The Associated Press
BALTIMORE–As a reward for going three days between games, the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens now get an extended break before returning to action.
Boy, can they use it.
The Dolphins (4-3) have to find a way to get their offence moving, and they have to decide whether to use Jay Cutler or Matt Moore at quarterback.
The Ravens (4-4) only can hope quarterback Joe Flacco uses the time off to recover from the concussion he received in a 40-0 win over Miami on last night.
In the midst of one of his best performances of the season, Flacco was hit high by Kiko Alonso while sliding at the end of an impromptu run near the end of the second quarter.
Flacco’s helmet flew off his head, and the 10-year quarterback appeared wobbly as he struggled to his feet.
Flacco initially was placed in concussion protocol, and by halftime was ruled out.
“Joe had a concussion and a cut ear,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They were stitching it up without any anesthesia, so he’s a tough dude.
“That’s as much as I know.”
The coach hopes that tough dude is ready to play on Nov. 5 when Baltimore faces Tennessee on the road.
Miami, meanwhile, was looking for so much more from Moore in his first start of the year.
Subbing for the injured Cutler (ribs), Moore went 25-for-44 for 176 yards.
If Cutler is healthy on Nov. 5, he likely will start against Oakland.
With a team that’s been held scoreless twice in five weeks and a fill-in quarterback, Miami coach Adam Gase has tried to simplify the offence for the Dolphins.
The problem with that is it’s become too easy for the defence to recognize what’s going on.
“One hundred percent, that’s what it is,” Gase said. “That’s what happens when you cut it back like that: it becomes a little easier to defend.”
The Ravens came into the game dead last in the NFL in run defence after going a league-record 21-straight seasons holding teams to less than four yards per carry.
Opponents were averaging 4.2 yards per carry ths season–and Baltimore was determined to put a stop to that.
“That’s not what we’re about, giving up a bunch of yards in the running game,” Harbaugh said.
“They took it personally. I’m sure they did.”
The Ravens allowed the Dolphins only 45 yards on 19 carries (a 2.4-yard average).
To Terrell Suggs, the Ravens’ most lopsided shutout in franchise history means they simply have to work harder to do it again.
Baltimore had lost four-of-five before coming up big against the Dolphins in a must-win situation.
“We have a lot of work to do. We are 4-4,” Suggs stressed.
“Mediocrity is the worst thing in the world.”
