Can the Ravens Keep Their Season Afloat on Short Rest Against the Dolphins?
The Baltimore Ravens will head south to Florida this week for Thursday Night Football to take on the Miami Dolphins in another pivotal matchup. Baltimore is looking to dig itself out of the massive hole it has created so far this season. Entering Sunday, the Ravens needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive over the next couple of months. They had to do it once again without their franchise quarterback, Lamar Jackson, who missed his third straight game due to a hamstring injury suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs back in Week Four. In the two previous games against the Texans and Rams, Jackson’s absence proved too costly for Baltimore to come out on top. However, against the surging Chicago Bears in Week Eight, well-known backup quarterback Tyler Huntley came to the rescue. The Ravens’ offense and defense clicked on all cylinders in that game, resulting in a convincing 30-16 victory that improved their record to 2-5 ahead of Thursday’s matchup with Miami.
Heading into the Ravens’ next game against the Dolphins, the obvious question is whether Baltimore’s two-time MVP will return to action or if Snoop Huntley will once again take the reins in South Beach. Leading up to the Bears game this past week, it appeared that Jackson was set to return after being listed as a full participant in Friday’s practice. However, reports emerged on Saturday morning that the 28-year-old was instead a limited participant after the Ravens conferred with the NFL and corrected the injury report. Jackson had practiced with the scout team rather than the starters, which meant he did not qualify as a full participant under league policy. Now, on short rest, it will be another week of waiting to see whether Jackson makes his return or misses his fourth straight game.
If the Ravens are without their starting quarterback again, the team’s confidence in Huntley’s ability to manage the offense has grown dramatically after his performance against Chicago. The sixth-year backup’s mobile playing style contrasts with the more traditional drop-back approach of fellow backup Cooper Rush. Against the Bears, Huntley showed he could lead the offense efficiently, providing consistency and production that were lacking in the games against Houston and Los Angeles. Facing Miami, Huntley will be familiar with Mike McDaniel’s team, having played with them last season. He will once again rely on Baltimore’s offensive weapons, including Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, who had a breakout game against Chicago, Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman. The Dolphins’ defense has allowed the 10th-most yards per game at 344.4 and the seventh-most points at 26.9, which could set up another get-right opportunity for a Ravens offense trying to build momentum against a Miami team that has faced plenty of internal turbulence, with head coach Mike McDaniel reportedly on the hot seat amid the team’s underperformance and matching a 2-6 record.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s game provides another opportunity for Baltimore’s defense to prove it can stack together strong performances. The defense has been a major issue this season, ranking in the bottom half of the league in both yards and points allowed. However, over the past two games, surrendering just 17 points to the Rams and 16 to the Bears, defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s unit has shown encouraging signs. With key players returning from injury and recent trade acquisition Alohi Gilman fitting seamlessly into the system, the group appears to be finding its rhythm. Star cornerback Kyle Hamilton’s versatility has also been utilized more effectively, reminiscent of his role under former coordinator Mike Macdonald. With so much at stake this Halloween week, another win, this time against a battered Dolphins team, could give Baltimore the momentum it needs to climb back into the AFC North race, especially with a more favorable upcoming schedule featuring the Vikings, Browns, Jets, and Joe Burrow-less Bengals.
