ExtremeRavens Posted 19 hours ago Posted 19 hours ago Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Thursday night’s Week 9 game between the Ravens and Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 27, Dolphins 13: These are two teams that finally ended significant losing streaks with resounding victories last week, but Baltimore feels much better positioned to continue that momentum. Lamar Jackson’s return ratchets up a Ravens offense that has found its footing in the running game the past couple of games, and while there could be some rust in his first action in more than a month, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is a major upgrade in the passing attack and has usually delivered in prime time. Miami’s defense has also been exploited on the ground and through the air this season, while its offense is without the injured Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane against a seemingly resurgent Ravens defense. This should be a comfortable victory. Sam Cohn, reporter Ravens 31, Dolphins 14: For the first time since maybe the beginning of the season, there’s genuine confidence that the Ravens are both the better team on paper and can perform that way come game day. They’re healthy and, most importantly, Jackson is back under center. Miami’s defense has been one of the worst in the NFL this season. And, despite a surprisingly strong showing versus Atlanta, this short week poses a tough challenge against an inspired Ravens offense. As Brian mentioned, the Dolphins are without two superstars on offense. All five safeties on their roster are dealing with injuries and several cornerbacks have been shut down for the season. If the Ravens are who they say they are, this shouldn’t be competitive past halftime. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 31, Dolphins 18: Miami has the No. 23 rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 98.5 yards per game, and owns the No. 28 run defense, allowing an average of 145 yards. Translation: If you can’t run or stop the run, you can’t win on the college and high school levels, much less the NFL. Plus, the Dolphins have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who’s good for a bunch of turnovers. If the Ravens don’t win this game, then they shouldn’t go to the playoffs. The Dolphins are terrible, and their coach, Mike McDaniel, is soon to be fired. Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 24, Dolphins 21: Lamar Jackson’s return should instantly spark a Ravens offense that’s looked stagnant without the two-time NFL MVP, last Sunday’s Tyler Huntley-led win being the lone exception. Jackson, though, will need to avoid the high sack rate that plagued him before his injury, and how he moves around in and outside the pocket will be a key factor in his effectiveness. Defensively, Baltimore’s pass rush has yet to find any real rhythm. The front seven and edges haven’t consistently married pressure with its pass coverage, which makes Thursday’s matchup particularly spooky against a Dolphins offense that thrives on speedy options and especially when Tua Tagovailoa stays upright. The Ravens have generated takeaways in consecutive games, but they’re still searching for more game-changing moments; rising cornerback Nate Wiggins owns both of the team’s interceptions this season. Baltimore is 0-2 on the road, although John Harbaugh has never started a season 0-3 in away contests. Expect a tighter game than most anticipate, but Jackson’s presence should steady the visitors sideline as Baltimore escapes the Week 8 matchup at Hard Rock Stadium to build its first win streak of the season. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 33, Dolphins 13: This could finally be the moment for Ravens fans to sit back and relax. Lamar Jackson is back and is sure to put on a show before friends and family in his native South Florida. The Dolphins are severely banged up on defense, especially in the secondary, which means we could see a repeat of Jackson’s 2019 performance against Miami that featured a perfect passer rating. The Dolphins showed some fight in beating the Falcons last week and have played the Bills, Patriots and Chargers tough, but that offense is far less intimidating without Tyreek Hill on the field. And while Tua Tagovailoa has had success against this Ravens defense before, Baltimore is much healthier and improved following its 1-5 start. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 38, Dolphins 17: This feels like a possible statement game for the Ravens, at least internally. Beating the 2-6 Dolphins won’t spark fear into the rest of the NFL, but it could remind Baltimore how dominant it can be when everything clicks into place. The Ravens’ defense is trending in the right direction since adding Alohi Gilman to free up Kyle Hamilton to play closer to the line of scrimmage, and nobody has questions about Todd Monken’s offense when No. 8 is available at quarterback. This could be a blowout. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 34, Dolphins 24: Lamar Jackson is back, and so should be the Ravens. They aren’t the Super Bowl favorite they were before they melted down in September and most of October, but they are healthier than they’ve been since before Week 1 and now have Jackson back under center. Against a bad and beat-up Dolphins team, that should be enough. Miami is without several stars on both sides of the ball, so Jaylen Waddle seems like its biggest offensive threat. That won’t be enough. A loss will end the Ravens’ playoff hopes (essentially), so we’ll see what they’re made of. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 31, Dolphins 17: It’s the return of Baltimore’s two-time MVP. When Jackson is playing, the Ravens look like a totally different team. Their winning percentage is pretty high for prime-time games. That, coupled with the fact that every game is like a must-win playoff game at this point, is why I expect the Ravens to do well. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article Quote
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