The Ravens' defense is turning over a new leaf.
After generating just four takeaways — the second fewest in the league — in the first seven games, the Ravens nearly doubled that figure Thursday night. Two fumbles and one interception helped pave the way for a 28-6 win over the Dolphins.
First, it was Alohi Gilman. Then it was Marlon Humphrey. Then it was Malaki Starks.
Gilman and Humphrey both have double-digit takeaways under their belt. But for Starks, his first career interception was a payoff of rarely taking a snap off.
With Baltimore leading 28-6 in the fourth quarter, Starks snatched the ball on a heave by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Starks tracked the pass, leaped up in the air, and secured the catch to slam the door shut on any hope of a Dolphins comeback.
Starks had six interceptions wearing Georgia's colors in college. Now he has his first wearing purple and black.
"It's special. That's the goal, is to always to get one," Starks said. "We had a bunch of turnovers tonight. We really did. I think the defense showed out and showed who we could be."
It was the type of play the Ravens expected to see when they selected Starks No. 27 overall in April's draft.
"That's why we drafted him, because that's what he does," Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
It was also the type of play that the Ravens had been hoping to see game in and game out from their defense. Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr and the Ravens' coaching staff drilled the idea of forcing turnovers all summer. It was a slow start in that department, but the Ravens believe they're starting to hit their stride.
Hours after being crowned AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month, inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan helped force the Ravens' second takeaway of the night. With the Dolphins in the red zone early in the fourth quarter, Buchanan dragged down Dolphins receiver Malik Washington, allowing Humphrey to fly in and punch the ball loose. The fumble ended Miami's 12-play, 81-yard drive.
"That's always a focus of our defense," Buchanan said. "To get three [turnovers] tonight, it definitely is contagious, and we'll look to continue to spread that, if you will, coming up."
Like Starks, Gilman also had his first takeaway with Baltimore after being traded from the Chargers earlier this month. Gilman's forced fumble on the Dolphins' second drive of the night set up the first of four Lamar Jackson touchdown passes. Following Jackson's fourth-down touchdown toss to Mark Andrews, the Ravens never trailed again.
"I think it's huge. Anyone who gets a takeaway early, it just starts that momentum early," Gilman said. "The offense capitalized on it with a score, and it gets everyone in that rhythm and flow."
Since acquiring Gilman to free up Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens' defense has given up just 13 points per game after allowing 35.4 through the first five weeks. Miami was just 2-of-12 on third down and was 0-for-3 in the red zone Thursday night.
That defensive turnaround has also spurred back-to-back wins for the first time this season. It was only 17 days prior that Harbaugh made it crystal clear how the lack of turnovers contributed to the Ravens' slow start. "You want to look at why the record is the way it is; start with that," Harbaugh said. Now, Baltimore is forcing takeaways, and the wins are beginning to pile up.
At 3-5, the Ravens still have a hole to climb out of. It's just much shallower now.
"We've just kept our head down and kept working when things didn't go our way," Starks said. "And now we're on the climb to get to where we want, but we have to keep working."
