The fight for the AFC's top seed between the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens was neck and neck for about 27 of the game's first 30 minutes. Then, a Lamar Jackson-led avalanche happened, and the Ravens cruised to a 56-19 victory to ensure the AFC's road to Super LVIII in Las Vegas will run through Baltimore. They will be the only team in the conference with a first-round bye.
The last time the Ravens had the one seed in 2019, Jackson was the NFL's unanimous MVP. He entered Sunday as the betting favorite for the award this season, and he only added momentum to his case for another. He threw for 321 yards and a career-high five touchdowns for a perfect 158.3 passer rating, the third such game of his career. The first was also against the Dolphins back in Week 1 of his 2019 MVP run when he also tossed five touchdowns. Sunday is Jackson's fourth career game with five or more passing touchdowns before turning 27, tied with Hall of Famer Dan Marino with the second-most all time. Only Patrick Mahomes has more such games (six) than Jackson before age 27.
Should Jackson win his second career MVP, he would be the youngest quarterback to win his second NFL MVP since he turns 27 on the final day of the NFL regular season.
The two teams exchanged touchdowns to start the game with Tua Tagovailoa throwing an 8-yard touchdown and Jackson countering with a 20-yard strike to running back Justice Hill on a wheel route. Fast forward to 3:10 left in the half after a Dolphins field goal, and the Ravens got the football back up 14-13. That's when the game began to get out of hand.
On the first play of the Ravens' drive, Jackson hit rookie receiver Zay Flowers for an easy 75-yard touchdown and a 21-13 lead. Flowers went in motion and turned on the jets to cut deep upfield with a "cheat motion," something Miami runs plenty for Tyreek Hill.
After Baltimore applied pressure with the quick strike, the Dolphins attempted to squeeze one more snap in before the two-minute warning. That backfired as All-Pro Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith darted out of his zone coverage in the middle of the field to intercept Tagovailoa's pass with one hand. Smith put the Ravens at the Miami 38 with 2:01 left in the half.
Jackson dropped back against the Dolphins blitz on fourth and 7 of the ensuing drive and fired to tight end Isaiah Likely, who then sprinted through the remaining members of the secondary down the right sideline for a 35-yard score. The touchdown put Baltimore up 28-13 with 1:24 left in the half and the rout was on.
Tagovailoa, who threw for 237 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 22 of 38 passing, left the game late with a left shoulder injury after being hit on a fourth-down scramble that didn't really have a chance. Pro Bowl outside linebacker Bradley Chubb was also carted off with a leg injury in the fourth quarter.
Jackson played like the NFL MVP he is and like the 2023 NFL MVP he is about to be. He became just the fifth player in NFL history to have three career games with a perfect passer rating, minimum 15 pass attempts, joining Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner and future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. Jackson was literally perfect, and that was the difference.
They are now the first team in NFL history to win consecutive regular-season games by double-digits against teams with at least 11 wins.
They had no answer for Jackson. While the Ravens ripped off three touchdowns in a row to end the half, Miami countered with a punt, field goal and an interception. The Dolphins simply didn't have answers on either side of the ball on Sunday, and the final score reflected that.
Jackson's 35-yard passing touchdown to Likely with 1:24 left in the first half. The Ravens were facing a fourth-and-7, and a stop by the Dolphins would have provided them the chance to make it a one-score game again just before the half. Instead, Baltimore went up 35-13, essentially icing the game by halftime.
Jackson's 75-yard touchdown to Flowers. This play showcased the type of reliable deep juice that Baltimore had been missing for years, and that game-changing vertical speed could make a difference for them this postseason.
The Ravens will play host to the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers to close out the regular season with nothing to play for while the Dolphins will return home to face the Buffalo Bills in a winner-takes-all battle for the AFC East division title.
Tyler Huntley now at quarterback and he hits second-year tight end Charlie Kolar for a 19-yard touchdown shortly after the Dolphins fumble. 56-19 Ravens with 2:28 left to play.
