Who’s hot, who’s not after the Dolphins’ blowout loss against the Ravens
The Dolphins were dealt their most lopsided margin of defeat this season in a 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that eliminated them from contention for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. it also sets up a must-win home game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 to secure the AFC East title.
Here’s a look at who’s hot — and who’s not — after Miami’s defeat.
Who’s hot
▪ Rookie running back De’Von Achane: Running back Raheem Mostert being inactive because of injuries to his ankle and knee came as a bit of a surprise to the Dolphins. But Achane stepped up as Miami’s top option in the backfield for the first time in his career. Achane totaled 137 yards from scrimmage and scored on a 1-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
It was the fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season for Achane, which ties running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar in 1996 for the most by a rookie in team history. It’s also tied for fifth-most by any player in team history:
Achane has dealt with injuries throughout the season and the Dolphins have limited his touches as he splits time with Mostert. But it was good to see Achane step up as the focal point of the running game, as well as contribute in the passing game.
Who’s not
▪ Cornerback Eli Apple and linebacker Duke Riley: The entire Dolphins’ defense struggled in stopping Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who threw five touchdowns and recorded a perfect passer rating. However, Baltimore specifically targeted Apple and Riley throughout the game. Apple was filling in for Xavien Howard, who was carted to the locker room with a foot injury in the first quarter. On wide receiver Zay Flowers’ 75-yard touchdown catch, he motioned to Apple’s side, forcing a miscommunication between Apple and Riley, and allowing Flowers to get wide open.
The Ravens also targeted Riley in man coverage, finding matchups between him and their running backs. Riley was in coverage for Justice Hill’s 20-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter and Baltimore worked the ball between zones close to Riley.
▪ Pass rush: Miami was able to deal with the loss of Jaelan Phillips, who tore his Achilles, in part because of Bradley Chubb’s excellent play. He was in the midst of his best stretch since joining the Dolphins and his 11 sacks are the most since his rookie season, when he recorded 12. But Chubb’s torn ACL, which will sideline him for the rest of the season, leaves the Dolphins without its best pass rushers heading into the most important game of the year and with the playoffs on the horizon.
Miami has a better contingency plan than most teams. Andrew Van Ginkel has been playing the best ball of his career and the combination of Melvin Ingram and Emmanuel Ogbah, the latter of whom was a healthy scratch on Sunday, should be serviceable. But the Dolphins have little depth remaining at outside linebacker and must now finish the season without two of their best defensive players.
