If there’s any reason to show why Tua Tagovailoa is the franchise’s quarterback in Miami, Sunday’s stunning fourth-quarter comeback against the Baltimore Ravens should silence the doubters. Tagovailoa threw for four touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Miami Dolphins rallied from a 21-point deficit to shock the Ravens 42-38.
Tagovailoa threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle with 14 seconds left to complete the massive comeback — and tie the Dolphins franchise record with six touchdown passes in a game. The Dolphins rallied around the big three playmakers: Tagovailoa, Waddle and Tyreek Hill – as Miami’s top two receivers caught three touchdown passes in the final quarter to help Miami pull off the upset. Victory marks the the biggest comeback in franchise history enter the fourth quarter.
Hill caught a 48-yard touchdown and also a 60-yard touchdown from Tagovailoa in 2:28 to tie the game with 5:19 left. He finished with 11 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns while Waddle had 11 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Tagovailoa finished 36 of 50 for 469 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions (both in the first half) and a passer rating of 124.1.
The Ravens took a 35-14 lead three quarters behind play by Lamar Jackson, who went 21 of 29 for 318 yards and three touchdowns and rushed nine times for 119 yards and a score. Jackson is the first player to have a 75-yard passing touchdown and a 75-yard rushing touchdown in the same game. He also played in his 11th rushing 100-yard game as a quarterback, breaking Michael Vick’s record for the most in NFL history.
The Dolphins never held a lead until they scored the game-winning TD.
It was the NFL’s Game of the Year, which you can see a wild recap of in the live blog below!
Why the Dolphins won
The Dolphins looked dead in the water until Tua Tagovailoa and the vertical passing game came in the fourth quarter. Tagovailoa threw four touchdown passes in the quarter and 189 yards to lead Miami’s comeback. The Dolphins outscored the Ravens 28-3 in the final quarter.
Tagovailoa is only the second quarterback to throw four fourth-quarter touchdown passes on the road, joining Joe Montana in 1989.
Why the Ravens lost
Even though the Ravens’ secondary had two turnovers, they couldn’t make the play to stop the deep ball — or the Dolphins’ momentum. Marcus Williams dropped an interception opportunity off Tagovailoa in the second half to slow the momentum, but Tagovailoa was able to find Hill deep against a rebuilt Ravens secondary with Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey back.
Baltimore’s offense stalled after Jackson’s 79-yard touchdown, having rushed for just 89 yards in 18 plays for just three points. The Ravens finished with just 33 rushing yards from their running backs, which doesn’t help when Baltimore tries to close out games. Jackson can’t do it all, although he almost did it on Sunday.
Turning
Tagovailoa threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Hill to cut Miami’s deficit to 35-28 with 7:47 to go — the first big play to Hill that started the Dolphins vertical passing game. The Dolphins quarterback took advantage of a gassed Baltimore defense and threw the pass for Hill.
Hill got ahead of the defenders and had to slow down just to bring the ball in for the score. That set the tone for Miami’s next possession, when Tagovailoa found Hill for a 60-yard touchdown to tie the game 35-35 with 5:19 remaining.
The through pass got Miami back in the game and kept the Ravens defense on their heels for the rest of the game.
Game of the game
Tagovailoa’s pass to Waddle with 14 seconds left gives the Dolphins a 42-38 lead and caps off the thrilling comeback. Miami didn’t play for overtime as Tagovailoa rushed to his left, stayed in the pocket and tossed the winner to a leaping Waddle to take the lead.
The Dolphins never led in this game until 14 seconds left. Tagovailoa tied the franchise record for touchdown passes in a game with six, tying Bob Griese and Dan Marino. It was the game that perhaps silenced the doubters of Tagovailoa being a franchise quarterback.
The quote
“It’s a collection of everyone working together. The offensive line gave me time in the backfield. The receivers opened up and I was able to pass the ball to them because they were able to get yards after caught it. We just have to keep playing no matter what the scoreboard looks like.” – Tua Tagovailoa to CBS on his six touchdown performance.
Next
The Dolphins (2-0) host the Buffalo Bills (1-0) next Sunday in an AFC East battle. The Ravens (1-1) travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots (1-1) next Sunday.
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