Day 922, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Ravens Game 2 Review

Somehow, some way, Miami scored 35 points in the second half against the hated Ravens and coach John Harbaugh, scoring 21 unanswered points in a 7-minute stretch to pull off the biggest road comeback in franchise history. The Dolphins' fourth-quarter drives started on their own 41-, 36-, and 32-yard lines, an underrated element of Miami's ability to put so many points on the board in such a short amount of time. In a game that featured more than 1,000 yards of offense, the 'Fins -- which have now won 10 of its last 11 games -- were also whistled for 10 penalties (two were declined) vs. one for Baltimore, a staggering disparity based on the Ravens' style of play and a variable that made the comeback even more impressive.

According to The Athletic, the 'Fins under Tua had been 1-8 in games where their defense and special teams were "meaningfully below average statistically." In a game where Miami overwhelmingly lost two of the three phases -- defense and special teams -- the fact that the Dolphins were somehow able to come back from such a deficit on the road bodes well for what kind of offense the team can put out there this season.

On to the suck-it-Harbag recap ...

Offense

• The offense caught fire in the second half to end up with 547 total yards and 27 first downs, wearing down Baltimore a bit by dominating time of possession.
• Tua was lights-out, especially in the second half. He threw for 469 yards and six touchdowns, connecting on 36 of 50 passes. He was picked off twice and sacked once, but avoided the fumbles that have plagued him at times. In the fourth quarter alone, he went 13 of 17 for 199 yards and four scores (154.pass rating), and a staggering four of his touchdown tosses came on third downs. While there could be quibbles on a few passes, the reality is that Tua -- who received an 85.2 grade from Pro Football Focus -- took a dramatic step forward in terms of team and national perception, and that is not something to be taken lightly.
• Playing 39 snaps, Raheem Mostert was low-key huge, rushing 11 times for 51 yards and adding 28 yards on three catches. Chase Edmonds was out-snapped (36), but factored late with a 28-yard run that helped him collect 41 total yards on six touches, though he did commit a costly tripping penalty. Alec Ingold (PFF grade of 76.8) had a pair of receptions for 15 yards and added a one-yard run in his 26 snaps, but his biggest contribution came on a number of vital downfield blocks.
• At receiver, there is only one word for the performance: historic. Jaylen Waddle (19 targets) and Tyreek Hill (13 targets and an 85.8 PFF grade while fighting through cramps) had 11 receptions and two touchdowns each, combining for a stunning 361 yards. River Cracraft (one catch for a two-yard touchdown) and Trent Sherfield (two grabs for nine yards) rounded out the top-heavy wideout contributions, with Cedrick Wilson failing to catch a pass and dealing with injured ribs.
• The re-emergence of Mike Gesicki was a welcome development, as the athletic tight end snared four passes for 41 yards, including a high-rising TD grab that re-ignited the Dolphins on a crucial drive. Durham Smythe added a five-yard catch.
• The starting offensive line played all 71 snaps, a huge development for a unit that has been searching for continuity. At tackle, Terron Armstead earned a 78.7 grade from PFF and Greg Little made some key blocks on running plays. Connor Williams had a damaging illegal block in the back at center, but he and guards Liam Eichenberg and Robert Hunt (who was whistled for ineligible man downfield) held up well against a strong interior rush from the Ravens. Despite allowing 11 hurries, the line did well to stave off a respected Baltimore front.

Defense

• Miami gave up 8.8 yards per play and 473 total yards without a sack, quarterback hit, or turnover. The team gave up three touchdowns over 75 yards and allowed Lamar Jackson (318 yards passing, 119 rushing) to become the first quarterback in NFL history to throw and run for touchdowns of at least 75 yards in a single game. The bright spot? On third and fourth downs, Baltimore converted just four of 13 opportunities.
• At defensive end, Christian Wilkins led the way with eight tackles and two stops for losses, while Emmanuel Ogbah was uncustomarily quiet, posting just two tackles. Zach Sieler was disruptive as usual, recording the best PFF grade (78.3) on defense with three tackles.
• At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis had two tackles, while John Jenkins was held without a stat.
• On the outside, Melvin Ingram had a pair of tackles, a stop for a loss, and a key deflected pass, but was also flagged twice (facemask and offside). Jaelen Phillips made one solo tackle, but showed stellar pursuit on occasion. Trey Fowler assisted on a tackle in reserve, but Andrew Van Ginkel did not take a defensive rep despite playing 17 snaps on special teams.
• At inside linebacker, Jerome Baker played all 59 snaps and had a pair of tackles, while Elandon Roberts added four, including a stop for a loss. Sam Eguavoen made the most of his seven defensive snaps, making three tackles, while Duke Riley was also active in reserve, recording four stops.
• This game won't go on Xavien Howard's Hall of Fame consideration reel, as he was a central factor in both of Baltimore's long touchdowns. He ended up with four tackles and a pass breakup, but he was also whistled for holding and dropped a sure pick-six. On the other side, Nik Needham had two tackles and was flagged for holding. Kader Kohou (25 snaps) had two solo tackles but also earned a holding flag, while Noah Igbinoghene did not take a snap from scrimmage.
• After a strong opener, Brandon Jones struggled a bit at strong safety, making four tackles but taking some questionable angles and drawing a pass interference penalty. Eric Rowe was an unsung hero in his return (35 snaps), making six solo stops and playing tight coverage on All-Pro Mark Andrews despite the tight end's final numbers (nine for 104 yards and a score).
• At free safety, Jevon Holland played all 59 snaps but had just two tackles and looked slower in pursuit in this one. 

