The Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens had an insane Week 2 battle, in which the Dolphins came back to win 42-38. I’m here with FL Teams to give some takeaways on the game.
1. The Dolphins became the Comeback Fins.
As a South Florida sports fan, we experienced the Florida Panthers and their comeback tricks just a few months ago. But, we didn’t know the Miami Dolphins were capable of it.
The Baltimore Ravens were leading 35-14 heading into the fourth quarter, and had all of the momentum swinging after a Lamar Jackson 79-yard touchdown run. However, the Dolphins answered, outscoring the Purple Birds 28-3, scoring on all four offensive possessions in the final quarter.
2. Tua is HIM.
Let’s all face it, specifically, my stupid dad, my stupid neighbor and more who all told me Tua Tagovailoa sucked and he was a bust. You are all wrong.
After a bad first half, in which fans started taking to social media and saying, “Tua is a bust”, “We’re gonna get Lamar next year”, and more, Tua came out of his shell, and unless something very serious happens to him again, he will be the face of the Dolphins for the next few years.
Despite throwing two interceptions, Tua finished the game completing 36 of 50 passes for a whopping 469 yards and SIX passing touchdowns. Tua is the third QB in Dolphins history to break that plateau, with Dan Marino doing it against the Jets in 1986 and go way back to 1977, Bob Griese doing it to the St. Louis Cardinals.
“I think it was a moment he’ll never forget and can use it moving forward,” McDaniel said. “I couldn’t be happier for him. His teammates learned a lot about him, and I think he learned something about himself.”
3. The Cheetah and The Penguin have made a difference.
People knew the Dolphins were going to improve when they heard the news about the Tyreek Hill trade. Tyreek was going to make a difference in that struggling Dolphins offense. He did. He finished the game with 11 receptions for 190 yards and two long touchdown passes of 48 and 60 yards.
We can’t overlook the other speedster on the Dolphins receiver core, Jaylen Waddle. He also caught 11 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner with 19 seconds left.
Hill and Waddle are the first two receivers to reach 240 yards. They both currently top the NFL in receiving yards.
(Cough cough, Mario Cristobal and Josh Gattis’s Miami Hurricanes offense should take notes on how Mike McDaniel coaches this offense)
4. Dolphins defense stepped up when it needed to.
The Dolphins defense did not look good at all Sunday, allowing an 104-yard kickoff return (special teams seems to have a prominent issue in Miami football). But when you get a goal line stop and stop Baltimore on fourth down to keep the Fins in the game, you bended but not broke.
5. Lamar Jackson is a BEAST.
I’m a Dolphins fan, but I have to give credit where credit is due, and I have to give my hats off to Lamar Jackson. I remember when he absolutely blew off opponents in college (highlight was ending Florida State’s run of glory, but couldn’t beat the Dolphins).
He had an INSANELY good day, and showed it off passing and rushing. Passing wise, he completed 21 of 29 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman. But boy did he show his running ability, running the ball nine times for 119 yards, with 79 of those coming on the long TD run before the Dolphins comeback.
Overall, what a game it was. Now, Josh Allen gets to bring his hot Buffalo wings into Miami next Sunday. Overall, every Dolphins fan reading this, enjoy Victory Monday.