The Ravens will visit South Florida in need of a hot streak.
Whoever wins Thursday night's matchup between Baltimore (2-5) and the Miami Dolphins (2-6) will continue building momentum. Both teams are coming off victories in Week 8 and are looking to win two straight for the first time this season.
Baltimore will welcome back Lamar Jackson after missing three games with a hamstring injury, and the Ravens are healthier than they've been in weeks.
Here's everything you need to know:
Basics
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m., Thursday, Hard Rock Stadium
TV: Local TV, WMAR Channel 2 (Baltimore); live stream on Amazon Prime (subscription streaming only), announcers Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Kaylee Hartung (sideline)
Radio: WBAL (1090 AM), 98 Rock (97.9 FM), SiriusXM Radio Ch. 83 or 226, National radio, Westwood One Sports. For affiliates in your area, click here.
History
The Ravens lead the overall series, 11-8, with a 9-8 edge in the regular season. However, the Dolphins lead the series at home, 6-4.
They last met in 2023, when the Ravens rolled to a 56-19 victory at M&T Bank Stadium. Jackson had a perfect passer rating (158.3) during a December game that gave Baltimore the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, while also helping him secure his second MVP award. As chants of "MVP, MVP" echoed from the stands, Jackson threw for five touchdowns while completing 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards. Isaiah Likely had two touchdown grabs, while Zay Flowers (106 yards receiving), Charlie Kolar, Justice Hill, and Patrick Ricard each had one.
The Ravens' last trip to Miami was on a Thursday night in 2021, when the Dolphins prevailed, 22-10, in a dominant defensive performance. Miami used blitz packages to put relentless pressure on Jackson, sacking him four times and holding him to 238 yards passing with one interception.
Stakes
A Baltimore victory would reaffirm that the team has found its footing after the bye week. The Ravens were the only AFC North team to win in Week 8, a development that helped their chances in the divisional race. However, losing to the Dolphins would ruin that momentum quickly. Miami is coming off a victory in Atlanta, but starting the season 1-6 has put players and coaches under the microscope. The Dolphins have three games before a bye in Week 12. How they perform will help determine if major changes are in store for Miami.
Storylines to Know
How will Jackson perform after a three-game absence?
Jackson is a superstar whose presence has a positive ripple effect on the entire team. However, he hasn't played since Week 4, which makes this short week a different kind of challenge. Jackson said he wasn't worried about being rusty.
"That's what practice is for," Jackson said. "It is not about Miami, or me going down there to Florida and playing… it really doesn't matter. I just want to play football, have fun, and get a win, that's all I am focused on."
Can the Ravens return to being road warriors?
Only four NFL teams have yet to win on the road, and the Ravens (0-2) are among them. This is the first of three straight away games that Baltimore will play. The Ravens have traveled well in recent years, and they'll need successful road trips if they're going to make the playoffs.
Will Baltimore's defense continue its resurgence?
The Ravens have yielded an average of just 16.5 points in their last two games, compared to 35.4 points in their first five. That dramatic change coincided with the trade that brought safety Alohi Gilman to the secondary. Gilman's presence next to rookie Malaki Starks has freed All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton to roam the defense and maximize his versatility. The Dolphins rank 28th in total offense and the Ravens will look to keep them in check.
X-Factor Players
CB Nate Wiggins
Wiggins has Baltimore's only two interceptions and Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is tied for the league lead with 10. Wiggins has been traveling with the other team's top receiver, and with Tyreek Hill out for the season with a major knee injury, Jaylen Waddle is Miami's No. 1 target. Waddle is having a strong season (35 catches, 504 yards, four touchdowns), and the Waddle-Wiggins matchup should be fun to watch.
QB Lamar Jackson
It's a big deal whenever the quarterback with the highest passer rating in history (103.0) and a two-time MVP returns. Jackson has enjoyed some huge games against Miami, and he'll be playing near his hometown with family and friends watching. Despite Baltimore's early-season struggles, Jackson hasn’t lost his focus on winning a Super Bowl and wants to come back blazing.
WR Zay Flowers
This game will be a homecoming for Baltimore’s leading receiver, who has caught at least five passes in four straight games. Jackson said Flowers will be "popping out of his skin" to play in front of family and friends. Expect Jackson to give Flowers opportunities to shine under the lights.
