The Miami Dolphins suffered a disappointing defeat against the Baltimore Ravens on November 16, 2023, losing 28-6 at Hard Rock Stadium. The game marked a return to form for the Ravens, bolstered by the return of superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson, while the Dolphins struggled to find their rhythm.
The Dolphins entered the game with a 2-6 record but had recently secured a significant 34-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons, providing a glimmer of hope following a tough loss to the Cleveland Browns. In that previous game, Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins’ franchise quarterback, threw three interceptions, prompting head coach Mike McDaniel to emphasize the need for improvement in turnovers.
In a pregame speech, Tagovailoa attempted to rally his teammates, stating, “We got 60 minutes tonight. Four hours of pain.” Unfortunately, his words foreshadowed the poor performance that followed. The Dolphins managed only one score, while the Ravens capitalized on Miami’s mistakes, scoring four touchdowns.
Tagovailoa’s struggles continued as he recorded his 11th interception of the season. He acknowledged the team’s issues, including fumbles by teammates Malik Washington and Tahj Washington. After the game, he addressed the need for better ball security: “They know they got to hold onto the ball just like any of the guys that are ball carriers, even myself. I know I got to protect the ball.”
Despite his efforts to motivate the team, Tagovailoa shifted some blame to the noise created by Ravens fans inside the stadium, suggesting it affected his cadence. “The Ravens fans, it maybe got a little muffled with my cadence and, you know, the crowd noise,” he explained.
Offensively, the Dolphins struggled to establish any momentum. Tagovailoa reflected on this, saying, “I think for us offensively just started with the little things. We’re off a little bit here on this play, we’re off a little bit there on that play, and we just couldn’t find our flow in that.” He noted that when they did manage to gain some traction, penalties disrupted their progress.
The Dolphins’ performance raises questions about the team’s direction as the season progresses. The loss to the Ravens underlines the challenges facing Tagovailoa and his teammates as they strive to improve their standing in the league. With the season nearing its midpoint, the Dolphins must regroup and address the issues that continue to hinder their success.