Special teams

• The story here is obviously the 103-yard kickoff return by Devin Duvernay to start the game in the worst possible way. Kicker Jason Sanders gave a balky effort on the play, but helped redeem himself by recording touchbacks on all his other kicks and burying six extra points.
• It was a quiet day for Thomas Morstead, who punted twice for a 41-yard average and landed one inside the 20-yard line.
• Durham Smythe had a sneaky-important 18-yard kickoff return, while Jevon Holland had a tentative eight-yard punt return.
• Keion Crossen and Andrew Van Ginkel had impressive special-teams tackles, while Justin Bethel jumped offside on a Baltimore field goal, though the penalty was declined.

Momentum plays

• The Dolphins started the game with a whimper by surrendering a 103-yard kickoff return to Duvernay, who easily outpaced a weak-efforted Sanders and barely skipped past Crossen, who gave tremendous effort to nearly push Duvernay out inside the 10-yard line.
• Staring down a touchdown deficit 13 seconds into the game, Miami got the offense started with back-to-back first-down tosses to Waddle, followed by a 12-yard dart to Gesicki in traffic to convert a 3rd & 7. Two plays later, however, Tua forced a throw into coverage, with Baltimore snaring the interception off a deflection.
• The Ravens converted a pair of third downs and a fourth-down play, moving into the red zone. After three straight goal-line stops (including a play that was called a touchdown before being overturned), Lamar Jackson fumbled on a fourth-down sneak attempt as Wilkins jarred the ball loose, giving the 'Fins the ball back at their own 6-yard line.
• Miami got out of the shadow of its own goal post with a floater to Waddle, who quickly scampered down the sideline for a 59-yard pickup. Back-to-back first down passes to Hill and Sherfield set up the Dolphins, and Waddle paid it off with a bubble screen that saw him pick up nice blocks from Eichenberg and Armstead to tie the score at 7.
• The tie was short-lived however, as Rashod Bateman beat Howard badly on a slant on the first Ravens play, racing 75 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 advantage.
• Ingold picked up a fourth-and-short by taking the snap from a center, but back-to-back blown blocking assignments allowed Justin Houston to hit Tua twice, forcing a punt.
• A 19-yard Jackson scramble was followed by a 26-yard strike to Mark Andrews, then a 1-yard pass to Andrews for a touchdown that saw three Baltimore players be wide open as the home team forged ahead, 21-7.
• Two first downs gave Miami life, but Tua threw deep into double coverage for Waddle as he was being pressured, resulting in an interception by Marcus Williams.
• The Ravens wasted no time, with Isaiah Likely picking up 34 yards on a play that featured poor effort and worse tackling by the 'Fins. Ingram lost contain, then jumped offsides, with Jackson finishing the drive with a 12-yard touchdown to Robinson. With just 29 seconds remaining in the half, Baltimore held a 28-7 lead.
• Miami got the ball to start the second half, and proceeded to get Mostert going, with three straight touches for 33 yards. An illegal block in the back on Williams slowed the drive and forced a 2nd & 24, but Tua hit Hill for 14 and Waddle 11 to convert. On 3rd & 13 from the Baltimore 14, Tua threw a pass that looked like it was going to sail through the uprights, but Gesicki climbed the ladder to make an incredible catch and trim the margin to 28-14.
• The Dolphins quickly forced a three-and-out, but a tripping call on Edmonds forced a 2nd & 16 that Miami couldn't overcome, forcing a punt.
• On the ensuing 3rd & 2, Jackson kept it on an RPO and burst into the secondary, where "X" couldn't catch the signal-caller on his way to a 79-yard touchdown and a 35-14 lead.
• Tua quickly hit Waddle for 33 yards to end the third quarter, then found him again for 12 and 16 yards to set the 'Fins up in the red zone. On 3rd & goal, Tua spun away from pressure and found River Cracraft (who was hit late without a call) from two yards out to pay off the drive and cut the margin to 35-21.
• Sieler stuffed Jackson on 3rd & 2, then Roberts, Flowers, and Eguavoen combined to stop Jackson again on 4th & 1, giving Miami life and good field position at their own 41-yard line.
• A Waddle drop that should have been intercepted set up a 3rd & 10, giving Tua a chance to roll out and hit Hill open on a coverage bust for a 48-yard touchdown. The ball was underthrown, but the Ravens never turned to look for the ball, allowing the Dolphins to creep closer at 35-28.
• A dropped pick-six by Howard marked the next possession, but Miami still managed to force a rare Ravens punt.
• Three plays later, Baltimore once again inexplicably left Hill uncovered, and Tua took advantage, hitting "Cheetah" from 60 yards out to knot the score at 35 with 5:19 remaining.
• The Ravens used 16-yard passes to Andrews and Duvernay to move into Miami territory, but Ingram pressured Jackson on a deep shot to Andrews that fell harmlessly into the end zone, with Rowe in coverage. Justin Tucker drilled a 51-yard field goal with 2:18 remaining to put Baltimore up 38-35, with the Ravens declining an offside penalty on the 'Fins.
• Under pressure, Tua threw a no-look 21-yarder to Hill, then followed with a nine-yarder to Hill. On 2nd & 1, Edmonds took a shotgun handoff and busted loose off the right side -- sprung by a stellar block by Little -- racing 28 yards to the Baltimore 7-yard line. After throwing high for Waddle on a play that should have drawn on obvious interference, Tua rolled out and threw a dangerous pass to Waddle, who high-pointed the ball above the defender for a touchdown and a 42-38 advantage with just 14 seconds remaining.
• Jackson hit Andrews for 15 yards and Wallace for nine to set up a Hail Mary, but the ball came up short and incomplete to Bateman, with "X" in coverage to end the heart-stopping contest.

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)