Lamar Jackson wasn’t all the way back in his return to the lineup. That was fairly easy to tell.
Jackson looked hesitant to scramble and he rarely ran. That happens when you miss four weeks with a hamstring injury. And yet, he still looked like one of the best players in football. His return completely changed the Baltimore Ravens’ outlook on the rest of their season.
Advertisement
As Jackson knocked the rust off he was still the biggest difference maker in Thursday night’s game. Jackson threw four touchdown passes and the Ravens continued their long climb out of a 1-5 hole with an easy 28-6 win over the Miami Dolphins.
The Ravens (2-5) will play better opponents, but they’ll also have a healthier Jackson leading them. The Ravens found out Thursday night that their quarterback is still one of the best in the NFL and their season is very much alive.
Things remain ugly for Dolphins
The story going into the game was the Ravens because the Dolphins have been buried for a while this season. But it was still a harsh look at a Dolphins team that has fallen on hard times.
Advertisement
In the first quarter Miami fumbled deep in its own territory, setting up a Mark Andrews touchdown.
Then the Dolphins were set to go for it on a fourth-and-1 but had a false start, then decided on a 35-yard field goal. That kick missed wide right.
On defense, two Dolphins ran into each other and knocked each other over like a cartoon, leading to another Andrews touchdown.
And late in the half the Dolphins went for it on fourth-and-2 and due to a miscommunication, Tua Tagovailoa’s pass was about 10 yards overthrown to De’Von Achane.
Capping Miami’s shenanigans, on the last play of the half the Dolphins couldn’t even get off a Hail Mary, taking a sack instead. It was a never-ending series of bloopers.
“Self-inflicted wounds,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said after halftime on Amazon Prime Video’s broadcast. “We can’t play against two teams, we have to play against one.”
Advertisement
Even when the Dolphins got something right, it went sour. A 36-yard catch by Jaylen Waddle was wiped out due to a tripping call on running back Ollie Gordon II, but the replay showed that Gordon just lost his balance and it was an incorrect call.
Nothing went right for the Dolphins, though the Ravens had something to do with that.
Ravens pull away
The Dolphins, somehow, beat the Falcons 34-10 last weekend. Their offense is still capable of moving the ball. That’s what made Baltimore’s performance more promising.
The Ravens’ defense was a problem early in the season, before injuries hit hard. Thursday night was the second straight positive performance for that unit. Miami moved the ball at times but Baltimore came up with plays when it needed to. The Dolphins never reached the end zone.
Advertisement
Jackson’s offense slowly put the game away. In the third quarter he threw touchdowns to Charlie Kolar and Rashod Bateman to make the score 28-6. The rout was on. Dolphins fans started booing every mistake their team made, and it was deserved.
Jackson’s return was a success. The Ravens, who Jackson said were in “do or die” mode going forward, got an easy win. Jackson was efficient and didn’t seem to have a setback from his hamstring injury. Baltimore got a reminder of its ceiling with the two-time MVP in the lineup. And Jackson will look more like his usual self as a rusher. Some extra days off after a Thursday night game will help that.
Advertisement
The Ravens aren’t dead yet. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ lead in the AFC North is far from safe.
Live41 updatesThu, October 30, 2025 at 11:13 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
After a rough start to the season, the Ravens look like they’re back in full form. Lamar Jackson puts up an incredible performance in his return from a hamstring injury, and Baltimore’s defense backs him up with some key forced turnovers.
For Miami, though, it’s a pretty bleak loss at home, in the middle of a pretty bleak season. The question now will be whether Mike McDaniel’s already warm seat will heat up even more after this game.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 11:16 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Lamar Jackson looks back to full form, throwing four touchdown passes in the dominant win. Jackson went 18-of-23 for 204 passing yards, with a QBRating of 143.2.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 11:08 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 11:05 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
The Ravens defense keeps on embarrassing the Dolphins at home. This time it was rookie safety Malaki Starks, who gets his first career interception off a long Tagovailoa throw intended for Tahj Washington.
Baltimore gets flagged for an illegal block during Starks’ run up the field, but it doesn’t matter much: The Ravens are in full, absolute control of this game, on both sides of the field.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:53 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Miami was finally having one of its best drives of the night, getting within the red zone with the help of a few key Tua Tagovailoa passes, a key fourth-and-1 conversion and a pass interference penalty.
But the Dolphins’ quest to the end zone stays unfinished, with another forced fumble. Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan gets the punchout on Malik Washington, and Marlon Humphrey jumps on it for the turnover.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:43 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:36 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:27 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:22 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Lamar Jackson keeps dealing, throwing a huge 39-yard pass to Zay Flowers that gets the Ravens within the red zone.
And then, on the next play, Jackson twists his way through the Dolphins’ defense for a nine-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman.
Baltimore is absolutely rolling, up 28-6.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:17 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Hamilton has two solo tackles and five total tackles in tonight’s game so far. But it’s his pressure on Tua Tagovailoa that has been key, with Hamilton sprinting through the Dolphins’ o-line like it’s nothing and forcing Tagovailoa to make some bad throws.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:10 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Baltimore looks pretty unstoppable so far, and Lamar Jackson is making it look easy. Mark Andrews gets pushed to convert on third-and-short to save the drive, before Jackson connects with Charlie Kolar in the end zone for his third touchdown pass of the day.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
We’re back in the game, and Lamar Jackson quickly picks up a first down on third-and-6 with a 13-yard rushing gain. Good momentum early on for the Ravens.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Miami ends the half by letting Tua Tagovailoa get sacked for a nine-yard loss. That about sums it up.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 9:39 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Ravens get the defense stop on Miami’s fourth-and-2, with Tua Tagovailoa sending the ball, ahem, a little high.
But with time winding down in the first half, the Ravens aren’t able to capitalize on the turnover, and punt the ball with less than a minute left.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 9:34 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 9:28 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Tagvailoa finds Waddle for two big gains in a row, with a 14-yard catch and a 24-yard catch back-to-back.
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 9:21 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Thu, October 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM EDT
Kari Anderson
Dolphins cut the lead to 14-6 after another Riley Patterson field goal. This time he makes it from 43 yards, trying to make up for the miss earlier in the half.