OWINGS MILLS — Ravens coach John Harbaugh is impressed with the depth of his team.
In a 56-19 victory over the Dolphins, several players were forced into action and there was little dropoff from the regular starters.
Safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) and cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) were inactive.
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey had to leave the game in the first quarter with an injured calf.
As a result, cornerbacks Ronald Darby, Arthur Maulet, Rock Ya-Sin, and Daryl Worley got extensive playing time and helped shut down Miami’s top-ranked offense.
Safeties Geno Stone, Marcus Williams, and Andrew Adams were effective in helping prevent big plays.
“I think that’s one of the best points about the game, really – the fact that those guys stepped up. We had some things come up that we didn’t anticipate,” Harbaugh said. “We had some game-time decisions, and we had some things happen during the game that knocked guys out. I thought the corners [and] the safeties just played tremendously well. Daryl Worley comes in and plays great ball, and all three of the corners [did]. Arthur [Maulet] played great. Rock [Ya-Sin] played great. Ronald [Darby] played great.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was 22-for-38 for 237 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was also sacked three times.
Miami entered the game averaging an NFL-best 30.9 points per game.
Stone led the team with eight tackles and made his seventh interception of the season, which ranks second in the NFL.
Darby and Maulet finished with five tackles apiece.
Stone and Darby were the only players to take every defensive snap.
The Ravens clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC so they can rest some players in the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh.
Harbaugh is comfortable with the players he will have available.
“Those guys played against a high, high-powered [Dolphins] offense,” Harbaugh said. “I thought they played good, sound football. They covered [in] man [coverage]. They handled the motions. They handled all the different combination coverages we were in against that offense. I thought they did just a great job.”