OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens are not putting too much emphasis on last year’s stunning loss to the Dolphins.
New year.
New team.
Nonetheless, the Ravens are looking to avoid another monumental collapse in the fourth quarter when they gave up 28 points en route to a 42-38 setback.
“You have to study it,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They did some great things against us in the passing game. [They] made some huge plays; it was a massive comeback. Obviously, it was a tough pill to swallow for us, and all credit to them for the way they executed and made those plays. We learned a lot. We learned a lot about ourselves [and] our coverages.
“We weren’t anywhere near where we needed to be execution-wise at the time, and they’re capable of doing that to anybody at any time. So that’s why we have to prepare at the highest level and try to be at our best.”
The Ravens led, 35-14, heading into the fourth quarter. However, breakdowns in the secondary and communication issues led to Miami’s comeback.
The Ravens gave up four touchdown passes, including two long strikes from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to wide receiver Tyreek Hill, that allowed Miami to tie the score at 35.
After a field goal by Justin Tucker allowed the Ravens to retake the lead, Tagovailoa’s sixth touchdown pass of the game, a 7-yard pass to Jaylen Waddle with 14 seconds left, gave the Dolphins the improbable 42-38 victory.
Tagovailoa finished with 469 yards passing with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
“We had the big lead, and it just went away,” said quarterback Lamar Jackson, who threw for 318 yards with three touchdowns. “That’s pretty much what I took away from the game was an ‘L.’ Hopefully, this year, it’ll be a lot different.”
The Dolphins are still loaded on offense and average an NFL-best 30.9 points per game
Tagovailoa leads the league with 4,214 yards passing with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Hill also ranks first in the NFL with 1,641 yards receiving. Last season, Hill caught 11 passes for 190 yards with two touchdowns in the Dolphins’ victory at M&& Bank Stadium.
The Ravens did appear to catch a break for Sunday’s game because Waddle (1,014 yards receiving) has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Waddle caught 11 passes for 171 yards and two scores against Baltimore last year.
The stakes are high for both teams because the winner will claim the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
There is no time to linger on last year’s matchup.
“It’s definitely a huge game, but we’re not making it any bigger than what it is,” Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith said. “It’s the next game on the schedule, and we’re going to treat it just like any other game throughout the regular season. We’re going to be ready to rock and roll, and [we] have to be ready to protect the house by any means.”