Lamar Jackson dazzles on return from injury as Ravens dominate Dolphins | NFL
Lamar Jackson threw for 204 yards and four touchdowns, showing little rust in his return from a hamstring strain, and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins 28-6 on Thursday night.
Jackson completed 18 of 23 passes in his first start since Week 4 against Kansas City, and the Ravens won their second straight while trying to make a run at The AFC North is wide open. The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) lead the division ahead of the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, who have 3-5 records. Crows Have a suitable schedule From now on, they will only face one other player currently over .500 – the Steelers – in their next six games. They hope to become only the fifth team in NFL history to reach the playoffs after losing five of their first six games.
“It felt great to be there, it was a great feeling,” Jackson said of his return from injury.
Tight end Mark Andrews made two touchdown catches for the Ravens. Jackson’s other TD passes went to tight end Charlie Kolar and receiver Rashod Pittman. Derrick Henry rushed for 119 yards on 19 carries, and achieved another career milestone by becoming the 17th player in NFL history to eclipse the career rushing mark of 12,000 yards.
For the Dolphins, De’Von Acane had 14 carries for 67 yards, while Jaylen Waddle caught six passes for 82 yards.
The Dolphins (2-7) outgained the Ravens by 226 yards to 109 and held third down from 6 at halftime, but Miami trailed 14-6 at intermission due to a series of fouls.
On Miami’s second drive, rookie Tahj Washington fumbled at the Dolphins’ four-yard line, and Andrews caught a two-yard TD catch from Jackson on fourth down on the Ravens’ ensuing possession.
Acane drove the Dolphins down the field with drives of 19 and 22 yards, but a false start by offensive lineman Larry Borom on fourth-and-1 forced Miami to kick a field goal, which Riley Patterson missed from 35 yards out.
The Ravens offense was answered again. Jackson evaded the clutches of linebacker Jaylan Phillips and connected with Isaiah Likely on a 35-yard pickup, which set up Andrews’ 20-yard score — aided by two Dolphins defenders colliding into each other in coverage — that put Baltimore up 14-3.
Jackson, a two-time MVP, connected on his first nine passes of the second half before finally fouling DeAndre Hopkins on a deep throw in the final minute of the third quarter. The game was out of reach by then, and Jackson had already thrown his fourth TD — a nine-yard toss to Pittman that put Baltimore up 28-6.
Tua Tagovailoa, who completed 25 of 40 passes for 261 yards with an interception, drove the Dolphins 80 yards down the field early in the fourth, a promising drive that included two fourth-down conversions. But receiver Malik Washington fumbled in the 10th minute, and Dolphins fans began walking out of Hard Rock Stadium en masse with more than 10 minutes remaining.
“You’re playing with fire when you give the ball back to that offense,” Miami coach Mike McDaniel said of his team’s three turnovers in the game.
Miami’s only points were Patterson’s field goals of 49 and 43 yards. They also suffered a pair of major injuries. Linebacker Chop Robinson exited the game in the second quarter with a head injury and was later ruled out with a concussion. Rookie Ollie Gordon II injured his ankle in the first half and did not return.