The Baltimore Ravens didn’t just win on Thursday night—they sent a message. Against the Miami Dolphins, they turned in a dominant performance, 28-6, behind a healthy superstar quarterback, a revitalized run game, and a defense that looked like a different unit.
Here are three key takeaways from the win—and why they matter as the Ravens aim to climb the AFC North.
3 takeaways from Ravens' Week 9 win
1. Lamar Jackson is back—and back in top form
After a hamstring injury sidelined him for three games, Lamar Jackson returned in style, completing 18 of 23 passes for 204 yards and four touchdown passes. His aggressive, confident play was sharp with the rustiness many expected. In fact, three of those TDs came when pressured—more than any QB this season so far.
His connection with tight end Mark Andrews was evident: Andrews had TDs of two and 20 yards in the first half, marking his 12th career game with multiple TD catches—most among tight ends since 2018.
When Jackson is healthy and the offense moves confidently, the Ravens become a legitimately scary team. He elevated their game in all phases—pocket presence, decision-making, and even scrambling. He had only five rushing attempts, a sign maybe the team is easing him back. They’ll need to sustain this and keep him healthy if the Ravens want to make a run the rest of the season.
2. A refreshed run game & tight-end corps gives the Ravens balance
If the first half was about Jackson shaking off the rust, the second half was about Henry and the offensive line taking control.
After rushing for just 13 yards on 10 carries in the first half, Baltimore’s ground attack erupted after halftime. Henry finished the night with 119 yards on 19 carries (6.3 yards per attempt), including three runs of 35, 19, and 13 yards that completely flipped field position and drained Miami’s defense. Once the Ravens established the run, their offense opened up—the Dolphins' pass rush slowed, and play-action became deadly.
The tight ends also played a huge role in the offensive balance. Isaiah Likelyt provided a spark with three catches for 60 yards, including a 35-yard seam route that set up a touchdown. Charlie Kolar added a short scoring grab, while Andrews continued to dominate the red zone. Together, the trio accounted for over 130 yards and three touchdowns—a reminder that Baltimore’s tight-end depth is one of the best in the NFL.
3. The defense is waking up at the right time
The Ravens defense had been criticized heavily earlier this season — they allowed an NFL-worst 35.4 points per game in the first five weeks. That has changed within the last 2 weeks. They held the Chicago Bears to only 16 points just last Sunday and held the Dolphins to 6 points on Thursday night. They also forced two fumbles and an interception—matching their most turnovers recorded in a game since their 2023 meeting with Miami.
Championship teams don’t just have explosive offenses—they stop games when needed. Baltimore’s defense gave them that ability on Thursday.
If this trending improvement holds, their margin for error shrinks, and they become more dangerous. Miami’s offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders—and this was a return from injury for Jackson, so the pressure on Baltimore was slightly reduced. The defense will need to replicate this against stronger opponents and the rest of the season if they want to make a run.
Final snap:
This wasn’t just a rebound win— it felt like a turning point. The Ravens left no doubt: Jackson is back, the run game and wide receivers/tight ends are better integrated, and the defense is trending upward. They’re now 3-5, but their next four opponents (at Minnesota, at Cleveland, then home vs. the Jets and Bengals) have a combined record of 9-22. This stretch presents a golden opportunity for Baltimore to flip their season.
If the Ravens can build on this performance, they’re not just back in the hunt—they might be contenders again.