Ravens vs Dolphins Week 9 Preview: Key details for Thursday Night Football
Team this season with a perfect 3-0 record against the NFC North. And Baltimore has won its last seven games against the Dolphins, including a 38-6 dismantling in Miami last year. But peel back the layers and you’ll see a Ravens club that still hasn’t found its stride weeks removed from the passing of the great Dick Cass. Baltimore was toppled by Cincinnati before edging by the Los Angeles Chargers in a game it easily could have dropped.So, while this team appears extremely balanced at the moment, there is evidence to suggest the Ravens aren’t as dominant as their 4-3 record might imply. If they lose this game − coupled with Pittsburgh’s likely win over Chicago in Week 9 − they’ll quickly find themselves at the bottom of the AFC North.What about Miami?The Dolphins took a lot of people to ATL after starting 0-7 and falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Yet they managed to hold on against Atlanta in Week 8, pulling out a 30-28 win.The primary problem for Miami has been a defense that ranked fourth in the NFL last season but has been a shell of itself this year. Despite some inspired play by rookie quarterback Malik Willis, who settled into the starting job after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a separated shoulder, the Dolphins still rank 28th in total offense and 30th in scoring.So, while the Ravens might not make the most aesthetically pleasing opponent for Miami on a short week, it’ll be interesting to see if the Dolphins can sustain some positive momentum and validate coach Mike McDaniel’s belief that, even at 2-5, they’re still in contention for a playoff spot.
