Oh So Close!!!!!
The Dolphins were let down by their offensive line in the final minute, which led to a 57 yard Field Goal try by Caleb Sturgis, who hooked it well LEFT. That FG would have tied the game at 26, but it turned into a 26-23 Ravens’ win. He makes the FG, we go to Overtime and WHO KNOWS???
I watched at Beef O’Brady’s by my house and have gone 0-3 in the 3 times I have watched there.
Tied at 23 with 4:07 left, Sturgis kicked inexplicably kicked the ball out of bounds, which gave the ball to the Ravens at their own 40. Ray Rice had 3 runs of 6 yards each for a total of 18 yards, and Joe Flacco, under serious duress connected with Star Wide-Receiver Torrey Smith for 14 yards, with Brent Grimes draped all over him.
That led to a FG by Justin Tucker from 44 yards. 26-23 Ravens.
So with 1:42 left, Ryan Tannehill and company started at their own 20. After 3 straight incomplete passes, Tannehill on 4th and 1o, rolls out of the pocket and with defenders breathing down on him; connects downfield to Brandon Gibson for 46 yards, down to the Ravens’ 34. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257516/Week-5-Ravens-vs-Dolphins-highlights, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257213/Dolphins-convert-on-fourth-and-long
What a catch!!! I was screaming at that AMAZING CATCH!!!
So, Tannehill runs up and spikes the ball to stop the clock with a minute to go. That seems odd to me, that they would do that considering the could have caught the Ravens’ defense off balance and throw a pass to someone to near sideline, or even throw a deep pass to not loose a down. Maybe a pass interference call for us lol?? But the coach went conservative because of no timeouts.
So, it is now 2nd and 10 from the Ravens’ 34, Tannehill in the shotgun drops back to throw, and before he knew it, he gets dropped by Linebacker Elvis Dumervil for a loss of 5. Tyson Clabo got bullied by Dumervil. That was the 3rd time in the last 2 drives he was sacked. Linebacker Terrell Suggs sacked Tannehill 2x in the previous.
So, it is 3rd and 10 at the Ravens’ 39. Tannehill trying to recoup the yards he lost because of the sack, throws an incomplete pass to Charles Clay because Clay inexplicably dropped it..
4th and 10 at the Ravens’ 39, Caleb Sturgis comes out to try his longest FG in a regular season games. 57 yards. Sturgis, who made 3 FG’s earlier in the day (37, 25, 48), with a good hold from Punter Brandon Fields, LITERALLY PULLS IT LEFT. NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!!! Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257306/Sturgis-misses-game-tying-field-goal-attempt, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257516/Week-5-Ravens-vs-Dolphins-highlights
That was Sturgis’ 1st CAREER MISS. He went 10-10 before the miss. “Bad time to miss,” said the rookie, who had been 10 for 10. “I wanted to make sure I got it there. Unfortunately I hooked it pretty good.” http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=331006015
My hands were covering my face, in shock!!!! But, MARK MY WORDS: He will win a game this year!!!
Sure, the miss and the kick out of bounds did the Dolphins’ in, but Tannehill was sacked 6 times. 30 TIMES SACKED on the year! What the hell is going on here?????
Tannehill had a solid day, as did Flacco, who responded well after his 5 INT (career and franchise high) vs. the Bills.
Tannehill went 21-40, 307 yards, TD, but the 6 sacks did him in, as did the 4 drops by receivers. 2 by Wallace. Brian Hartline had a rare drop (which could have been a 1st down from 3rd and 2 at the Ravens’ 45), but he simply dropped. The Dolphins were down 16-13 at that point.
Flacco went 19-32, 269 yards, INT. He had three completions of at least 40 yards, and each set up a score. He led drives of 80, 73 and 94 yards on the Ravens’ first three possessions of the second half, each resulting in a score to transform a 13-6 deficit into a 23-13 lead. http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=331006015
His lone Interception came in the 4th quarter, when Dion Jordan hit Flacco’s arm as he threw, and Safety Reshad Jones played wide-receiver and caught the ball and took it to the house for a 25 yard touchdown to tie the game at 23. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257166/Dolphins-intercept-Flacco-and-return-for-a-touchdown, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257516/Week-5-Ravens-vs-Dolphins-highlights
In the beginning of the 3rd quarter, with the Dolphins’ up 13-6; Flacco and the Ravens were the beneficiaries of some very questionable interference calls that led to Ravens’ tying the game at 13. Cornerback Nolan Carroll was flagged for a very questionable pass interference call, that resulted in a 38 yard gain for the Ravens. Flacco threw the ball downfield for WR Deonte Thompson and Carroll looked to make a solid play on the ball, but he apparently draped his right arm over Thompson trying to knock the ball away.
