4 Takeaways From the Ravens’ Win Over the Dolphins

[ad_1] MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - The Ravens are again, however the Dolphins are firmly not.

Baltimore's win over the Dolphins on Thursday night time, with a wholesome return by quarterback Lamar Jackson, is step one towards an enormous potential turnaround. Jackson threw 4 touchdowns, whereas operating again Derrick Henry ran for 97 yards in a complete win.

Listed below are my takeaways:

1. From 1-5 to the playoffs? That’s what the 2025 Ravens are attempting to do.

Baltimore, now 3-5, has 4 losses to groups within the prime 10 of our NFL Energy Rankings (Lions, Rams, Payments and Chiefs), and of their remaining 9 video games, they solely face one such opponent. The Ravens must go not less than 6-3 if not 7-2 the remainder of the way in which to make the playoffs, however they’ll be more healthy than the one which struggled mightily out of the gates.

Jackson, again after lacking three video games with a hamstring damage, threw three landing passes to tight ends on Thursday – two early to Mark Andrews and one other to Charlie Kolar within the third quarter. He added a fourth to large receiver Rashod Bateman. Even the Ravens protection, which got here into the night time ranked thirtieth in factors allowed, got here up with a giant takeaway early to arrange a seven-yard landing drive.

Opening the 12 months 1-5 and making the playoffs is just not unprecedented – Washington did it in 2020, successful a foul division at 7-9, and the 2018 Colts completed 10-6 and received a playoff sport. The 2015 Chiefs received their remaining 10 video games and even received a playoff sport, and the one different workforce to drag it off within the Tremendous Bowl period is the 1970 Bengals, who completed 8-6 after a 1-5 begin.

2. Again to regular for listless Dolphins Might final week’s sudden 34-10 rout of the Falcons be a shock spark for the Dolphins? There was no signal of it on Thursday.

Miami moved the ball with ease between the 20s within the first half towards Baltimore, solely to cease themselves when it mattered most.

Down 7-3, the Dolphins marched to Baltimore's 21-yard line, had three straight three-yard beneficial properties and lined as much as go for it on fourth-and-1. However a false begin on sort out Larry Borom took that away, and Riley Patterson missed a 35-yard discipline purpose so the drive got here up empty.

The Dolphins did it once more simply earlier than halftime, going from their 20 to the 13, getting stopped on third-and-2, after which noticed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throw a lob incomplete on fourth down. Two journeys within the purple zone yielded zero factors, so Miami was down 14-6 on the half when it may have simply had the lead.

3. Don't commerce Mark Andrews The Ravens’ 2024 season ended within the playoffs on an enormous drop by Andrews, and he had a quiet begin to this season. On Thursday, although, it was a reminder of how properly he and Jackson can play collectively.

Andrews totaled simply 208 yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore’s first seven video games, however Jackson’s wholesome return Thursday introduced an awakening to Andrews as properly. A two-yard landing on fourth-and-goal obtained Baltimore’s offense going, and he adopted with a 20-yard landing within the second quarter.

On a third-and-1 at Miami's five-yard line, the Ravens lined up Andrews for a direct-snap tight finish sneak, Tush Push fashion, and he transformed with a two-yard acquire to arrange one other landing.

If this was a misplaced season, you possibly can perceive Baltimore delivery Andrews off to make it simpler to re-sign tight finish Isaiah Doubtless within the offseason, but when the Ravens are going to make a postseason push, the 30-year-old shall be a central a part of that turnaround.

So, cease any discuss of a commerce subsequent week.

Mark Andrews (No. 89) helped ignite the Ravens offense on Thursday night time. (Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)

4. So many unhealthy contracts limiting the Dolphins’ rebuild No matter whether or not Mike McDaniel retains his job till the top of the season, the Dolphins have main wage shedding to do within the offseason.

Need to transfer on from Tagovailoa? That might imply $99 million in useless cap subsequent season, and that will ideally be cut up over the subsequent two seasons. Need to transfer on from large receiver Tyreek Hill? That additionally is smart, however it will imply one other $55 million in useless cap. The Dolphins may commerce edge rusher Bradley Chubb this week, however doing so would imply $35 million in useless cap, they usually’d must restructure contracts simply to have the ability to do this.

Miami has barely any cap area in 2026 because it stands – solely three groups have much less area – they usually’ll must be inventive to get out from beneath a number of the horrible contracts they’ve handed out within the final two years.

4 ½. What's subsequent? It’s loopy for a 3-5 workforce to have a transparent path to the playoffs, however in a foul AFC North, the Ravens actually do. Their subsequent three are straightforward – on the Vikings, on the Browns, dwelling vs. Jets – and that units up a remaining gauntlet with 4 division video games within the remaining six weeks, all towards the Steelers and Bengals.

It will get robust across the holidays – towards the Patriots on Dec. 21, then a visit to Inexperienced Bay in Week 17 – and Baltimore would most likely have to separate these two not less than to remain in rivalry. Survive that and all of it may come right down to the regular-season finale at Pittsburgh, maybe with a division title and residential playoff sport on the road.

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade overlaying the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You may comply with him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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