Let me open this week’s column with a question and answer.
How does a professional football team lose 40-0 to a team with a backup quarterback? The Miami Dolphins achieve that.
Dolphins on a short week traveled to play the Baltimore Ravens and gave the impression as if they did not make it off the plane since they were unable to put one single point on the scoreboard.
Joe Flacco was diagnosed with a concussion after absorbing a late hit that did not look intentional by Miami linebacker Kiko Alonso late in the second quarter, Flacco was taken to the locker room and did not return. Flacco missed six games in 10 NFL seasons all in 2015.
Alonso has a clean history playing in the NFL at the linebacker position. When you access the play, Flacco was doing his job running trying to get the first down. He was trying to slide for the first down marker. Alonso could not stop his momentum in the process. He will be getting a FedEx package in the mail, in other words, get fined. Suspension? I doubt it. There was no malice or intent to hurt him in my view.
“I’m not commenting on that,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stated, “It was penalized correctly I would say.”
“It was bang-bang it got to the point where I thought maybe if he slide a second sooner,” Alonso stated. “I was anticipating him to slide I would not hit him. But I think it was a second late. Which is why I hit him. Like I said it is a bang-bang play. I hope he is all right. I truly do.”
Flacco went 10 for 15 for 101 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin. Alonso was flagged for unnecessary roughness, but not ejected out of the game.
Also expecting to receive a FedEx package, Ndamukong Suh.
The fact Suh is grabbing a quarterback by the neck with his hand in the middle of a nationally televised football game is beyond my comprehension.
We will wait for the aftermath from the NFL on that.
Speaking of an aftermath, Ravens came in with the 2nd worst offense in the NFL. Number one…you guessed it, Miami. Alex Collins ran for a career-high 113 yards, and Baltimore returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the most lopsided shutout in franchise history.
The Dolphins gave their fans some hype as they came in with a three-game winning streak after rallying from 17- and 14-point deficits in the previous two games. However, at times it looks like they were playing a throwback Baltimore defense that had Ray Lewis at linebacker and Ed Reed at safety since they limited Miami to only 196 yards.
They were aggressive. Sending safety stunts. They played a physical brand of football we saw with the Baltimore Ravens of past. Ravens may put up a fight in the division versus the Pittsburg Steelers.
Ryan Tannehill was running stairs before the game; I don’t know what that means. Matt Moore was making his first start of the season, for an injured Jay Cutler. Yes, Moore helped in a comeback against the New York Jets, however, expect Cutler to be back under center after this loss.
“I’m pissed, I’m tired of this,” Dolphins Head coach Adam Gase stated. “I’m tired of the offense being awful. Guys need to get their heads right.”
Sigh, the running game. It generated only 45 yards against the 32nd-ranked rushing defense in the NFL. That is less than half the football field.
The beat goes on. Miami plays the second of three straight night games, this one at home against Oakland on Nov. 5.
