Ravens vs. Dolphins: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens entered Week 13 looking to build on their two-game winning streak against a fading Miami Dolphins team.
Despite a 4-7 record and being out of the playoff race, Baltimore has continued to fight hard, as if a postseason spot was still within reach. That continued Sunday, as the Ravens controlled this game for much of the first half, but they couldn't put points on the board, thanks to stalled drives and a failed fourth-down attempt in the red zone. Miami escaped with a 15-13 victory.
That happened midway through the second quarter, as Baltimore got down to the Miami 2-yard line but were stopped on consecutive plays and turned the ball over on downs. That's when the game drastically swung in Miami's favor.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill hit wide receiver DeVante Parker for a 38-yard touchdown strike to give Miami a 7-0 lead with 1:47 left in the first half. Matt Schaub would then throw an interception to Dolphins defensive end Derrick Shelby, which he returned 22 yards for the pick-six to give Miami a 15-0 lead with 1:27 left in the first half after a two-point conversion.
At this point, it would have been very easy for the Ravens to call it a day and coast to the finish line, but this team never quits and would claw its way back into this game.
That started with a long drive at the end of the first half, ending with a Justin Tucker field goal that left Baltimore trailing 15-3 at halftime. The Ravens would open the second half with a touchdown drive after Schaub hit running back Javorius Allen for a 41-yard score to cut Miami's lead to 15-10.
The Ravens would tack on a field goal early in the fourth quarter to cut Miami's lead to 15-13. From there, both offenses would stall until the Ravens forced a fumble and got the ball in Dolphins territory.
On the play, linebacker Courtney Upshaw recovered running back Lamar Miller's fumble to give Baltimore possession at the Miami 41-yard line with 4:17 left in the game. However, the Ravens would gain just four yards on three plays, forcing Tucker to attempt a 55-yard field goal, which he missed.
The Dolphins then got the ball back and ran the clock down to under 30 seconds before Baltimore got it back, and the Ravens couldn't get into scoring range as time ran out.
The Ravens suffered another gut-wrenching loss in a season full of them.
Postgame Grades
1 of 5
| Position | Grade |
| QB | D+ |
| RB | A- |
| WR | B- |
| TE | C |
| OL | B- |
| DL | C |
| LB | B |
| DB | B |
| Special Teams | B- |
| Coaching | B- |
This was a game to forget for Ravens quarterback Matt Schaub. He threw several bad interceptions, including a pick-six to a defensive lineman that put Baltimore in a 15-0 hole.
Schaub also held the ball too long on several occasions and took bad, drive-killing sacks. He still managed to almost lead Baltimore back to a win but was bad overall in this game.
While Schaub was struggling, the running backs tried to carry the offense once again. Terrance West and Javorius Allen had big games as the two combined for 206 all-purpose yards and one score.
The receivers and tight ends didn't do much, though Chris Givens did notch 68 yards on just three catches, including a 36-yard catch that led to a field goal. Kamar Aiken chipped in six grabs for 48 yards, but this was generally a quiet game for Ravens receivers.
The offensive line had a good game, as it consistently opened up holes for the backs to gain big yards through. The Ravens struggled in pass protection, though, allowing 10 QB hits and three sacks.
The defensive line struggled mightily in this one, allowing a nonexistent Dolphins run game to come alive. Miami finished the game with 137 rushing yards; running back Lamar Miller chipped in 113 yards on the ground.
While the line was struggling, the linebackers did a good job of not allowing the Dolphins' big runs to become bigger. Insider backer Daryl Smith finished with nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
As explosive as Miami's passing game has been at times this season, the Ravens secondary did a great job of limiting the Dolphins in this game. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill finished the game with a mere 86 passing yards, his lowest mark since Week 16 of the 2013 season. It was just the third time in his four-year career that he has failed to pass for at least 100 yards.
Javorius Allen Continues to Shine
2 of 5
The many injuries on the Ravens offense has helped pave the way for some unknown players to star for Baltimore.
