The Baltimore Ravens have been slammed by NFL pundit Skip Bayless following their cataclysmic collapse to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
The Ravens got off to a fine start and led 35-14 going into the fourth quarter after welcoming Miami to M&T Bank Stadium. However, the Dolphins - led by quarterback Tua Tagavailoa - battled back to win 42-38 in the dying seconds.
Tagavailoa starred as he threw for 469 yards and six touchdowns to just two interceptions with a completion rate of 72%. He ultimately leant on star receiver duo Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who both scored a pair of touchdowns while going for 190 and 171 yards respectively.
While Miami have been showered with praise for their incredible comeback on a crazy NFL Sunday in Week 2, Bayless has hit out at Baltimore for allowing such an immense collapse at home. The FOX Sports pundit was amazed at the manner of the defeat and questioned Baltimore’s Super Bowl credentials as a result.
“It was an all-time, all-time, home field in Baltimore disaster,” Bayless said on his Undisputed TV debate show along with Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe. “This was as far from what you're used to seeing from your time in Baltimore as you could ever get.
“This is as humiliating and embarrassing as it could ever get for the Baltimore Ravens franchise, for their legacy. It is beyond comprehension, because Tua doesn't have a big arm.
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“I’m sorry - he's a soft-armer. They let him get open.” He added: “This is everything the Ravens who won the Super Bowl did not do.”
The Ravens have won the championship on two occasions: Super Bowl XXXV in 2000 and XLVII in 2012. In both examples, the franchise leaned on a spectacular defence headlined by linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed to secure the Lombardi Trophy.
Tagavailoa's performance outshone Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who equally impressed with three passing touchdowns and. a 79-yard rushing score. Tagavailoa's incredible outing ensured the Dolphins became the first team to come back from 21 points down in the fourth quarter to win since 2006.