Dolphins’ Winning Streak Ends in Baltimore

The Ravens played a near-perfect first half, racking up 303 yards of total offense. Perhaps, especially in the latter case-Miami’s defensive improvement has been integral to the team’s now-expired six-game win streak, but it coughed up 475 yards to San Francisco before Baltimore ripped off 496 on Sunday. That game kicks off a season-ending stretch of three road games in a four-week span.

Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase addresses media. “It is something that has been in our minds”. “Are we going to continue to get punched in the mouth, or are you going to do something about it?” “That produces the atmosphere where big things happen for us”.

It marked the Ravens’ (7-5) largest margin of victory this season and allowed the team to maintain first place atop the AFC North.

Contrary to what I originally wrote yesterday in an article since amended, due to an erroneous source, the Steelers would actually not have been able to sustain a loss in the face of a Ravens victory while still wielding autonomy over whether or not they are able to reach the playoffs.

Again, better teams will do whatever it takes to leave games victorious. To say the least, this game would not end the same way. Start with their history in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the most likely site of the upcoming AFC Championship Game and the scene of Baltimore’s next stop on Monday Night Football. At the end of it all, this could be that one game that does more damage besides ending their streak.

The numbers tell part of the story against Miami: 36-of-47, 381 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, 119.2 passer rating, completions to 10 different players, and for once it wasn’t Steve Smith or nothing. The Dolphins got a good idea of where they need to start first against the Ravens.

When Justin Tucker, who probably deserves to be in the MVP conversation (don’t laugh, former Redskins’ kicker Mark Moseley won it in 1982), buried a 55-yard field goal at the final gun before intermission, it was 24-0 Baltimore. The score came on the next play from scrimmage following Pitta’s fumble.

“I feel like we lost our tempo in the second half, and it kind of hurt us a little bit”.

Before Sunday, the last time that Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta caught a touchdown pass in an National Football League game was in 2013, when the Ravens were defending Super Bowl champions.

Nick Boyle made his first two catches of the season (24 yards) and did a solid job when asked to stay home for pass protection. Operating out of a modified no-huddle offense, the Ravens drove 79 yards on eight plays and Flacco finalized the drive by hitting a wide open Terrance West (Towson University, Northwestern High) out of the backfield for a 3-yard touchdown pass.

“Ronnie is playing really well”, Harbaugh said. We just have to reset and correct our mistakes. If nothing else, this Ravens team might be good enough to move him up the charts.

Baltimore Ravens rookie cornerback Tavon Young suffered a left shoulder stinger in Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

Alonso recorded five tackles before exiting midway through the first quarter.

Tannehill is still mostly a game manager, but he’s been far more efficient during the Dolphins’ winning streak, throwing nine touchdowns to just one interception in his last five games.

RUSHING OFFENSE: A – Le’Veon Bell recorded his third consecutive 100-yard game, the first time he’s accomplished that in his four-year career.

Miami will be heading back home as they will host the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday. “Who we are going to play and where we’re going to play them is part of it”, Harbaugh said when asked about the hard stretch to close the regular season. They then ran into a wall. The ball was placed on Baltimore’s 37-yard line following the change off possession and Flacco got right back to work.

Finally, the Ravens took full advantage of what an opponent gave them.