Dolphins vs. Ravens score, takeaways: Tua Tagovailoa tosses six TDs, Miami notches historic comeback in fourth

If there's any reason to showcase why Tua Tagovailoa is the franchise quarterback in Miami, Sunday's stunning fourth-quarter comeback against the Baltimore Ravens should silence the doubters. Tagovailoa threw for four touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Miami Dolphins rallied from a 21-point deficit to shock the Ravens 42-38. 

Tagovailoa tossed the game-winning touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle with 14 seconds left to complete the massive comeback -- and tie the Dolphins' franchise record with six touchdown passes in a game. The Dolphins rallied behind the big three playmakers: Tagovailoa, Waddle and Tyreek Hill -- as Miami's top two receivers caught three touchdown passes in the final quarter to help Miami pull off the upset. The win marks the largest comeback in franchise history entering the fourth quarter.

Hill caught a 48-yard touchdown and also a 60-yard touchdown from Tagovailoa in a span of 2:28 to tie the game with 5:19 left. He finished with 11 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns while Waddle had 11 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Tagovailoa finished 36 of 50 for 469 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions (both coming in the first half) and a 124.1 passer rating. 

The Ravens built a 35-14 lead after three quarters behind the play of Lamar Jackson, who finished 21 of 29 for 318 yards and three touchdowns and rushed nine times for 119 yards and a score. Jackson is the first player to have a 75-yard passing touchdown and 75-yard rushing touchdown in the same game. He also had his 11th 100-yard rushing game as a quarterback, breaking Michael Vick's record for the most in NFL history. 

The Dolphins never held a lead until scoring the game-winning TD. 

This was the game of the year in the NFL, one which you can view a wild recap in the live blog below! 

Why the Dolphins won

The Dolphins looked dead in the water until Tua Tagovailoa and the vertical passing game arrived in the fourth quarter. Tagovailoa threw four touchdown passes in the quarter and 189 yards to lead Miami's comeback. The Dolphins outscored the Ravens 28-3 in the final frame. 

Tagovailoa is just the second quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter on the road, joining Joe Montana in 1989. 

Why the Ravens lost

Even though the Ravens secondary had two turnovers, they couldn't make the play to stop the deep ball -- or the Dolphins momentum. Marcus Williams dropped an interception opportunity off Tagovailoa in the second half to slow down the momentum, but Tagovailoa was able to find Hill deep against a rebuilt Ravens secondary with Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey back. 

Baltimore's offense went stagnant after Jackson's 79-yard touchdown run, having just 89 yards on 18 plays for just three points. The Ravens finished with only 33 rushing yards from their running backs, which doesn't help when Baltimore is trying to close out games. Jackson can't do it all, although he almost did on Sunday. 

Turning Point

Tagovailoa threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Hill with to cut Miami's deficit to 35-28 with 7:47 left -- the first big play to Hill that got the Dolphins' vertical passing game going. The Dolphins quarterback took advantage of a gassed Baltimore defense and lobbed the pass up for Hill.

Hill outran the defenders and had to slow down just to corral the ball in for the score. That set the tone for Miami's next possession, when Tagovailoa found Hill for a 60-yard touchdown to tie the game 35-35 with 5:19 left. 

The deep pass brought Miami back into the game, and kept the Ravens defense on their heels for the remainder of the contest. 

Play of the game

Tagovailoa's pass to Waddle with 14 seconds left give the Dolphins the 42-38 lead and capped off the thrilling comeback. Miami wasn't playing for overtime as Tagovailoa scrambled to his left, stayed in the pocket, and threw the winner to a leaping Waddle for the lead. 

The Dolphins never led in this game until 14 seconds left. Tagovailoa tied the franchise record for touchdown passes in a game with six, matching Bob Griese and Dan Marino. That was the play that may have silenced the doubters on Tagovailoa being a franchise quarterback. 

The quote 

"It's a collection of everyone working together. The offensive line gave me time in the backfield. The receivers got open and I was able to get the ball to them as they were able to get yards after the catch. We just have to keep playing regardless of what the scoreboard looks like." -- Tua Tagovailoa to CBS on his six-touchdown performance. 

Up next

The Dolphins (2-0) host the Buffalo Bills (1-0) next Sunday in an AFC East battle. The Ravens (1-1) travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots (1-1) next Sunday.