BALTIMORE (AP) — When Tua Tagovailoa outdueled Lamar Jackson early last period — with both quarterbacks enjoying like MVP candidates — it showed how a lot potential the Dolphins and Ravens may well have.
People groups both had to wait a calendar year, but now they’re sitting down at the best of the AFC. They just needed their star passers to keep balanced.
“I received a whole lot of regard for Lamar, the issues that he’s accomplished all over his career,” Tagovailoa mentioned. “I can vividly bear in mind when I was in college, I believe he was in the NFL, and he achieved out to me. He advised me I was balling, and I thought that was the a person of the coolest factors. I imagine that was the 12 months he received the MVP.”
Jackson is now the favorite to gain his second MVP immediately after main the Ravens to a big victory Monday night time at San Francisco. Baltimore (12-3) has the major document in the NFL and can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a victory in excess of Miami on Sunday. If the Dolphins (11-4) win at Baltimore, they would manage their have path to the top seed in the convention.
On the other hand, the loser of this game may possibly not get its individual division.
So there’s rather a little bit at stake — substantially a lot more than there was in Week 2 very last period. That was when Tagovailoa threw for 469 yards and six touchdowns as the Dolphins rallied from a 21-level fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Ravens 42-38. It was a thing of a coming-out bash for the Miami offense in its 2nd video game beneath mentor Mike McDaniel.
“They did some wonderful factors against us in the passing sport,” Baltimore mentor John Harbaugh said. “Made some substantial plays. It was a substantial comeback. Clearly, it was a hard capsule to swallow for us.”
That same day, Jackson grew to become the initially quarterback in NFL heritage with both equally a touchdown move and a touchdown operate of at the very least 75 yards in 1 game.
Both of those groups went on to make the playoffs, but each individual misplaced its postseason opener. By then, Jackson was out with a knee harm and Tagovailoa’s concussion troubles left him unavailable, also. They’ve both of those played every single activity this time.
Tagovailoa was constrained in apply this 7 days mainly because of his remaining thumb and quad, and the teams have other well being fears. Star receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and working again Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle) skipped observe time for Miami. So did receiver Tyreek Hill (ankle).
Basic safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) and rookie receiver Zay Bouquets (calf) skipped some apply for the Ravens.
PHYSICALITY OR FINESSE?
Tagovailoa feels there is a false impression about the speedy Dolphins. They’ve been lauded all year as the quickest offense in the NFL, when also staying described as a finesse crew that could get pushed all over by a more physical opponent — like the tough-nosed Ravens.
Tagovailoa pointed to Miami’s working game, which hasn’t been ranked decrease than fifth all season, as an example of the Dolphins’ physicality. Miami is averaging 136.4 yards rushing for every game and a league-very best 5 yards for each hurry.
“You can have pace and you can be actual physical as properly,” Tagovailoa stated. “I think which is what individuals misunderstand when it will come to our crew. They see, yeah, Okay, guys are fast. Men are traveling all around the area. But look at our operates. Search at absolutely everyone that has man blocks, that has crack blocks.”
BURYING THE HATCHET?
Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had a war of words with Harbaugh a couple seasons back when Fangio was the head coach in Denver. At problem was Baltimore’s determination to run a enjoy as a substitute of taking a knee at the close of a victory about the Broncos. The Ravens were being striving to increase a streak of 100-property rushing game titles, which tied an NFL report that day.
Fangio said this week he was making an attempt to back up his gamers more than anything.
“Our gamers had been all upset about it,” he said. “So I took the strike. I claimed one thing publicly and I told the players that so they would enable it go to bed and they by no means claimed everything. It was one particular that just completed the story without the need of our players obtaining included. I could treatment a lot less if they run another enjoy.”
DOMINANT Protection
The Dolphins rank No. 1 in overall protection considering that Week 5 and are very first in quarterback hits, second in sacks and fifth in opposition to the run. They had four sacks from the Cowboys previous week to give them a franchise-very best 52 on the time. Three Dolphins have at minimum eight sacks, led by linebacker Bradley Chubb with 11.
“It’s dope just understanding the men in the room, and viewing how we’ve began to get cohesive alongside one another,” Chubb stated. “Early in the calendar year, we could notify we have been very good, but we did not know how very good we were being heading to be. Fellas just began purchasing in, playing with each individual other, hurrying off of each individual other, permitting it just transpire organically.”
Scenarios
Miami can clinch the AFC East with a victory this weekend, but if the Dolphins shed and Buffalo beats New England, then Costs-Dolphins in 7 days 18 would decide the division.
The Ravens would get the AFC North with a victory in either of their past two games. But eliminate equally, and the door would be open for Cleveland to snatch the division with two victories.
