Ravens Vs. Dolphins: Flacco Out With Concussion

BALTIMORE, MD — The Baltimore Ravens are 4-4 and quarterback Joe Flacco is out with a concussion after Thursday night's blowout against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens came out on top, 40-0.

The Ravens were up 13-0 with a little more than three minutes left in the first half when Flacco became injured while sliding. Up to that point, he had thrown one touchdown pass and kicker Justin Tucker had landed two field goals and an extra point.

Flacco ran for a first down on third and 10. He was in the midst of what would be the second touchdown drive when he was knocked off his feet by a Dolphins linebacker. (See video of the hit from the Ravens.) The hit came from Kiko Alonso, whose action resulted in a personal foul.

With Flacco taken off the field, quarterback Ryan Mallett wrapped up the drive in three plays, with a 2-yard touchdown to tight end Benjamin Watson. The Ravens finished the half 20-0.

Before the second half began, it was determined that Flacco had a concussion from the hit, which knocked off his helmet.

"Quarterback Joe Flacco has been ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion after the illegal hit by Kiko Alonso," the Ravens reported at 10:12 p.m.

That means both teams had their backup quarterbacks at the helm for the second half, since Dolphins QB Jay Cutler was out until week nine due to cracked ribs from last week's game against the Jets, according to Bleacher Report. Matt Moore was QB for the Dolphins, who didn't put any points on the board.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Ravens made up for it in the fourth. Linebacker C.J. Mosley scored a 63-yard touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter, wide receiver Chris Moore recovered a fumble in the end zone, and cornerback Jimmy Smith picked off Moore for a 50-yard touchdown in the last five minutes.

While the 40-0 score was a blowout, it is not the biggest the league has seen. The largest shutout was 59-0 when the New England Patriots blasted the Tennessee Titans in 2009, according to the NFL.

After Thursday night's matchup, the Ravens move to 4-4 and the Dolphins are 4-3.

Thursday night football has traditionally been good for the Ravens; the Ravens now have a 6-0 record in that time slot, according to the BaltimoreRavens.com.

This is one of two prime-time slots the Ravens have on the books this season. The next will be a Monday night game against the Texans, also hosted by Baltimore, on Nov. 27.

Here's everything you need to know about Thursday's game.

Score: 40-0
Flacco is in "concussion protocol." Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is out with a concussion after he ran to make a first down at the end of the second quarter and was hit by Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso. Flacco's helmet came off during the hit, and he was taken for evaluation per the NFL's concussion protocol.

The protocol dictates that an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant and team physician assess the player and spotters review videos from the stadium to look for signs of a concussion.

There is no set time for a player who has sustained a concussion to return, according to the NFL.

Neurocognitive testing and graduated physical activity are required and so is clearance from the team physician and an independent neurological consultant before the player can get back on the field.

Points came from three quarterbacks and one kicker:

• Flacco to Jeremy Macklin
• Mallett to Benjamin Watson
• Dolphins' Moore to C.J. Mosley
• Mallett to Javorious Allen to Chris Moore
• Dolphins' Moore to Jimmy Smith
• Tucker: four extra points, two field goals

A cat was on the field. After the two-minute warning, a four-legged feline was spotted on the turf and caught the attention of cameras, announcers and fans, who now want to adopt the cat. See video.

Related: Baltimore Ravens Release 2017 NFL Schedule

Game Preview

Kickoff time: 8:25 p.m. EST on Thursday, Oct. 26
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
TV: CBS
Traffic alert: Drivers in downtown Baltimore should be aware that kickoff is at 8:25 p.m., and there will be increased congestion on Interstate 95 and I-395 in the area.
Radio: WBAL 1090 AM and 98 Rock
Live streaming: Free on Amazon Prime
Weather: For those watching at the stadium, bundle up; the forecast shows temps in the high 40s.
Odds: Ravens will win 21-17, according to OddsShark. Heading into the game, the Ravens were 3-4, and the Dolphins were 4-2.
Injuries: The Ravens will be without Michael Campanaro, Chris Matthews, Mike Wallace, Terrance West, Maxx Williams, Bronson Kaufusi and Tim Williams due to injuries. On the injured list for the Dolphins will be quarterback Jay Cutler (Matt Moore Will start) as well as DeVante Parker, Anthony Steen and Andre Branch, the BaltimoreRavens reported Thursday night.
Special look: The Ravens will be decked out in their purple "color rush" uniforms designed by Nike, and the Dolphins will be in all-white "color rush" uniforms as well.
History: Of seven meetings between the Ravens and Dolphins under Flacco and head coach John Harbaugh between 2008 and 2016, the Ravens had reportedly been victorious against the Dolphins in six games. The last time the Ravens played the Dolphins, Baltimore beat Miami at home, 6-38, in December 2016.

Pictured, Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Kiko Alonso, top, collides with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco near the end of the first half of the game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)