Lamar Jackson dazzles on return from injury as Ravens dominate Dolphins | NFL

Lamar Jackson threw for 204 yards and four touchdowns, showing little rust in his return from a hamstring strain, and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins 28-6 on Thursday night.

Jackson completed 18 of 23 passes in his first start since Week 4 against Kansas City, and the Ravens earned their second straight victory as they tried to make a run in the wide open AFC North. The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) lead the division ahead of the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, who are 3-5. The Ravens have a favorable schedule going forward and will only currently face over .500 once – the Steelers – in their next six games. They hope to become just the fifth team in NFL history to make the playoffs after losing five of their first six games.

“It was great to be out there, it was awesome,” Jackson said of his return from injury.

Tight end Mark Andrews had two touchdowns for the Ravens. Jackson’s other TD passes went to tight end Charlie Kolar and receiver Rashod Bateman. Derrick Henry rushed for 119 yards on 19 carries and reached another career milestone when he became the 17th player in NFL history to eclipse the 12,000 career rushing yard mark.

For the Dolphins, De’Von Achane had 14 carries for 67 yards, while Jaylen Waddle caught six passes for 82 yards.

The Dolphins (2-7) outgained the Ravens 226 yards to 109 and held them to 1 of 6 on third down in the first half, but Miami trailed 14-6 at the break due to a multitude of errors.

On Miami’s second drive, rookie Tahj Washington fumbled at the Dolphins’ four-yard line, and Andrews caught a two-yard touchdown from Jackson on fourth down on the Ravens’ next possession.

Achane led the Dolphins down the field with runs of 19 and 22 yards, but a false start by offensive lineman Larry Borom on fourth-and-1 forced Miami to kick a field goal, which Riley Patterson missed from 35 yards out.

The Ravens offense responded again. Jackson escaped the grasp of linebacker Jaelan Phillips and connected with Isaiah Likely for a 35-yard pickup, which set up Andrews’ 20-yard score — aided by two Dolphins defenders colliding in coverage — that put Baltimore ahead 14-3.

Jackson, a two-time MVP, connected on his first nine passes of the second half before finally missing DeAndre Hopkins on a deep throw in the final minute of the third quarter. The game was out of reach by then, and Jackson had already thrown his fourth touchdown – a nine-yard toss to Bateman that gave Baltimore a 28-6 lead.

Tua Tagovailoa, who completed 25 of 40 passes for 261 yards with one interception, led the Dolphins 80 yards down the field early in the fourth, a promising drive that included two fourth-down conversions. But receiver Malik Washington fumbled at the 10, and Dolphins fans began leaving Hard Rock Stadium in droves with more than 10 minutes remaining.

“You play with fire when you give the ball back to this offense,” Miami head coach Mike McDaniel said of his team’s three turnovers in the game.

Miami’s only points were Patterson’s field goals of 49 and 43 yards. They also suffered two serious injuries. Linebacker Chop Robinson left the game in the second quarter with a head injury and was later ruled out with a concussion. Rookie running back Ollie Gordon II injured his ankle in the first half and did not return.