BALTIMORE (AP) — The Miami Dolphins had been playing out the last minutes of a particularly distasteful defeat Sunday when things went from negative to even worse.
The initial-string defense had already been humbled and crushed by the Baltimore Ravens when star linebacker Bradley Chubb dropped to the floor, flat on his again and unable to shift due to the fact of a knee harm. A when later, the team’s sack leader was lifted on to a cart and driven into the tunnel.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel lamented his determination to continue to keep Chubb on the area in the waning minutes of what became a 56-19 decline.
“In hindsight, I would have definitely not needed him out there if I realized he was likely to get harm, for absolutely sure,” McDaniel mentioned. “That’s a recognized aspect of the career that I realize thoroughly. It doesn’t search incredibly intelligent at all.”
When it seems unlikely that the sixth-12 months professional will return to engage in this period, McDaniel grimaced and held out hope for a favorable analysis.
“We really don’t have the data to find out what it is still. We’ll be capable to locate out (Monday),” McDaniel mentioned.
All in all, it was a awful working day for a team intent on upsetting the Ravens and earning the best seed in the AFC.
“We came into this match with superior hopes of enjoying to the normal we required to play,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “When people benchmarks are not met, it is quite disappointing.”
The Dolphins fell powering by 22 details early in the third quarter, and a harried Tagovailoa could not make up the deficit in a lopsided setback that prevented Miami (11-5) from clinching the AFC East.
In a matchup between the groups with the two greatest information in the meeting, Baltimore (13-3) dominated the Dolphins to gain a initially-round bye and the possibility to play each and every video game at home in the postseason major up to the Tremendous Bowl.
If Miami simply cannot conquer checking out Buffalo up coming week, the Charges would get the AFC East title and the Dolphins would commence the playoffs on the highway.
Miami led 10-7 just before the Ravens went on a 28-3 operate bridging the next and third quarters. Past year, Tagovailoa rallied Miami from a 35-14 gap to a 42-38 victory.
But this Baltimore staff would have none of that. Not only did the Ravens decide off two passes and complete with a few sacks, but Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson ripped apart the Miami defense for 321 yards passing and 5 touchdowns.
Miami could nevertheless conclude up with the No. 2 seed in the AFC if it beats Buffalo. The Dolphins haven’t concluded atop the division because 2008 and have gone extra than 3 a long time without having securing a top-two seed.
But they’ll probably have to do it with out Chubb, who has 11 sacks to go with 74 tackles, like 6 on Sunday right before the harm.
“I want to say a large shout-out to Bradley Chubb,” Tagovailoa mentioned. “We’re considering of you, brother, and we’re praying for you as nicely. It is tough observing a single of our men go down like that. It is unfortunate.”
Miami’s best-ranked offense was devoid of standout large receiver Jaylen Waddle and workhorse running again Raheem Mostert, both of those of whom ended up inactive with accidents. Waddle ranks second on the team with 72 catches and 1,014 yards acquiring, and final calendar year he had 11 receptions for 171 yards and two TDs in Miami’s acquire at Baltimore.
Tyreek Hill had six catches for 76 yards, but he also dropped a certain touchdown in the back again of the end zone.
“I played almost certainly just one of the worst game titles of my job,” Hill mentioned. “As a leader of this staff, just obtained to erase it and go forward.”
In final year’s recreation in between these groups, the Ravens took a 35-14 direct into the fourth quarter. In this 1, it was 35-13 right before a touchdown go from Tagovailoa to rookie functioning back De’Von Achane with 13:57 still left gave Miami hope of mounting one more rally.
But Baltimore subsequently rumbled 75 yards in seven performs to make it 42-19 with 9:38 remaining.
Tagovailoa was taken off with just more than 4 minutes remaining with a sore shoulder that he insisted was not an concern. At that stage, it was really considerably time for the Dolphins to transform their attention toward the finale against Buffalo, a rematch of a video game the Expenses received 48-20 at property in Oct.
Besides the defense remained on the discipline, and Chubb paid out the selling price for enjoying for the duration of rubbish time.
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