MIAMI GARDENS (AP) – Ryan Tannehill thought the field goal try was good. After all, Caleb Sturgis had never missed. But the Miami Dolphins’ comeback bid came up short because their rookie kicker was wide left on a 57-yard try with 33 seconds to go, and they lost Sunday to the Baltimore Ravens, 26-23.
Sturgis had been 10 for 10 this season, including three field goals earlier in the game.
“Bad time to miss,” he said. “I wanted to make sure I got it there. Unfortunately I hooked it pretty good.”
Sturgis’ attempt came after the Ravens’ sixth sack – this one by Elvis Dumervil – pushed Miami to the edge of field-goal range.
Poor pass protection sabotaged a frantic fourth quarter for the Dolphins, who erased a 23-13 deficit by scoring twice in 95 seconds.
The Dolphins (3-2) lost their second game in a row and coach Joe Philbin said they must find a way to protect Tannehill better. He came into the game with 18 sacks, the most of any NFL quarterback.
“It’s hard to function offensively when you’re going backward,” Philbin said. “We’re going to fix the problems we have. We’re not going to sweep them under the rug.”
Miami allowed the Ravens to rush for a season-high 133 yards. But despite being
outgained and outplayed, the Dolphins mounted a furious rally after trailing by 10 points with 10 minutes left.
Reshad Jones tied the game at 23 by returning an interception 25 yards for a touchdown. Ravens QB Joe Flacco was throwing from the goal line on third down when his right arm and the ball were hit by Dion Jordan and the pass fluttered to Jones, who ran untouched for the score.
“We felt we had the momentum,” Miami receiver Mike Wallace said. “We felt it was our time, time to make some plays. Obviously we didn’t.”
Flacco led drives of 80, 73 and 94 yards on the Ravens’ first three possessions of the second half, each resulting in a score to transform a 13-6 deficit into a 23-13 lead.
Tannehill couldn’t quite keep up. He finished 21 for 40 for 307 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers, but the Ravens’ sacks cost Miami 35 yards.
“We knew coming in they had a good pass rush,” Tannehill said.
“Especially when you get behind 10, we knew they were going to be teeing off. “As a unit we just all need to step up.”
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