Thursday Night Observations

This article is part of our NFL Observations series.

I don't know how many people lost in Survivor with the Ravens in my $6M Circa pool, but I imagine a few. I also had the Dolphins plus 7.5 and Mark Andrews, but Jaylen Waddle was so-so, Justin Tucker missed a field goal for me, and Mike Gesicki (seven targets, zero catches) left a mark. Still, on balance, it was good. Maybe Brian Flores is a little like his mentor Bill Belichick in that his teams always seem to improve as the year goes on.

• Tua Tagovailoa came on in relief of Jacoby Brissett, though I'm not sure it would have mattered in this game. Tua gives the Dolphins more upside though in games where their defense isn't dominating.
• Albert Wilson (2-19-0, 5-4-87-0) has always been a player. He's been injured a lot and never has a huge role, though.
• Jaylen Waddle (6-4-61-0) didn't do much, but after the game, Ravens corner Marlon Humphrey sent this tweet:

• Mike Gesicki (7-0-0-0) will get his, just a bad game for him.
• The Dolphins bottled up Lamar Jackson (5.5 YPA, one TD, one pick, four sacks, 39 rush yards), by disguising their blitzes and getting heat on him all game. They did the same thing to Tyrod Taylor last week too.
• Devonta Freeman (10-35-0, 4-3-23) was the only back with more than three carries.
• Rashod Bateman (8-6-80-0) isn't as fast as Marquise Brown (13-6-37-0) but seems more trustworthy. Mark Andrews (8-6-63-1) was the only Raven worth using this game.
• Devin Duvernay (4-4-28-0) is a player -- best punt returner in the league and also a serviceable third wideout. Sammy Watkins graced the game with one catch and a soul-crushing fumble six.
• I watched the 40-minute edited version of the game, and the editor must have been drunk. There were about five plays cut off mid-stream, and important calls (like on the fumble-six) missed too. I've never seen it edited so sloppily, but actually it didn't detract much from the watching experience.
• It was upsetting to see Justin Tucker miss a 48-yard field goal. Not only do I have him in a couple leagues, but his near-infallibility is one of the pillars of my belief system.