Dolphins sputter on offense but beat Ravens 15-13

By foxsports
Published

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) The Miami Dolphins' latest win is no blueprint for a late-season surge, and they know it.

Miami had the ball for less than 22 minutes, totaled eight first downs, went scoreless in the second half and still managed to beat injury-riddled Baltimore 15-13 Sunday.

''Who are we kidding?'' quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. ''Not many games are we going to win with 15 points.''

The Dolphins (5-7) won because the ball bounced their way for a change. They intercepted a pair of deflected Schaub passes to score two touchdowns 20 seconds apart late in the first half.

Thanks to that, Miami improved to 4-4 under interim coach Dan Campbell and ended a streak of five consecutive losses to the Ravens (4-8). Baltimore hosts Seattle on Sunday, and Miami is at home against the New York Giants next Monday night.

Here are things to know about the Dolphins' first win over Baltimore since 2007, when they finished 1-15:

BATTED BALLS: The score was 0-0 late in the first half when Reshad Jones intercepted a pass to set up the game's first score on the next play. Three snaps later, defensive end Derrick Shelby batted a pass in the air, caught it and ran 22 yards to the end zone for his first NFL score.

''I got free. I got my hands up. I got the tip,'' Shelby said. ''Touchdown.''

The pick-six was the second in two games for Schaub since he replaced Joe Flacco, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Schaub, who threw for 308 yards, appeared to be shaken up several times, but didn't miss a snap.

''I was fine,'' he said. ''I just need to put everything back in place.''

RAVENS THREATS: Miami mounted a goal-line stand in the second quarter, and repeatedly stopped the Ravens down the stretch. Olivier Vernon totaled 2 1/2 sacks, one on third down with the Ravens nearing field goal range and five minutes left.

Baltimore recovered a fumble to get the ball back but failed to pick up a first down, and Justin Tucker was wide right on a 55-yard field-goal try. Tucker is the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history.

''I thought I hit the ball right on the screws,'' Tucker said, ''and it just didn't happen to go through.''

The Ravens again took over at their 20 with 20 seconds left and were unable to reach midfield.

''It felt good to make big stops in critical situations,'' Miami cornerback Brent Grimes said.

SPUTTERING MIAMI: The Dolphins' two scores off turnovers were the extent of their point production, and new play-caller Zac Taylor couldn't get the offense going.

Miami ran more than in recent games, and Lamar Miller rushed for 113 yards. But Tannehill went 9 for 19 for just 86 yards.

''We did what we had to do to win against a team like that,'' Campbell said. ''We felt like this was the type of game we needed to be able play.''

''We've got to be more productive,'' Campbell said. ''But we did what we had to do to win the game. Our defense played lights out.''

BAD CALL?: A disputed penalty against the Ravens cost them a touchdown in the first quarter. Schaub threw long to Daniel Brown for a 52-yard score, but it was negated by an offensive pass interference penalty on Brown, who had only minimal contact with the defender.

Coach John Harbaugh contended the defender was guilty of interference, and said a first-year official made the call.

''I think he got it backward,'' Harbaugh said. ''He's a rookie, and he messed it up.''

KEY CONVERSION: After Miami's second touchdown, the Ravens committed consecutive penalties on the ensuing extra point to put the ball at the 1, and Jay Ajayi ran for a 2-point conversion. That became the final margin.

The Ravens' eight losses have been by a total of 34 points.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

---

Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wine