The Miami Dolphins traveled to Maryland for a Week 17 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, and they were promptly handed a _ loss on Sunday.
Miami’s offense was a tick off all game, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa couldn’t get much going. He completed just 57.9% of his passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. His numbers would’ve looked a bit better if Tyreek Hill didn’t drop an easy touchdown in the first half. However, Tagovailoa didn’t do much to lift up the offense.
Hill finished the day with just 76 yards on six receptions, but he was targeted 12 times. Tagovailoa also tried to spread the ball to other weapons with Jaylen Waddle out due to a high-ankle sprain.
Durham Smythe, De’Von Achane and Cedrick Wilson combined for 111 yards and two scores on nine receptions.
Achane stepped up to run impressively in Raheem Mostert’s absence. He rushed for 107 yards on 7.6 yards per carry.
Miami’s defense was the big problem. There were communication issues left and right that resulted in scores multiple times. Maybe the most jarring example of that came on a 75-yard from Lamar Jackson to Zay Flowers when Dolphins cornerback Eli Apple and safety DeShon Elliott refused to cover the wideout.
Cornerback Xavien Howard left the game after the Dolphins’ first defensive drive with a foot injury that led to him getting carted to the locker room. His absence was the reason that Apple was in the game, and Apple was targeted immediately and often.
Jackson finished his day completing 85.7% of his passes for an incredible five touchdowns and 321 yards. Even Tyler Huntley got in and threw a garbage-time score.
On top of the struggles defending the pass, Miami couldn’t do anything against the run. They had been solid throughout the year, but in this one they allowed Baltimore to rush for 161 yards and two scores on 5.0 yards per attempt.
Late in the game, disaster struck for the Dolphins as Tagovailoa suffered a shoulder injury that officially ended his day. Mike White came in and immediately turned the ball over on his first snap. Then, just minutes later, linebacker Bradley Chubb went down with a non-contact injury that led him to be carted off of the field.
With the loss, the Dolphins have lost out on the top seed in the AFC, and they’ll have to beat the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 to win the division; a task that seems farfetched at the moment.
