In a disappointing matchup at Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins struggled against the visiting Baltimore Ravens, suffering a 28-6 defeat. Despite being at home, the Dolphins were overwhelmed by the presence of Ravens fans, which contributed to several critical mistakes during the game. The atmosphere was charged with energy from the Ravens' supporters, impacting the Dolphins' performance from the outset.
One of the key moments in the game occurred during the Dolphins' third drive when right tackle Larry Borom was penalized for a false start on a crucial fourth-and-1 situation. This penalty was influenced by Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy’s movements, which Borom seemed to react to due to the overwhelming crowd noise. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa acknowledged after the game that the noise level certainly affected their communication, stating, "With the Ravens fans, it maybe got a little muffled with my cadence and the crowd noise." He added that adjustments were made on the sideline to rectify the situation.
Following the penalty, kicker Riley Patterson missed a 35-yard field goal attempt, further compounding the Dolphins' woes. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was visibly frustrated by the penalty, and although he expressed his anger to the media, he clarified that it was directed at their own mistakes rather than the officiating. "That was at self-inflicted wounds that we've been putting such an emphasis on," McDaniel explained. He emphasized that such controllable errors hinder the team's chances of winning.
As the game progressed, many fans began to exit Hard Rock Stadium, especially in the late third quarter when the Ravens established a significant 22-point lead. Some remaining Dolphins fans were spotted wearing paper bags or popcorn buckets over their heads, a sign of their frustration. The Dolphins' performance was characterized by a series of missed opportunities; they recorded three turnovers, converted only 2 out of 12 third downs, and failed to score on any of their three trips into the red zone.
McDaniel empathized with the fans' frustrations, acknowledging the need for the team to improve. "Our expectation is that we have to do the work and do the right things for fans to enjoy the experience," he said. "Unfortunately, we didn't do that tonight." The Dolphins needed to regroup and provide their supporters with a more compelling performance in future games.
Just four days after a convincing 34-10 win against the Atlanta Falcons, the Dolphins appeared poised to continue their momentum against the Ravens. In the first half, Miami outgained Baltimore, 226-109, and dominated possession with 18:29 minutes to the Ravens' 11:01. Despite these advantages, the Dolphins found themselves trailing 14-6 at halftime—a trend McDaniel noted was often a bad omen for teams that should be winning.
Tagovailoa recognized the offense’s inability to find their rhythm, stating, "We couldn't find our flow." The situation deteriorated in the third quarter, as the Ravens outgained the Dolphins 166-39, extending their lead to three scores. With the Dolphins' record now at 2-7, their worst start since McDaniel took over in 2022, linebacker Jordyn Brooks provided a candid evaluation of the performance. "We've got to capitalize when we get down to the red zone," Brooks asserted. "Too many turnovers today really hurt us." He emphasized the need for the Dolphins to score when opportunities arise and to play more complementary football.
As the Miami Dolphins look to recover from this setback, it’s clear that addressing these issues will be vital for future success. The team's ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and reduce turnovers will be essential if they hope to improve their standing in the league and regain the trust of their fans.
