Dolphins at Ravens: Highlights, score and recap

The Baltimore Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins 38-6 at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 13. Here are the highlights and key players from Sunday’s game.

The Baltimore Ravens improved to 7-5 and put a major dent in the Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes. Baltimore’s 38-6 victory featured outstanding performances from quarterback Joe Flacco and tight end Dennis Pitta.

They connected on two scoring passes, as the Ravens offense ran riot. Running back Terrance West also scored twice, as Flacco threw four touchdowns.

All Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill could muster in response was an eight-yard TD pass to DeVante Parker in the fourth quarter. Pitta’s fumble set up the score, but Tannehill spent most of the day chased by fired-up Ravens pass-rushers.

The Ravens built a 24-0 lead at the half and continued to beat up on Tannehill after the break.

Flacco had started the scoring with a three-yard scoring pass to West. He followed it by connecting twice with Pitta, first from 13 yards, before hitting him again on a nine-yarder.

Justin Tucker did what he usually does and kicked field goal of over 50 yards as the half drew to a close. His 55-yard boomer completed the Raven’s surge of 24 unanswered points.

Those points weren’t answered because Tannehill could rarely get a pass off without being hit. Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees sent pressure from everywhere. He dialled up blitzes from the slot, overload pressure off the edge and sent free rushers through the middle.

Miami’s normally stout O-line had no answer for this myriad of blitz concepts. Nor could the Dolphins O-line knock open holes for running back Jay Ajayi.

The Ravens won the ground war thanks to their mammoth defensive front. Tackle Timmy Jernigan dominated inside while injured center Mike Pouncey proved a significant loss for the Dolphins.

With no room in the middle, Ajayi couldn’t hit the inside cutback lanes he’s been exploiting this season.

Ajayi’s struggles meant Tannehill was forced into a one-dimensional game. He naturally struggled, throwing three picks, with Lardarius Webb, Eric Weddle and Jerraud Powers getting their hands on Tannehill’s passes.

Weddle’s pick came when Tannehill was hit as he threw by Za’Darius Smith. It summed up his rough day.

By contrast, the Ravens were moving the ball without too much trouble. They relied almost exclusively on the arm of Flacco, and he responded brilliantly. His fourth touchdown pass of the day came courtesy of a 53-yard bomb to Breshad Perriman.

West finished off the rout with a nine-yard scoring scamper in garbage time.

Flacco and his receivers delivered, but it was a more expansive gameplan that made the crucial difference. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg drew up plays designed to stretch the field.

Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun believed Mornhinweg had gone bold to answer his critics:

Three Stars

1. Joe Flacco

Flacco was in the groove from the start. No. 5 made smart decisions, quick throws and spread the ball around among a host of different receivers.

Most of all, Flacco alternated wisely between taking what the defense gave him and also being brave enough to stretch the field when he could. Thanks to big days from Pitta and wide receiver Steve Smith Snr., Flacco was able to routinely expose the soft middle of the Miami D’.

ESPN Stats & Info revealed how Flacco targeted familiar territory during the first half:

Flacco then played error-free football with the pace of the game slowing down in the second half. This wasn’t quite vintage stuff from the Ravens QB. But Flacco did respond superbly to having the game put squarely on his right arm.

2. Dennis Pitta

Flacco’s big day was aided by a little help from his friends. Specifically, from BFF Pitta. The crafty tight end was a catch-machine who tormented the Dolphins over the middle.

Pitta isn’t as swift as he was since his near two-year injury hiatus. But the 31-year-old hasn’t lost his knack for getting open.

In fact, few tight ends can match Pitta’s nous for finding the voids in zone coverage. The Dolphins never took heed of this talent, and Pitta was allowed to run wild.

Not even a costly fourth-quarter fumble could mar his day.

3.  Zach Orr

Zach Orr has been playing some exceptional football at the heart of the Ravens’ front seven this season. He continued his fine form with a 13-tackle outing against the Dolphins.

Orr was everywhere, leading the charge to keep Ajayi quiet. He also made himself a nuisance in the intermediate passing lanes.

Orr is putting together a superb season behind fearsome D-linemen who are keeping blockers off this burgeoning sideline-to-sideline star.

Next: 2016 AFC Playoff picture: Week 13

Expect a motivated Wallace to prove his detractors on the Dolphins’ sideline wrong.

Next Week

The Dolphins will host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, before the Ravens face the New England Patriots on the road on Monday night.