Scooter & Hum: Day 614, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Ravens Game 10 Review

Let's not get this twisted: Outside the division, there are few teams I hate more than the Baltimore Ravens. This has always been a cheap team led by a smarmy bitch in John Harbaugh, and bad blood between Miami and Baltimore has existed for quite a while, exacerbated when the Ravens faked a punt late in a 59-10 win in coach Brian Flores's first season.

This is not something that anyone has been able to say in quite some time, but Miami thoroughly outcoached Baltimore in this one. The 'Fins dictated the tone of the contest, flustered Lamar Jackson, and simply never gave the Ravens a chance to adjust to the blitz-happy approach. The game was made closer by the fact that the Dolphins were whistled for 11 penalties -- a staggering 10 in the second half alone -- to only four for the visitors. Miami overcame this disparity, though, winning its second game in a row to set the table for a four-game mini-season featuring eminently gettable contests.

On to the pleasantly surprising recap ...

Offense

Miami had only 17 first downs, but did hit some chunk plays in this one, averaging 5.6 yards per play and totaling 350 yards. The run game was a disaster again, with just 60 yards on the ground on an average of only 2.7 yards per carry. Yes, the Dolphins converted just three of 13 third downs, but the team did not commit a single turnover against an opponent that thrives on momentum-changing plays.
Jacoby Brissett started and played 37 snaps before injuring his knee, giving way to Tua Tagovailoa, who got 32 snaps in relief with a fractured finger. Brissett completed 11 of 23 passes for 156 yards, ran once for four yards, and was sacked twice. Tua hit eight of 13 passes for 158 yards, rushed three times for a yard and a touchdown, and was sacked once. Each fumbled on a sack, but together the duo did enough to win -- partially due to the Ravens having some coverage breakdowns that left streaking receivers wide open.
Myles Gaskin dominated time at running back again, rushing 14 times for 31 yards and adding a 14-yard reception on 42 snaps. To his credit, he ran his hardest in the fourth quarter when Miami was working to put the game away. Surprisingly, Patrick Laird (16) outsnapped Salvon Ahmed (nine), with Laird catching a two-yard pass and Ahmed carrying twice for six yards and adding a nine-yard grab.
Bizarrely, the offensive staff remembered that Albert Wilson was on their team and made the wide receiver the focal point of the offense. He rushed the ball twice for 19 yards and had four grabs for 87 yards on five targets, including the 64-yarder that saw him completely uncovered. Isaiah "Zombie" Ford was the next-most-productive receiver, making the most of his 11 snaps by hauling in four passes for 84 yards, including a 52-yarder that tilted the game in the first half. Rookie Jaylen Waddle added four receptions for 61 yards on six targets, reeling in a clutch 35-yarder at a key moment. These were the only three wideouts to catch a pass. With Wilson playing 38 snaps -- his most since the second week of the season -- there were fewer to go around for Preston Williams (18) and Mack Hollins (13). Williams in particular was a wreck, and his effort should make that snap count even less next week and beyond.
A Miami tight end figured prominently, but this time it was Adam Shaheen (an uncharacteristic 38 snaps), who caught three of four targets for 34 yards, including a pair of clutch red zone grabs. Durham Smythe had a nice 23-yard catch and run on a bootleg late in the game, though he was whistled for holding on a particularly bad call. Standout Mike Gesicki was shut out and had a couple of drops along the way, with credit going to the Ravens for shutting down the 'Fins' only established offensive weapon.
Up front, the offensive line allowed a combined 19 pressures, with rookie left tackle Liam Eichenberg and right guard Robert Hunt struggling the most in pass protection. Eichenberg was called for a hold and struggled big-time with veteran Justin Houston on a number of occasions, though he did rack up two crucial fumble recoveries -- on plays where he allowed sacks. Left guard Austin Jackson had a crucial false start, center Austin Reiter was called for holding, and Hunt had false start and illegal touching penalties. Right tackle Jesse Davis seemed slightly less awful in this one, which is the highest praise I can find.

