MIAMI GARDENS — That phenomenal win in Atlanta proved more of an anomaly than anything else, and the joy to come from it was short-lived for the Miami Dolphins.
All it took was four days for the Dolphins to go right back to being humbled and embarrassed by an opponent.
With quarterback Lamar Jackson throwing four touchdowns and Miami never finding the end zone, the Baltimore Ravens clobbered the Dolphins, 28-6, in a national standalone Thursday night game at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami (2-7) looked closer to the team that was crushed, 31-6, in Cleveland Oct. 19 than the one that rebounded with a convincing 34-10 win against the Falcons seven days later.
Any hope the Dolphins had of expanding on the effort in Atlanta for a midseason turnaround appears long gone.
Coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier’s job security will once again be under a microscope, especially with the mini-bye of a weekend off that follows a Thursday night game. And with the NFL’s trade deadline looming Tuesday, the Dolphins seem assured to be sellers, moving off a piece or two for draft capital as contenders look to poach talent on Miami’s roster.
It all happened as boos from fans rained down on the team. Many were captured by the Amazon Prime Video broadcast with bags over their head. Others flooded the exits well before the game went final.
“It sucks. That sucks. All of that does,” McDaniel said. “Fans enjoy winning. Our expectation is that we have to do the work and do the right things for fans to enjoy the experience, and unfortunately, we didn’t do that (Thursday) and we have to get back to work to give them something to cheer about.”
Baltimore (3-5), meanwhile, looked all the part of the team many pundits believe is primed to make that postseason push after starting 1-5 but now having their leader behind center back.
Jackson, a Pompano Beach native and Boynton Beach High grad playing his first game since missing three with a hamstring injury, had his third different four-touchdown game against the Dolphins in his fifth outing facing his hometown team.
Jackson was an efficient 18 of 23 for 204 yards, four touchdowns — two of them to tight end Mark Andrews — often using his elusive feet to give himself extra time to find receivers, while only rushing for 14 yards.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was 25 of 40 for 261 yards as Miami’s offense missed several opportunities to score. He threw a fourth-quarter interception, and his pass-catchers twice lost fumbles. The team lost the turnover margin, 3-0.
“We’ve got to continue to get our guys better in that aspect, but this isn’t a game where we’re discouraged,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s one of those games where you wish you could have done more or whatever you could to help the guys go out there and execute the way we wanted to execute offensively.”
Miami wide receiver Jaylen Waddle led the team with 82 receiving yards. Running back De’Von Achane had 67 rushing yards and 39 receiving.
Baltimore running back Derrick Henry went for 119 rushing yards to pace the ground game.
“I thought they had a decent game,” said Miami linebacker Jordyn Brooks of Jackson and Henry, “but a lot of that came towards the end of the game. The game was out of reach. A lot of garbage time, to be honest with you.
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“I felt like we played well defensively in the first half, but turnovers, that kills you. Not capitalizing, not scoring when we could, giving him the ball back, giving him an extra set of downs. Players like that, they’re going to find a way to get in the end zone.”
He was right about the first half. Miami outgained Baltimore, 225-109, at halftime but was trailing, 14-6.
“It was obvious in the first half that our team could play toe-to-toe, and we felt very good about our play going in and the way guys came out,” McDaniel said. “Generally, it’s a bad omen to be very capable of being in the lead and being behind.”
The Dolphins found themselves in an early 14-3 hole as Jackson threw his second touchdown to Andrews. Minkah Fitzpatrick, playing as the nickel, collided with fellow safety Dante Trader, who led Miami with 11 tackles, to free up Andrews for the 20-yard touchdown.
They then had an opportunity to score before the half, but on fourth-and-2, a throw on a fade route to Achane went well over the target as Achane stopped running his route.
“We had a concept that we felt pretty good about and our primary didn’t quite go in an area that we expected,” McDaniel said. “There was a multitude of failures in a critical situation on that one.”
Tagovailoa said he needed to give Achane a better pass.
The Ravens kept on charging to start the second half, with Jackson throwing a 3-yard touchdown to third-string tight end Charlie Kolar. Later in the third, he hit wideout Rashod Bateman open over the middle for a 9-yard score that made it 28-6 before a quiet fourth quarter that saw Miami turn it over twice.
“We just didn’t make enough plays to counteract,” outside linebacker Bradley Chubb said. “They came out, got that first touchdown drive and, as a defense, we just didn’t make enough plays to stop them.”
The Dolphins gifted the Ravens a touchdown early with the field position from a lost fumble.
Second-year wide receiver Tahj Washington’s first career reception resulted in a fumble forced and recovered by safety Alohi Gilman to give Baltimore the ball on the 7-yard line.
“It’s just stuff that we can’t have against a good team like that,” Achane said.
Miami nearly pulled off a goal-line stand after the Ravens had second-and-goal from the 1, but on fourth down from the 2, Jackson threw to Andrews in the back of the end zone for the touchdown.
It made the score, 7-3, after the Dolphins started Thursday with a 49-yard field goal from Riley Patterson but, later in the first quarter, had Patterson miss from 35.
The made field goal came after Miami burned a timeout on third-and-6 to then run a wide rushing play for Achane that only picked up 2 yards. The missed field goal followed a fourth-and-1 where right tackle Larry Borom was called for a false start as the ball was snapped.
McDaniel was irate on the sideline.
“That was at self-inflicted wounds,” McDaniel said. “That’s, flat out, a controllable that our team knows that keeps you from winning. So I was irate at nothing but our self-inflicted wound.”
Tagovailoa said crowd noise from Ravens fans who traveled played a role in Borom’s penalty.
Patterson redeemed himself from the earlier miss with a successful try from 43 yards in the second quarter. It was set up by a 35-yard punt return by Malik Washington, who later lost a fumble in the fourth quarter.
Dolphins defensive tackle Benito Jones had a sack on Jackson in the first half Thursday, with Chubb flushing the elusive quarterback into the big nose tackle. Jaelan Phillips, who missed a key earlier opportunity to sack Jackson, had a second-half sack.
After the mini-bye on the other side of the short week for the Thursday night game, the Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 9.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle talk on the sidelines Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane runs against the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey celebrates a fumble recovery Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
An unhappy Miami Dolphins fan wears a paper bag over their head at the end of the game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Unhappy Miami Dolphins fans are seen surrounded by empty seats in the fourth quarter, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith talks with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington runs past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa slides at the end of a run Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips tries to tackle Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.(Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith talks to Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey breaks up a pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback coach Darrel Bevel and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle talk on the sidelines Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa walks off the field after the loss to the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks intercepts a pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tahj Washington Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips reacts after the Baltimore Ravens scored a touchdown Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.(Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman recovers a fumble by Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tahj Washington Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith takes the field Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. For the second week in a row, Smith is on the field instead of the booth. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II is consoled by Miami Dolphins guard Cole Strange after Gordon is injured Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa drops back to pass against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Benito Jones sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich is upended after a first-down catch Thursday, in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel reacts to a penalty during a fourth-down-and-one in the first half against the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins fans in costume before the game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins fans in costume before the game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson warms up before the game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Jackson, who is from Pompano Beach, returns after three weeks out with an injury. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Tom Powers of Homestead hands off a beer to a skeleton at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, before the game against the Baltimore Ravens. Powers said he’s not just a Halloween decoration, but “he’s been waiting for a playoff win.” (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier talks to Baltimore Ravens Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta before the game, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers warm up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross before the game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle talk on the sidelines Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)