Chubb is carted off the field as head coach Mike McDaniel whispers some words into his ear before he heads back to the locker room.
Dolphins Pro Bowl outside linebacker Bradley Chubb goes down with what appears to be a leg injury.
Mike White now in at quarterback for the Dolphins after Tua T suffered a left shoulder injury. First play he pitches to backup running back Chris Brooks. It's fumbled and the Dolphins recover.
Everyone gets a touchdown today for the Ravens. Nine-year veteran running back Melvin Gordon plunges into the end zone for a seven-yard score after spending most of the season on the practice squad. 49-19 Ravens with 4:11 left to play.
Dolphins turn the ball over on downs since Tagovailoa's scramble comes up three to four yards short. 42-19 Ravens with just under eight minutes left to play. Tagovailoa appears slightly shaken up after sliding down.
Lamar Jackson ties his career-high with five touchdown passes. His fifth goes to fullback Patrick Ricard on a four-yard toss. Jackson remains on pace to throw for a perfect 158.3 passer rating, something he also did in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins in his 2019 NFL MVP season. He is up to 321 passing yards and five touchdowns on 18 of 21 passing. 42-19 Ravens with 9:38 left to play. Sunday is Jackson's fourth career game with five or more passing touchdowns before turning 27, tied with Hall of Famer Dan Marino with the second-most all-time. Only Patrick Mahomes has more such games (six) than Jackson before age 27.
The Dolphins aren't going away quietly. They grind a 14-play drive 78 yards to the house for a touchdown on a Tagovailoa touchdown pass to rookie running back De'Von Achane. Their two-point conversion attempt to cut the Ravens' lead to 14 failed after Tua's throw to rookie tight end Julian Hill went through his hands. 35-19 Ravens on top with 13:57 left in the game.
Eichenberg now back in
Dolphins center Liam Eichenberg, who is filling in for the injured Connor Williams, leaves the game with an injury. Miami now down to the third-string center this season.
Right after the Dolphins force a fumble by Ravens running back Gus Edwards, Tua Tagovailoa gives the football right back to Baltimore. He looked deep over the middle to Tyreek Hill, but Ravens safety Geno Stone was there at the ready. He hauls in Tagovailoa's second interception of the half and his seventh of the season, the second-most in the NFL behind Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland's eight.
Then rout is on in Baltimore. After Justice Hill takes the second half kickoff 78 yards to the Dolphins 18, Lamar Jackson throws a season-high fourth passing touchdown three plays later to tight end Isaiah Likely for his second score of the game. 35-13 Ravens.
The Ravens are starting to smell the AFC's top seed. On fourth and seven, Lamar Jackson drops back against the Dolphins blitz and fires to tight end Isaiah Likely, who then sprinted through the remaining members of the secondary down the right sideline for a 35-yard score. The touchdown puts Baltimore up 15, 28-13, with 1:24 left in the half. The Ravens also get the ball back to start the second half.
The Dolphins attempted to squeeze one more snap in before the two-minute warning. That backfired as All-Pro Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith darted out of his zone coverage in the middle of the field to intercept Tua Tagovailoa's pass with one hand. Smith puts the Ravens at the Miami 38 with 2:01 left in the half. Baltimore up 21-13.
On the first play of the Ravens' drive, Lamar Jackson hits rookie receiver Zay Flowers for an easy 75-yard touchdown. Flowers went in motion and turned on the jets to cut deep upfield with a "cheat motion", something Miami runs plenty for Tyreek Hill. Jackson has completed 10 passes in a row after throwing an incompletion on his first toss of the afternoon. 21-13 Ravens with 2:58 left in the half.
Dolphins settle for three, a field goal from 38 yards out, after they are unable to gain a yard after Hill's 25-yard gain on fourth down. A run for no gain by Achane plus consecutive incompletions. Ravens lead 14-13 with 3:10 left in the first half.
Perfect pitch and catch between Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill on fourth and five at the Ravens 45. Hill sprints down the left sideline, and Tagovailoa floats the ball perfectly into Hill's outstretched hands for a 25-yard gain to keep the drive going.
Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. makes a vintage play with an incredible diving grab for a 33-yard gain down the left sideline to put Baltimore one yard away from a go-ahead touchdown. Baltimore took the lead on the very next play, a one-yard plunge into the end zone by running back Gus Edwards. 14-10 Ravens with 6:56 left in the half.
After both offenses came out of the gates firing, it's been back to back punts the last two drives. Dolphins still lead 10-7 with 12:46 left in the half. Tua Tagovailoa taking a first down sack on the last series doomed Miami's last drive. Ravens take over at their own 11 following a punt.
Ravens Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey is into the blue tent on the sideline after grabbing his leg following the Dolphins' 27-yard field goal. Safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) and cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) were ruled out and inactive entering Sunday's game. Five-year vet Rock Ya-Sin, in his first season with the Ravens, will likely slide into Humphrey's spot for the time being.
Following De'Von Achane's 45-yard catch and run, Miami's second drive sputterer out. He lost three yards on a run on the very next play, gained seven on an ensuing run and then Tagovailoa's incomplete pass to Tyreek Hill on third and six from the eight resulted in the Dolphins kicking a 27-yard field goal. 10-7 Dolphins with 3:39 left in the first quarter. Baltimore's second drive coming up next.
Two drives, a touchdown each. The Ravens tie the game with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to running back Justice Hill on a wheel route out of the backfield. Baltimore has flagged for a similar play thanks to offensive pass interference, but wide receiver Rashod Bateman moves more smoothly on this play, allowing it to be a clean touchdown. 7-7 early between the Dolphins and Ravens in Baltimore.
No Jaylen Waddle, no Raheem Mostert, no problem for the Dolphins on the opening drive. Miami went 75 yards in eight plays, capping the first possession of the game with a third and goal touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to receiver Cedrick Wilson from eight yards out.
The Ravens kick off to start the game, and the Dolphins' fill-in for the injured Raheem Mostert, rookie De'Von Achane, immediately announces his presence with a gain of 23 through the air.
Tight end Isaiah Likely, who is filling in for injured Pro Bowler Mark Andrews, has 249 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns and 17 catches in the last four games. That comes out to an average 14.7 yards per catch. For the season, his 13 yards per catch ranks third among all tight ends who have at least 25 catches.
Rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers has been what Baltimore was hoping for when they selected him 22nd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. His 74 catches are a team rookie record.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is seeking his third season with 200 Pass YPG and 50 Rush YPG (nobody has done this 3 times). He is currently the NFL MVP betting favorite. He can be the 11th player to win multiple MVPs and the second-youngest at the time of his second MVP award should he win it again.
Most Seasons with 200 Pass YPG and 50 Rush YPG - NFL History
Lamar Jackson 3 <<
Jalen Hurts 2
Michael Vick 1
Randall Cunningham 1
Kyler Murray 1
Russell Wilson 1
Robert Griffin III 1
>> Includes 2023
Youngest Player at Time of 2nd NFL MVP (Age at End of Reg. Season)
Age (Years-Days)
Jim Brown 22-300
Brett Favre 27-073
Patrick Mahomes 27-112
>> Lamar Jackson: turns 27 on final day of regular season
AFC Defensive Player of the Week safety Kyle Hamilton (knee), starting offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler (knee) and cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) will all miss Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
The Ravens lead the NFL in scoring defense (16.3 PPG allowed), takeaways (26) and sacks (54) in 2023. They could become the first team in NFL history to lead NFL in all three categories, since sacks became an official team statistic in 1963.
Since All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey made his Dolphins debut following a trade over from the Rams in Week 8 after working through a knee injury, the Dolphins have had the NFL's top scoring and total defense.
Dolphins Defense Since Jalen Ramsey Made Team Debut in Week 8
NFL Rank
PPG 15.9 1st
YPG 253.8 1st
Yds/play 4.4 2nd