None have taken advantage of this more than rookie Javorius '"Buck" Allen, who continues to look like the running back of the future for the Ravens. In Miami, Allen had the biggest game of his young NFL career, totaling 170 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
Allen dazzled the Dolphins through the air and on the ground, which is exactly why Baltimore drafted him in the fourth round out of USC in this year's NFL draft. Allen is the kind of versatile back this offense was missing and is starting to look like someone who could become a franchise back.
On the ground, Allen was patient and used great vision to run for 63 yards on 17 carries. But his biggest plays came through the air, as he snagged 12 passes for 107 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown run in which he made two Dolphins defenders miss en route to the end zone.
“That’s something I’ve been working on since college, is making the first guy miss,” Allen said, via BaltimoreRavens.com's Ryan Mink. “One on one, I’ll go with myself over anybody. It’s just a reaction. Nothing planned, just a reaction.”
Head coach John Harbaugh is loving what he's seeing from his star rookie.
“He’s really coming on and becoming quite a threat,” Harbaugh said, via Mink. “It’s really exciting.”
In a season full of disappointments, Allen has been a very nice bright spot for the Ravens.
Tight Ends Banged Up
3 of 5
The Ravens already came into this game banged up at tight end, and it only got worse by the time it was over.
Rookie Maxx Williams was inactive for this game due to a concussion he suffered during Monday's win over the Browns. Then against Miami, starter Crockett Gillmore was knocked out of the game in the first half due to a back injury.
“I don’t recall the exact play that it was on,” Harbaugh said of the injury, via Mink. “I just know he was out for the rest of the game.”
That left Baltimore with only Nick Boyle for much of this game. Though he's shown promise, Boyle, a fifth-round rookie out of Delaware, isn't ready for that kind of responsibility. He finished this game with three grabs for 15 yards and has just 15 catches for 138 yards this season. Boyle probably isn't ready to step up and be the go-to pass-catcher this offense needs its starting tight end to be.
Hopefully, Williams and Gillmore will be able to return soon and keep Boyle from having to shoulder the load at this position.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Ravens Can't Bail Out Matt Schaub Again
4 of 5
The Ravens were looking to move to 2-0 under Matt Schaub this season with a win over the Dolphins.
While his first start last week in Cleveland wasn't pretty, Schaub did finish 20-for-34 passing with 232 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-27 win over the Browns.
This week, Schaub finished 32-for-46 passing (69.6-percent) with 308 yards and one score, but threw two picks and took three sacks. Like last week, there were more negatives than positives, but this time the Ravens were unable to bail him out of his mistakes.
For the second week in a row, Schaub threw a pick-six, though this time it proved costly, as he admitted to ESPN's Jamison Hensley following the game.
"That was the difference in the game,"Schaub said of his second-quarter gaffe.
Last week, Schaub threw a brutal pick-six in the third quarter that gave the Browns their first lead of the night. Schaub also threw a bad interception with a minute left that almost allowed the Browns to win the game.
It's becoming clear that the Ravens can't win if Schaub is throwing the ball as much as he has these past two weeks.
As good as the ground game has been, the Ravens must take the ball out of Schaub's hands and put it in the hands of their backs more.
Harbaugh Reunion
5 of 5
The Harbaugh brothers had a reunion today, as both Jim and John were on the sidelines for this game.
Jim, now the head coach at Michigan, was down in Florida for recruiting work and was able to make this game and support his brother, John.
“It was great having him here. I’m very proud of him," John said of his brother, via Mink. "He’s down here recruiting. Whoever he’s recruiting, I hope he goes to Michigan.”
It feels like ages ago that John and Jim were facing off on opposite sidelines in the Super Bowl back in 2013. Jim, who was with the 49ers then, has since left and gone back to the college ranks, after going 20-12 the following two seasons following that title game loss to his brother.
John has also fallen on hard times, as his Ravens have gone 22-22 since then. It must feel good to have family by his side during tough times, as Baltimore flounders amid a 4-8 season.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
