Ravens Insider: Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-6 win over Dolphins

[ExtremeRavens]

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 28-6 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 9 of the NFL season on Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida:

Brian Wacker, reporter

Lamar Jackson looked like his old self, tormenting the Dolphins’ defense once more. It wasn’t a perfect passer rating again, but it was close. Add Miami’s self-inflicted wounds and an inability to penetrate a Ravens defense that has been strengthening in recent weeks and it was a recipe for disaster.

The score was just 14-6 at the half, but the game already felt over. Then it was with Jackson completing his first nine passes of the second half to help Baltimore pull away. Alohi Gilman’s strip in the first half half played no small part and Malaki Starks’ interception in the final quarter put a bow on another much-needed victory. This one was never in doubt.

Mike Preston, columnist

This game went pretty much as expected. The Ravens got off to a slow start both offensively and defensively in the first quarter, but they owned the Dolphins in the second half. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken did a nice job with quarterback Lamar Jackson, having him throw short passes in the first quarter and then allowing him to go downfield. The Ravens’ defense still gives up too many yards, and they might struggle once they face a good team with a strong passing game. But that won’t happen any time soon. The Ravens have Minnesota, Cleveland and the New York Jets during the next three weeks, so that should be three more wins if they take care of business and avoid turnovers. The Vikings have good receivers, but the quarterback play is questionable.

I like the Ravens having to play with an edge, and the thought that if they lost another game, that might knock them out of the postseason. That’s probably not true in the weak AFC North, but at least that should keep them sharp heading into the postseason.

Josh Tolentino, columnist

At last, the Ravens finally looked like the contender they entered the season hyped to be.

Thursday night’s victory in Miami represented Baltimore’s most complete performance of the season. It also was the team’s second win in five days, a difficult task for any NFL team regardless of the competition. Lamar Jackson’s return helped spark an offense that already entered the first of three straight road games with surging momentum.

The Ravens still have lingering issues with containing the run and applying consistent pressure, but their dominance across other departments more than made up for those deficiencies. The team’s acquisition of Alohi Gilman only continues to pay dividends. The safety generated the first of three takeaways with his forced fumble and recovery, and he continues to allow college teammate Kyle Hamilton to play freely across the line of scrimmage.

Buckle up. The Ravens are healthy and looking dangerous with one of the NFL’s easiest schedules to finish the season.

Sam Cohn, reporter

Miami played itself out of this game. Tua Tagovailoa looked lost. A false start penalty set up a missed field goal attempt. Ollie Gordon fell down and was flagged for tripping. Questionable decisions stalled out one Dolphins drive after another. But there were positive signs in this convincing Ravens win.

Most noticeable was Jackson’s second half, in which he operated the offense like his old self. And the defense forced three turnovers, a new season high despite an offseason spent hammering home its importance. A win is a win and two in a row is technically a winning streak, which inches Baltimore closer to its long-term goals.

Taylor Lyons, reporter

We knew Lamar Jackson’s return would breathe new life into a Ravens offense that, before last week, was a dreadful watch with him out. But, man, was it fun to see the two-time MVP again.

Jackson’s return helped the Ravens cruise past the lowly Dolphins, but they should have their sights set on more with a roster nearing perfect health. Baltimore could be just one game back of the AFC North lead after this week (Pittsburgh plays the first-place Colts on Sunday) after it felt like the season might be over just a couple of weeks ago. The team knew it could go on a run with Jackson back because the hope he inspires is unlike almost every other player in football — there’s no reason the Ravens shouldn’t have a winning record soon. Before any of that, though, is Tuesday’s trade deadline, when general manager Eric DeCosta must decide between trying to accelerate this turnaround or staying the course.

C.J. Doon, editor

This game pretty much reaffirmed something we already know: When Lamar Jackson plays, the Ravens easily beat up on mediocre opponents. That should continue for a few more weeks until a pivotal showdown against the Steelers in early December. By that time, the Ravens should be 7-5 and perhaps in line to take the lead in the AFC North. They’re already considered the favorites to win the division and just picked up their third victory in Week 9. What a weird season.

That 1-5 start already feels like a distant memory. Those losses all came against division winners from last season, a brutal stretch that any team would struggle against, let alone one without its two-time MVP for an extended period. That’s not to say it doesn’t matter, but at this point … does it really matter? All the Ravens need to do now is win the games they’re favored to win (likely all of them depending on what the Patriots and Packers look like late in the season) and get to the playoffs with Jackson healthy. We’ve seen enough teams get hot at the right time and make a deep playoff run, regardless of record.

Maybe it’s actually a silver lining to have the team locked in starting in November as opposed to cruising through the regular season before trying to ratchet up the intensity in the playoffs. This early season adversity might make Baltimore better in the long run.

Tim Schwartz, editor

Lamar Jackson’s return and facing a pathetic Dolphins team is just what the doctor ordered. Jackson wasn’t his usual dynamic self but he didn’t need to be. He makes everyone around him better by the way he works a pocket and gives receivers time to get open. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

Defensively, the trade for Alohi Gilman is bearing fruit because it allows Kyle Hamilton to do what he does best — play in the box and blow up plays in the backfield. Nobody in the NFL does it better from the safety position. But Miami is not a good football team, and it was still a game in the first half. Fortunately for the Ravens, their schedule is as soft as it can get.

Now 3-5, Baltimore is shaping up to go on that run we all expected would happen at some point. Better late than never.

Bennett Conlin, editor

That Lamar Jackson fella is mighty good at football. And the Dolphins, well, they stink. This looked like the Ravens team we expected to see before the season started. The defense looked competent, and the offense looked great after halftime. That’s what this Baltimore team should be against woeful opponents. And I understand that the Ravens aren’t judged by beating bad teams at this point in Jackson’s career. They need a Super Bowl.

But as an unbiased observer, this season is cinematic. The greatest quarterback on the planet — or at least one of the three best — must lead his team to the playoffs (and maybe a championship) from a 1-5 start. If Jackson is truly among the best players to ever compete in the NFL, then he should be capable of leading Baltimore to a deep playoff run given the remaining schedule. The AFC isn’t that strong this year, either. If Baltimore can rally to make the playoffs, its Super Bowl dreams are far from dead.

Jackson looked like a guy who can put a franchise on his back Thursday. What else does No. 8 have in store this season? Who knows, but it’s must-see TV.

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. 

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