Should these players stay or be dealt before the deadline?
USA TODAY Sports’ Joe Rivera and Chils Bumbaka break down the players who could be traded before the 2025 NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4.
In another season, the Miami Dolphins (2-6) and Baltimore Ravens (2-5) make for an interesting “Thursday Night Football” matchup.
Both teams entered the season aiming for the AFC playoffs, but Week 9 is a critical point of no return. Both teams are outside of the playoffs, so both teams will need a lot of luck to advance.
The Ravens have Lamar Jackson back from a hamstring injury, but it took a little longer than expected. Now, Baltimore is heading toward the postseason and is on the brink of a miraculous run.
The Dolphins have had their fair share of injuries, but their 2-6 record is more indicative of organizational turmoil than injuries. Tyreek Hill has been out since Week 4 with a season-ending knee injury, and questions have been swirling over the duties of Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel.
All of these are pivotal moments for both teams, even though neither team has found a way to win this season.
USA TODAY Sports will bring you live updates, highlights and more from Week 9’s Thursday Night Football matchups below. All times are Eastern.
Watch “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video
No, Pro Football Hall of Famer and lifelong Dolphin Dan Marino is not the owner of the Dolphins. That label goes to Stephen Ross.
Miami’s total offensive yards were more than double that of Baltimore through the first half, 226-109. Still, thanks to a few mistakes by the Dolphins, the Ravens held a 14-6 lead after 30 minutes.
The second half begins with Baltimore receiving the kickoff.
Miami had a chance to score three points before the first half, but Tua Tagovailoa had other plans. The Dolphins’ passer couldn’t find anyone on fourth-and-2, giving the ball to the Ravens with less than a minute left in the first half.
The Ravens’ star safety was down on the field for a period of time, with trainers treating his right foot. Eventually he trotted away and re-entered the room, not going to the medical tent.
After missing a 35-yard field goal, Patterson completed a 43-yard shot on two possessions, doubling the Dolphins’ scoring.
The Ravens still led 14-6 with 7:57 left in the second quarter.
The player who wears the number 12 jersey for the Ravens is safety Alohi Gilman. The number 12 jersey was famously worn by Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who passed away in July 2024.
The Ravens’ veteran tight end scored a touchdown on his second drive in a row. The shot came off a 20-yard pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson after two Dolphins defenders collided in man coverage.
With 14:10 left in the first half, Baltimore increased its lead to 14-3.
The Ravens were trying to end the first quarter. On the final play of the period, quarterback Lamar Jackson avoided a sack on third-and-four and found tight end Isaiah Likely wide open downfield.
After a 35-yard gain on the play, the Ravens begin the second quarter with a first-down play at the Miami 23-yard line.
The Dolphins looked poised to make it 4-1, but a false start penalty gave them a 5-yard lead. Miami head coach Mike McDaniel sent out a field goal unit to try to score points, but Patterson missed a 35-yard shot just minutes after taking a 49-yard shot minutes earlier.
The Ravens, still 7-3, took over at their own 25-yard line with 2:36 left in the first quarter.
The Dolphins mascot’s name is TD. It’s short for “The Dolphin,” but it’s clever. ask twice TD stands for “touchdown.”
Tagovailoa said there is no concrete answer to the eye problem.
“That woke me up,” he said. “(I) had some ideas about what it was, what it could be, but I had no idea what it was, whether it was a stye or an allergy to something or an allergic reaction.”
He was added to the injury report with an undisclosed illness prior to Week 8.
He played against the Falcons wearing a clear visor for the first time since high school. It paid off, and Tagovailoa had his best game of the season, completing 20 of 26 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns.
Kayleigh Hartung, a sideline reporter for Amazon Prime, added that Tagovailoa was able to see much better Thursday night and said he would keep his visor on because of “swag.”
The Ravens quarterback, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, appeared with his first touchdown pass in five weeks. This time his tight end, Andrews, was the beneficiary, giving Baltimore its first points of the game after a turnover.
The Ravens led 7-3 with 8:25 left in the first quarter.
An unfortunate turnover by the Dolphins’ Jeff Wilson gives the Ravens the ball deep in Miami territory.
The Ravens quarterback, who has been nursing a hamstring injury since Week 4, returned to the field on “Thursday Night Football.” His first drive ended in a 3-and-out on Rashod Bateman’s misfire.
Hill suffered a severe knee injury during the Dolphins’ Week 4 win over the New York Jets. Hill caught a 10-yard pass during the second half and twisted his leg after being tackled out of bounds.
McDaniel said Hill coped well with the injury and appeared to be in good spirits.
Dee Eskridge’s strong kick return put them ahead of the game, and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle’s 20-yard reception created the Dolphins’ first scoring opportunity.
Miami’s drive stalled at the Ravens’ 31-yard line, allowing Patterson to put his team ahead for three points.
The Dolphins led 3-0 three minutes into the first quarter.
Dee Eskridge puts the Dolphins in good field position to begin their first drive for Week 9’s “Thursday Night Football.”
The Week 9 “TNF” matchup between the Dolphins and Ravens will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Ravens will travel to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens for the matchup.
- TV channel: Not applicable
- TV Channel (Miami Market): CBS4
- TV channels (Baltimore market): ABC2
Week 9’s matchup between the Dolphins and Ravens will not be broadcast nationally as it is exclusive to Amazon Prime.
For viewers in the Miami market, the game will be broadcast on CBS 4. Viewers in the Baltimore market can watch ABC 2.
The Dolphins’ head coach is none other than the idiosyncratic Mike McDaniel. McDaniel, the former offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, has struggled this season, going just 2-6 as Miami’s manager. The Dolphins are also aiming for a playoff win under his watch.
Jackson is scheduled to play against the Dolphins in Week 9.
It’s a long-awaited return for the two-time MVP, who missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. Jackson has been sidelined for a total of four weeks since being ejected in Week 4 against the Chiefs.
Cooper Rush will be the emergency QB3 and Jaire Alexander will not play tonight as a healthy scratch.
The Dolphins will face Jalen Wright on Thursday against the Ravens. The remaining inactive list is:
The Ravens QB2 is Tyler Huntley. Previously it was Cooper Rush, but Huntley replaced him on the depth chart.
The Dolphins aren’t currently in the AFC East basement, but they are dangerously close to it. The divisions are summarized as follows.
- New England Patriots (6-2)
- Buffalo Bills (5-2)
- Miami Dolphins (2-6)
- New York Jets (1-7)
There’s a lot of power in the AFC North, giving the Ravens a slim chance to win the division. When lined up, it looks like this:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
- Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (2-5)
- Cleveland Browns (2-6)
Dolphins vs. Ravens TNF stream
Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive broadcast home of “Thursday Night Football.” Al Michaels joins Cole along with Kirk Herbstreit.
Watch “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video
Dolphins vs. Ravens Thursday Night Football Predictions
The Ravens will get a boost from the return of Lamar Jackson. The two-time NFL MVP will likely swing the pendulum in the Ravens’ favor in most games. Since the merger, only four teams have started 1-5 and made the playoffs, but the Ravens have a chance to become the fifth in recent history. Question marks continue to loom over Baltimore’s defense, but that side of the ball is also getting healthier. Derrick Henry should dominate. The Dolphins’ run defense was one of the worst groups until it mysteriously shut down Bijan Robinson last week. Baltimore forced its way to a double-digit victory.
prediction: Ravens 30, Dolphins 20
