Ramsey and Dolphins defense steps up huge in win over Raiders

The Miami Dolphins improved to 7-3 with a 20-13 win over the Raiders, despite the fact that their offense staggered in comparison to some of the big performances earlier this season. That said, the Dolphins defense pulled off their third straight impressive performance. They haven’t given up more that 17 points in a game over that span. One of the most inspirational aspects of Sunday’s defensive performance against the Raiders was the fact that Jalen Ramsey led the way with two interceptions, including the game clinching pick in the raiders endzone. An incredible feet for a player who had knee surgery during training, camp, then came back earlier than expected, only to be the catalyst in a meaningful win.

“My teammates and coaches (have pushed me) extremely hard,” says Ramsey. “Training staff, as well, weight room staff, as well, pushing me extremely hard to be the best version of myself, so I just get out there on the field and I just try to prove all of them right, and all the hard work that they’ve invested in me, just try to make it come to life in the game in whatever moment that it may be. It just so happened that it was that moment but it could have been any moment where I tried to just express who I am.”

“That’s what happens when you’ve got elite talent and elite preparation and just the mentality really,” says Jaelan Phillips about Ramsey. “Throughout that whole process I can’t imagine how tough it was for him just to see us out here playing. Obviously all the hype during the offseason and he doesn’t get a chance to come out during the regular season, so for him to come out and perform that way, it’s a huge credit to him because I know how tough that can be and he really had that fortitude and showed up.”

Meanwhile, head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed after the game that rookie running back De’Von

Achane, who was forced to exit the game in the first quarter, “got landed on”, injuring the same knee that had kept him out for the past five weeks. It was an unfortunate turn of events for a player who was one of the top running backs in the league before his original knee injury just over a month ago.

“He was politicking to try to come back in the game,” says mcDaniel. But I was a little worried off the rust to go and do that. We kind of held him back, and we’ll see what it looks like tomorrow.”

The Dolphins can’t wait to get back into action, and they’ll get their wish fast with a short week. Their next game is in New Jersey against the Jets on ‘Black Friday’.