The Miami Dolphins came into Sunday’s game against the reigning super bowl champs having just been thoroughly throttled by the Saints’ on Monday Night Football, dropping their record to 3-1 on the season. The Ravens were also coming in fresh off a loss at Buffalo where they struggled to run the ball and quarterback Joe Flacco turned the ball over five times.
The first half consisted mostly of a battle of punts and field position and with just under two minutes left in the half a touchdown had yet to be scored by either team. That was until the Dolphins got the ball in good field position and broke up the field goal fest on a 9 yard back shoulder fade to H-Back Charles Clay, taking the lead by a score of 13 to 6.
Miami went into the half up a touchdown, but for what seems like the millionth time this season, simply fell asleep in the third quarter. The Ravens methodically drove the ball down the field for what ended in a one yard TD scamper by runningback Ray Rice. They also went on to add a field goal to their tally, sending the game into its final quarter up by three.
The fourth quarter included plenty of scoring by both teams (20 points total) and ended in dramatic fashion as Tannehill completed a 40 yard bomb to WR Brandon Gibson to set up the game-tying field goal. In classic Dolphins fashion, though, the offensive line gave up its 6th sack of the day and effectively knocked rookie kicker Caleb Sturgis out field goal range. The ball was spotted up for the 57 yard try and it never had a chance as it sailed wide, wide, wide, wide (is that enough ‘wides’?) left. Game over.
The Dolphins head into their bye week with a disappointing 3-2 record and two straight losses. If they have real aspirations of being playoff contenders then they need to do some soul searching and perhaps some reshuffling with their offensive line during their time off. The bye may serve as more than just time for pondering issues, as CB Dimitri Patterson and pass rusher extraordinaire Cameron Wake, who played in the first half of today’s game, look to recover from injuries.