With the Ravens improving to 3-5 on the season in a 28-6 win in Miami last Thursday night, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. That Lamar Jackson throwing four touchdowns in his first game in over a month barely raised eyebrows speaks to how truly special he is. This team has deficiencies on both sides of the ball that make me doubt its January ceiling, but you never write off a healthy Jackson.
2. Marcus Peters. Yannick Ngakoue. Roquan Smith. Diontae Johnson and Tre’Davious White. Alohi Gilman. Not every trade deadline acquisition has moved the needle, of course, but one can’t accuse Eric DeCosta of not being active. I’d be surprised if we don’t see another move or two before 4 p.m. Tuesday.
3. While fans have noticed Odafe Oweh registering four sacks over his first four games with the Chargers, this defense has been much improved since Gilman’s arrival and the transition to using a three-safety defense almost exclusively. As John Harbaugh suggested, “I guess both teams are happy about” the trade.
4. My expectations for Jaire Alexander were always tempered when considering his injury history, but I still figured he’d make a positive impact when healthy. At least DeCosta didn’t cling to a sunk cost and gained $2 million in salary cap space, a late-round pick to dangle, and some roster flexibility.
5. Not only did Malaki Starks come away with his first career interception in the fourth quarter, but his stops on back-to-back plays held the Dolphins to a field goal on their opening drive. You hope these are signs that the game is slowing down for the talented first-round rookie.
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6. Through the first seven games, Baltimore’s three tight ends combined for 33 receptions for 276 yards and three touchdowns with most of that coming from Mark Andrews. On Thursday, they collected seven catches for 105 yards and three touchdowns. Seeing Isaiah Likely emerge was particularly encouraging for this passing game.
7. The final numbers looked great, but Derrick Henry had 32 yards on his first 10 carries before the Ravens owned a 21-6 lead midway through the third quarter and Miami had pretty much given up. This offense must run the ball more consistently over the second half of the season.
8. With the Dolphins having 225 total yards and the Ravens collecting only four first downs by halftime, that was quite a combination of Miami self-destruction and high-leverage plays from Baltimore for the Ravens to hold a 14-6 lead at intermission. That game could have played out much differently.
9. Though the list of players taking a step forward in 2025 has been a short one, Jordan Stout is performing at a high level as he ranks second in the NFL in net punting average (46.0) and eighth in punts inside the 20 (12). Good timing for a contract year.
10. While the Ravens leading for most of these last two games certainly plays a part, Justice Hill has seen fewer than 20 snaps in back-to-back contests after playing 22 or more in five of the first six. This offense is seemingly trying to break some early-season personnel tendencies.
11. Seeing two Miami defenders collide on the mesh route from Andrews and DeAndre Hopkins that resulted in the former’s second touchdown illustrated the stark contrast of two teams going in opposite directions. It’s crazy to think these teams clashed for the No. 1 seed in Week 17 two years ago.
12. The Ravens are in 10th place in the conference, but Buffalo is only in the top wild-card spot and Kansas City would also find itself on the outside looking in through Week 9. In other words, the AFC remains wide open as established heavyweights and upstarts alike search for consistency.