Defense

In a stunningly dominant defensive performance, Miami held the high-powered Ravens to just 304 total yards and 4.3 yards per play. The Dolphins also limited the Ravens to less than 100 rushing yards, which had to make Harbaugh shit his Dockers. The 'Fins went with cover-0 blitzes on a staggering 40 snaps and completely confused Jackson in passing situations, allowing the Ravens to convert just two of 14 third-down attempts.
On the edge, Andrew Van Ginkel was a menace, with five tackles, half a sack, a batted pass, and two quarterback hits. On the other side, Emmanuel Ogbah was credited with two solo tackles, but had a tackle for loss and a batted pass to go with a number of hurries. Rookie Jaelen Phillips had three tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit, flashing his speed in the open field on a couple of occasions. While the blitz package certainly defined this game, the push on the edges was perhaps the best seen from Miami this season.
On the interior, Christian Wilkins continued his strong play with five tackles, and he played two offensive snaps in short-yardage situations as well. Zach Sieler had three tackles and a big stop for a loss, while Adam Butler tallied two solo tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit. The effectiveness of this trio led Raekwon Davis to be limited to just 23 snaps as the coaching staff adjusts to the reality that Davis has just not been making the expected impact.
Elandon Roberts led the linebackers with six tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit in just 28 snaps, and he was complemented by Jerome Baker, who contributed four tackles and a quarterback hit -- to go with a very damaging personal foul. Duke Riley played an uncustomary 26 snaps and posted two tackles, although you would think he had 15 if you saw his celebrations. Sam Eguavoen (three snaps) and Brennan Scarlett (two) saw scant action in a game plan that saw Miami relying heavily on extra defensive backs.
At cornerback, Xavien Howard would go on to win AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after five solo tackles, a fumble recovery, and a scintillating, game-changing touchdown return of that fumble (he was whistled for a holding penalty as well). Byron Jones led the team with nine tackles, including seven solo, and Miami's cover-zero approach would not have been possible without his sound tackling. From a hybrid nickel position, Eric Rowe had four tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble to set up X's score. Justin Coleman (44 snaps) dominated action over Nik Needham (four snaps) in this one, and the move paid off, as Coleman recorded three tackles, two pass breakups, and a game-ending interception despite being called for holding in the fourth quarter.
At safety, Jevon Holland was a terror, tallying five tackles, a sack, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hit (plus a horseshit roughness call), harassing Jackson on seemingly every other play. Brandon Jones had seven tackles, including six solo, on the back end of a defensive secondary that completely took over the game with its incessant blitzing and flawless tackling.

Special teams

Jason Sanders hit all three field goals -- though the long was just 31 yards -- plus his lone extra point.
Michael Palardy averaged 43.5 yards on eight punts, dropping two inside the 20-yard line. He was a bit shaky on a couple of punts again, but Miami does not seem inclined to make a change.
Second-year first-rounder Noah Ighbinoghene was spotted on 25 special teams snaps in this one, registering a single tackle as proof of life.
The Dolphins did not return any kickoffs, while Waddle (six yards) and Holland (four yards) each had negligible punt returns.

