Flacco throws 4 TDs as Ravens rout Dolphins
The Sports Xchange
Dec 4, 2016
BALTIMORE -- Joe Flacco threw for 381 yards with four touchdowns and the Baltimore Ravens snapped the Miami Dolphins' six-game winning streak with a 38-6 victory on Sunday.
Baltimore (7-5) won four of its past five matchups and remains atop the AFC North. The Dolphins (7-5) were looking to win eight straight games for the first time since 1985, but dampened their playoff hopes instead.
Ravens' tight end Dennis Pitta had nine catches for 90 yards with two touchdowns. Pitta, who dealt with two devastating hip injuries, reached the end zone for the first time since Dec. 8, 2013.
Baltimore running back Terrance West caught a 3-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 9-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Flacco completed a franchise-record 36 passes to 10 different receivers with an interception.
Pitta's fumble early in the fourth quarter was recovered by Miami at the Ravens' 8-yard line. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill found DeVante Parker in the corner of the end zone on the next play. That ended the Ravens' bid to earn their first shutout since 2009.
Flacco responded on the ensuing drive with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman for a 31-6 lead with 12:49 left in the game.
The Dolphins simply could not manage any momentum against the Ravens' No. 2-ranked defense, which allowed just 277 total yards.
Tannehill threw for nine touchdowns with just one interception over the team's winning streak but struggled early and often against the Ravens, completing 29 of 40 passes for 226 yards with three interceptions.
Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi finished with 61 yards on 12 carries. He has been held to under 80 yards in the past four games. Miami's Jarvis Landry managed 87 yards on 11 receptions.
The Ravens opened a 7-0 lead on the opening drive when West caught a 3-yard touchdown from Flacco. After Miami's Andrew Franks missed a 46-yard field goal attempt wide left, Baltimore made them pay when Flacco threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Pitta.
The Ravens later converted a 4th-and-2 on an 8-yard pass from Flacco to Steve Smith. This set up another 9-yard touchdown pass to Pitta, capping an 18-play, 8:57 drive.
Justin Tucker made a 55-yard field goal as time expired to boost Baltimore's lead to 24-0 at the half. Tucker has made 35 consecutive field goals, including 28 this season.
NOTES: Ravens CB Jimmy Smith (back) was back in the starting lineup after missing the past two games. Rookie Tavon Young got the start opposite of Smith before leaving with a left shoulder injury. ... Dolphins LT Branden Albert and rookie LG Laremy Tunsil were back in the lineup. Albert missed the past two games with a wrist injury, while Tunsil was out last week with a sore shoulder. C Mike Pouncey (hip) missed his third consecutive game. ... Ravens OT Marshal Yanda got his third straight start at left guard for the injured Alex Lewis. Yanda is a five-time Pro Bowler at right guard.
Dec 4, 2016
BALTIMORE -- Joe Flacco threw for 381 yards with four touchdowns and the Baltimore Ravens snapped the Miami Dolphins' six-game winning streak with a 38-6 victory on Sunday.
Baltimore (7-5) won four of its past five matchups and remains atop the AFC North. The Dolphins (7-5) were looking to win eight straight games for the first time since 1985, but dampened their playoff hopes instead.
Ravens' tight end Dennis Pitta had nine catches for 90 yards with two touchdowns. Pitta, who dealt with two devastating hip injuries, reached the end zone for the first time since Dec. 8, 2013.
Baltimore running back Terrance West caught a 3-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 9-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Flacco completed a franchise-record 36 passes to 10 different receivers with an interception.
Pitta's fumble early in the fourth quarter was recovered by Miami at the Ravens' 8-yard line. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill found DeVante Parker in the corner of the end zone on the next play. That ended the Ravens' bid to earn their first shutout since 2009.
Flacco responded on the ensuing drive with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman for a 31-6 lead with 12:49 left in the game.
The Dolphins simply could not manage any momentum against the Ravens' No. 2-ranked defense, which allowed just 277 total yards.
Tannehill threw for nine touchdowns with just one interception over the team's winning streak but struggled early and often against the Ravens, completing 29 of 40 passes for 226 yards with three interceptions.
Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi finished with 61 yards on 12 carries. He has been held to under 80 yards in the past four games. Miami's Jarvis Landry managed 87 yards on 11 receptions.
The Ravens opened a 7-0 lead on the opening drive when West caught a 3-yard touchdown from Flacco. After Miami's Andrew Franks missed a 46-yard field goal attempt wide left, Baltimore made them pay when Flacco threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Pitta.
The Ravens later converted a 4th-and-2 on an 8-yard pass from Flacco to Steve Smith. This set up another 9-yard touchdown pass to Pitta, capping an 18-play, 8:57 drive.
Justin Tucker made a 55-yard field goal as time expired to boost Baltimore's lead to 24-0 at the half. Tucker has made 35 consecutive field goals, including 28 this season.
NOTES: Ravens CB Jimmy Smith (back) was back in the starting lineup after missing the past two games. Rookie Tavon Young got the start opposite of Smith before leaving with a left shoulder injury. ... Dolphins LT Branden Albert and rookie LG Laremy Tunsil were back in the lineup. Albert missed the past two games with a wrist injury, while Tunsil was out last week with a sore shoulder. C Mike Pouncey (hip) missed his third consecutive game. ... Ravens OT Marshal Yanda got his third straight start at left guard for the injured Alex Lewis. Yanda is a five-time Pro Bowler at right guard.
