air yards—he was horrible, connecting on just 5 of his 11 attempts for just 35 yards.
While Tagovailoa’s five rushing attempts included a notable 13-yard scramble in the third quarter, it wasn’t enough to spark a significant comeback for Miami. The Dolphins’ age of De’Von Achane carried the load in recent weeks, but their rushing attack only saw 20 attempts this week. In major contrast, they only rushed 37 times in their last game against Atlanta.
Ravens’ Defensive Dominance
On the defensive end, the Ravens held to their successful trend of holding their opponents to low scoring totals. It was the third straight game that the Raiders held their opponents to less than 17 points. Baltimore’s defense did a great job taking away Miami’s offensive flow, making Tagovailoa uncomfortable and punishing his mistakes with turnovers.
Jackson’s Heisman-winning performance could not have provided a clearer contrast to Tagovailoa’s struggles. Jackson was 18-for-23 for 204 yards and showed his threaten to connect with any three of the often-open targets. As noted above, tight end Mark Andrews was vital to the Ravens’ offensive success. He had two touchdown receptions in the first half: one from two yards and one from 20.
The Ravens’ D helped them win their second Superbowl with timely turnovers. They did log three turnovers in this game. That is their most expensive total since their previous matchup vs the Dolphins earlier this season.
Key Takeaways from the Match
The Ravens’ offensive philosophy shifted towards a more Euro-style possession focused passing approach, developing a chemistry between Jackson and the Ravens WR corps. With his four touchdown passes, Jackson showed off his arm talent, creativity and uncanny ability to take advantage of defensive vulnerabilities. Andrews’ showings only served to reaffirm his growing status as a highly reliable target after his 12th game of his career with multiple TD catches.
Miami’s failure to duplicate their past success against Atlanta revealed deeper problems. The Dolphins’ explosive offense sputtered in the second half, unable to take advantage of early chances. While Tagovailoa’s connection with Waddle and Dulcich shone through initially, it ultimately could not overcome Baltimore’s defensive prowess.
Just a few minutes into the game, the glaring differences in offensive production started to show. Through the first three quarters, the Ravens asserted complete control over the tempo and rhythm of the game. At the same time, Miami collapsed following their hot start.
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