Momentum plays

Baltimore got started quickly with a nice end-around, but Holland drilled the runner as he was headed out of bounds, setting the tone of the contest. The officials missed a runner being tagged down to allow another Ravens first down, but Miami dodged a bullet as Jackson's third-down pass into the end zone was bizarrely given up on by Sammy Watkins. Justin Tucker hit from 46 yards to stake Baltimore to a 3-0 lead.
Brissett threw a nice sideline ball to Gesicki on the next drive, but the tight end could not reel in a pass he normally comes down with. Hunt ran into Jackson on the next play to allow an easy sack and a punt.
Some solid runs and a Mark Andrews catch got the Ravens rolling on the next drive, but Rowe and Byron Jones forced a third-down fumble short of the sticks. Baltimore recovered, but Tucker's 48-yarder drifted just right, getting the crowd going.
A third-down drop by G-Sick hastened a quick and disheartening three-and-out for the Dolphins.
Holland covered a ton of ground to make a great pass breakup on a deep pass, and Phillips and Van Ginkel teamed up for a big sack to force a Ravens three-and-out.
The Dolphins started the second quarter with another three-and-out, but answered with a defensive three-and-out when Ogbah pressure forced an underneath throw on 3rd & 10 that saw Rowe and Howard rally and tackle.
After an Ahmed first down, Brissett rolled out under pressure and threw a 12-yard strike to Waddle to get a drive rolling. On a 3rd & 1, Brissett threw a beautiful deep shot to Shaheen, who went high to reel it in to set up a first & goal. However, a phantom holding call on Smythe made things tougher, and after G-Sick couldn't come up with a pass and Williams ran an awful third-down route, the Dolphins had to settle for a 31-yarder from Sanders to tie the score at 3.
The Miami D rose up again on Baltimore's next possession, featuring a batted pass from Ogbah and a strong third-down tackle by Howard.
Pinned deep, the 'Fins got some breathing room when Waddle reached for a first down on 3rd & 6, but Gaskin missed a hole on a second-down run and Brissett's deep shot to Waddle was incomplete, forcing another Palardy punt.
The Dolphins forced yet another three-and-out when Holland batted a pass and Baker ran down the running back with stellar pursuit on an option pitch play.
Taking over at their own 12-yard line, the 'Fins got on the move when Brissett hit Ford with a strike for a first down. Then, on a blitz, Brissett rolled and made a beautiful throw to an uncovered Ford in stride, and the receiver took it 52 yards down the sideline. The quarterback then rifled another strike to Shaheen to set up a first and goal, but another brutal lack of effort from Williams cost Miami an easy touchdown on a nicely thrown fade. Shaheen was interfered with without a call on the next play, forcing Miami to settle for a 22-yard field goal and a 6-3 lead with three seconds left in the half.
To start the second half, the Dolphins went three-and-out, lowlighted by a 3rd & 10 sack that saw Brissett injure his knee while fumbling. Eichenberg, who was beaten badly on the play, did at least manage to recover the fumble.
Baltimore took over at midfield after a solid return, but Miami got a second-down sack from Butler and Brandon Jones. On 3rd & 15, Holland missed a sack, and Jackson threw deep, but Coleman made a tremendous pass breakup inside the 10-yard line to force yet another Ravens punt.
Tua came in at quarterback with Miami taking over at its 5-yard line, and after a Waddle first down gave the 'Fins a little breathing room, Tua misfired for Gesicki on two straight plays.
The Ravens began the next drive on its own 46-yard line after a meh Palardy punt. Baltimore got a third-down conversion on a nifty catch in front of Byron Jones, but a Roberts sack that featured a fumble that Jackson recovered himself helped Miami force the visitors to punt.
The 'Fins went three-and-out immediately, with Tua banging his finger on a rusher's helmet.
After a quick first down, Baltimore had a pass to Andrews overturned from catch to incomplete on replay, and a Holland sack on third down ended another possession quickly.
With good field position at its own 36-yard line, Miami got a first-down catch from Gaskin and then overcame a 1st & 20 (following a Reiter hold) when Tua hit Waddle deep, with the rookie wideout making a tough contested grab to end the third quarter. A Wilson end-around got Miami into the red zone, and the 'Fins got a break when Waddle drew an interference call on a really poor Tua throw. With first & goal from the 1, the Dolphins had a horrific sequence: Tua nearly threw an interception on a pass intended for G-Sick, Jackson jumped offsides, Eichenberg got called for holding, and Hunt was called for an illegal touch on crazy play that saw him grab a screen intended for Gaskin and somersault into the end zone with a reach across the goal line. Miraculously, Miami managed to convert a 29-yard field goal without further incident, pushing the advantage to 9-3.
Baltimore got an iffy pass interference call on Howard to jumpstart its next possession, but on 3rd & 10, "X" redeemed himself with a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and tremendous weaving return for a touchdown. Miami's two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete on a pass toward Hollins, but the Dolphins had seized control with a 15-3 lead with 11:23 remaining.
The Ravens got a quick first down on the following drive, but Rowe jarred a ball loose on a pass and Baltimore dropped another throw well short of the first down on 3rd & 10 to bring on the punter once more.
A bootleg pass to Smythe led to a nice gainer, but Eichenberg was beaten again around the edge, allowing a sack that cause a Tua fumble that Eichenberg almost miraculously found a way to recover despite two Ravens defenders being near the ball. A strong Gaskin run and a tough Ford catch turned a 2nd & 18 into a 4th & 1, but after trying to draw Baltimore offsides, Miami wisely elected to punt -- a decision that Palardy paid off when he placed one that was downed at the 1-yard line by Hollins.
The Ravens got a break when Ogbah missed a sack and Baker was whistled for an unnecessary roughness for a hit on Jackson. Rowe nearly forced another fumble on a Jackson run, but the quarterback was ruled down, and Baltimore got more help from the officials in the form of a phantom unnecessary roughness call on Holland, who was pressuring Jackson. A 3rd & 3 hold on Coleman kept the drive alive, and after Byron Jones inadvisably went for a pick to allow a catch and run to the Miami 5-yard line, Rowe inexplicably stopped playing on the following play, allowing an uncontested touchdown catch by Andrews. Baltimore's 99-yard drive put them back in the game at 15-10 and featured three massive penalties as the officials intervened in the game at a crucial moment.
On the next drive, it was the Ravens' turn to make a vapor-lock play, leaving Wilson uncovered for a 64-yard catch and run down the sideline. A false start by Hunt in the red zone slowed down the goal-to-go opportunity, but Gaskin's tough running set up a Tua keeper for a touchdown and a 22-10 lead with 2:19 to play.
Baltimore took advantage of Byron Jones with a deep pass again to get the next drive rolling, but Baker made a key tackle in bounds to keep the clock running on a 2nd & 10 play. An Andrews catch and run saw a poor tackle effort by Howard to allow the big tight end to scamper out of bounds, but Ogbah pressure on third & goal led to a Coleman interception in the end zone to salt the game away.
Two kneels for Tua ran out the clock, giving Miami a stirring victory over the hated Ravens.