Lamar Jackson made a stylish return for the Baltimore Ravens, throwing four touchdowns in a 28-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
The star quarterback and former MVP passed for 204 yards, completing 18 of 23 attempts in his first start since Week 4 against Kansas City. The Ravens (3-5) secured their second consecutive win as they aim to contend in the competitive AFC North.
"It felt great," Jackson remarked. "I didn’t have any issues. I was feeling good out there."
Having been sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Jackson connected with tight end Mark Andrews for two touchdown receptions. His other touchdown passes were directed to tight end Charlie Kolar and receiver Rashod Bateman.
"It’s do or die," Jackson stated. "Win or go home. Typically, we start off winning games. However, at this moment, we are behind, and we all need to elevate our performance."
Just five days prior, the Ravens were at 1-5, but they have now achieved two impressive victories following Tyler Huntley’s leadership to a 30-16 win over Chicago last Sunday.
"We had two games that we needed to win in four days," remarked Baltimore coach John Harbaugh. "These were absolute must-wins. The way our players stepped up is commendable. It simply means we are two games under .500. That’s all it signifies. But we are two games under .500, correct? We were four games under .500."
Tua Tagovailoa, who completed 25 of 40 passes for 261 yards with one interception, guided the Dolphins 80 yards down the field early in the fourth quarter, showcasing a promising drive that featured two fourth-down conversions. However, receiver Malik Washington fumbled at the 10-yard line, prompting Dolphins fans to exit Hard Rock Stadium en masse with over 10 minutes still on the clock.
"You wish to set the conditions. You wish to make improvements," stated Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. "That is unfortunate. All of it is. However, it is a fairly reliable principle that – fans take pleasure in victories. Our goal is to ensure we put in the necessary effort and make the appropriate decisions for fans to appreciate the experience. Regrettably, we fell short tonight, so we must return to our efforts to provide them with something to celebrate."