Here is a little note about the call:
The initial angle of the television broadcast seemed to show minimal contact between Carroll and Thompson. However, a second camera angle shown later in the third quarter showed that Carroll draped his right arm around the back of Thompson as he jumped up to try and knock down the pass.
Officials are taught to key on a defender throwing his arm around the back side of a receiver in that situation. If it happens, they must make a judgment call as to whether the contact affected the receiver’s ability to catch the football. Carroll’s use of his right arm subjected him to that judgment call, and whether it was ultimately right or wrong, the call went against Miami. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1800623-dolphins-vs-ravens-takeaways-from-miamis-26-23-loss-to-baltimore/page/5
I was SCREAMING, “OH COME ON!! THAT IS RIDICULOUS!!”
That brought the ball to the Dolphins’ 19. 2 plays later, another pass interference call came. It was another questionable one. It went against Grimes. Grimes looked to have made a great play on the ball against Torrey Smith in the end zone, but apparently Grimes did the same thing as Carroll did.
I was SCREAMING, “OH COME ON!! THAT IS RIDICULOUS!!”
The defensive pass interference penalty on this play was a little more clear-cut than the previous play. Close-up replays showed Grimes sticking out his right arm to bar Smith from getting beyond him to where the football had been thrown. Officials key on defenders in coverage whenever they stick out their arm in that manner, and they will consistently call defensive pass interference for an armbar.
The unfortunate end result of two calls was an 80-yard touchdown drive that featured 55 yards awarded to the Ravens based on subjective judgment calls. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1800623-dolphins-vs-ravens-takeaways-from-miamis-26-23-loss-to-baltimore/page/5
That brought the ball to the Dolphins’2. Ray Rice punched it from 2 yards (the 1st of his 2 TD’s).
The Ravens seriously dominated the Dolphins in the running game. 40-133, as opposed to 11-22 for the Dolphins. Rice led the charge for the Ravens; 27/74/2TD’s. He 1st TD tied the game at 13. His TD, put the Ravens up 23-13.
Honestly, I thought the Dolphins could run the ball, but I was seriously wrong. Lamar Miller, found that quickly on the 1st drive of the game. Trying to make 1 yard for a 1st down, he was denied twice. His line: 7/15.
On that drive, the Dolphins should have thrown it on 3rd down. The Dolphins’ offense needs to be creative. Coach Joe Philbin and OC Mike Sherman are GETTING SO PREDICTABLE!! It is so UNIMPRESSIVE!!! Take more shots downfield. This is a PASSING LEAGUE. You have WEAPONS, USE THEM. BE CREATIVE, PLEASE!!!!!!!!
Both STAR WIDE-RECEIVERS, Mike Wallace and Torrey Smith had big games. Wallace went 7/105. He had a dropped pass in the 1st quarter, while the Dolphins’ were in striking distance. That led to a Sturgis FG. It was 3rd and 5 from the Ravens’ 19. His overran the route, and had to try to comeback for the ball. He should have caught and he knew it. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257516/Week-5-Ravens-vs-Dolphins-highlights
He did however make a SUPERLATIVE CATCH in the 2nd quarter for 49 yards, that led to a Sturgis FG. The ball was a little UNDERTHROWN in double-coverage, but made the catch. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000256925/Wallace-49-yard-reception, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257516/Week-5-Ravens-vs-Dolphins-highlights
I was SCREAMING, AS USUAL!!!
Torrey Smith had big game as well: 6/121. He had a nice 41 yard gain in the 1st quarter on the Ravens’ 1st drive to setup a Ravens’ FG. 3-0 Ravens at that point.
Despite the loss, the Dolphins got a big game from Charles Clay.
Charles Clay had a big game as well: 3/52/TD. He had a 9 yard TD, as seen here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000256992/Clay-9-yard-touchdown-catch, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257516/Week-5-Ravens-vs-Dolphins-highlights
The replay assistant challenged the ruling as a TD, because they thought Clay may have juggled the ball as he hit the ground. I saw the play and I knew it was a TD as the way, and of course, I was right. 13-6 Dolphins.
He also had a nice 45 yard reception in the 4th quarter, that help setup Sturgis’ 3rd FG. 23-16 Ravens. Watch here: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257145/Clay-45-yard-reception, and http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000257516/Week-5-Ravens-vs-Dolphins-highlights
The Dolphins’ defense: 2 sacks, fumble recovery, and INT (returned for a TD).
The Ravens’ defense: 6 sacks (3 by Terrell Suggs). Almost had a INT, but it was reversed because the ball was caught just out of bounds
Hopefully, the Dolphins’ will recover from the loss and find a way to protect Tannehill.
All play by plays came from: http://espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=331006015&period=0
All stats came from: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=331006015
Next game: 10/20 vs. the Bills. Much needed bye week. 3-2 after 5 games. Very Solid, but could be better!!!
