MIAMI - Miami Dolphins quarterback Ray Lucas quieted the Ravens as well as some of his critics yesterday.
Going into the game, Lucas was the X-factor. If he played well, Miami probably was going to win. If he played poorly, the Dolphins probably would lose. The odds weren't in his favor. As the replacement for injured starter Jay Fiedler a month ago, he threw four interceptions and fumbled twice in his first start. He had nine turnovers in three more starts, all of them losses.
Fans were player hating in Miami, calling Ray Lucas every name but Ray Lucas.
But then came the Ravens.
Lucas didn't remind anyone of Dan Marino yesterday, but he was effective, efficient and managed the game well. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 221 yards and took advantage of an inexperienced secondary as the Dolphins bounced around the Ravens, 26-7, at Pro Player Stadium.
It was a character check, and Lucas passed the test. The first and only player to get a game ball from Miami coach Dave Wannstedt last night was Lucas.
Wannstedt will give out more this morning, but Lucas' performance was special, especially for a guy who was about to get run out of town last week.
"I thought he really played within himself," Wannstedt said. "He made some throws when they were there, made great decisions and threw the ball away when it wasn't there. Hopefully, he is getting better. I thought we saw a little of that last week. We're definitely going to need him the next couple of weeks. He knew that playing today, coming home, he had to step it up."
It just happened that the Ravens were the team on the schedule.
If you want to handle the Ravens' defense, especially in pass protection, block the guys on the perimeter, because this team doesn't have a tackle in the middle who can collapse the pocket. Once that happens, it leaves the inexperienced cornerbacks, second-year players Gary Baxter and Alvin Porter, exposed.
Just ask Lucas.
The Dolphins changed their conservative game plan from a week ago partially because of Lucas and partially because they had no other choice.
"I came in with a different attitude," Lucas said. "I wasn't going to let anything bother me. I don't read the papers as it is, but when you're getting calls that people are talking about you on the radio, it's kind of funny. But when you [stink], you [stink]. ... But the best thing about my job is I get to do it over again next Sunday."
Miami's coaching staff outfoxed the Ravens yesterday. The Ravens were off balance all afternoon, almost as out of sync as they were in the first half against Pittsburgh earlier this season. The Dolphins threw on first downs off play-action fakes. They ran double screens. They ran slant-in patterns - safe passes - but gave their receivers enough room to run after the catch.
Lucas spread the ball all over the field, especially to the tight ends in the middle.
And double moves?
Oh, the double moves. Baxter and Porter keep biting, and other teams are going to keep running them until they stop.
The passing game was set up by running back Ricky Williams, who had 102 yards rushing, 50 in the first half. Even when Williams wasn't running, there was the threat that made linebackers Ed Hartwell and Ray Lewis freeze on the play-action fakes.
"They did a good job of switching the game on us," Lewis said. "They threw the ball around the field and ran a lot of misdirection plays. They kept our secondary guessing and moving. Norv [Turner, Miami's offensive coordinator] had a great game plan."
Ravens coach Brian Billick said of Lucas: "He looked very, very good. Obviously, they need that. If he can play like he did tonight, they are back to having that balance that made them look so invincible during the first half of the season."
There was plenty of balance on the Dolphins' first touchdown drive. On the eight-play, 88-yard possession, Lucas threw for 63 yards on two plays, including a nice 45-yard touch pass to tight end Randy McMichael to the Ravens' 39. Williams scored six plays later on a 2-yard touchdown run.
Then, after the Ravens tied the score at 7, Lucas came out throwing. He connected for 15 yards on a deep out to wide receiver Chris Chambers on first down and then for 25 yards to tight end Jed Weaver on the next play. He lofted an 8-yard pass to Williams out of the backfield to the Ravens' 13, eventually setting up his own 1-yard touchdown run off a quarterback sneak.
Lucas was just as effective in the second half. The Ravens had the Dolphins pinned inside their 20 several times, but Lucas hit key passes to extend drives and use up the clock.
His best pass may have been a dart to receiver James McKnight on a quick hitch route of about 5 yards. In drilling the ball past the outstretched fingers of a Ravens defender, McKnight was able to turn that pass into a 38-yard gain to the Ravens' 4. Williams scored again on a 4-yard run to put Miami ahead 26-7 with 9:02 left.
After the game, Lucas immediately went over to shake hands with Lewis. Lewis, Hartwell and even Billick did a little talking last week that angered some of the Dolphins, but apparently not Lucas.
He had his own fires to put out in Miami.
"I'll tell you what, what a long-assed month," he said. "I can't put it any other way than that. You don't sleep, you can't eat, and you're out there and you threw a bad pass and you're cursing 'cause you're trying to press. You have to be strong enough to let it slide off."