MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. — As he walked out of the visiting locker room late Sunday afternoon following one of the finest days of his career, Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil was serenaded by a chant that is usually heard only at his home stadium.
"DOOOOOOM," fellow Ravens outside linebacker Pernell McPhee shouted.
McPhee said that he simply wanted to pay his respects to a player whose name is now in the Ravens' record books. In a 28-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium, Dumervil had 3 ½ of the team's six sacks of Ryan Tannehill, taking over a game the Ravens badly needed to win.
The dominating performance gives him 16 on the season and surpassed Peter Boulware for the most sacks by a Raven in a season. Boulware had 15 sacks in 2001, but he graciously moved aside for Dumervil.
"Congratulations to Dumervil, one of the game's best pass rushers," Boulware said in a text message. "Way to represent No. 58."
Boulware, who also wore No. 58, had 70 sacks over eight NFL seasons, all spent with the Ravens. Dumervil now has 89 sacks over eight seasons between the Broncos and Ravens and he's enjoying one of the best years of his career.
His previous high for sacks was 17, set in the 2009 season, but he now has three games to try to eclipse that total. In his past eight games, Dumervil has 12½ sacks.
"The sacks have come and come in bunches," said Dumervil, who is in his second season with the Ravens. "Truly grateful. Great opportunity, great organization, great team base. So many people played big parts. I'm just grateful to be in a great situation that I'm here to take advantage."
Dumervil, who never seems comfortable talking about himself, was more than happy to push the credit around to his teammates, like Terrell Suggs and McPhee. Suggs had 1½ sacks of his own and McPhee and defensive end Chris Canty repeatedly pushed the pocket, preventing Tannehill from stepping up and forcing him to brace himself for the inevitable pressure from the edge.
"For him to get that accomplishment, obviously he's incredible," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Dumervil. "We're all proud of that, and he'd be the first to tell you it's not just a one-man show. It's because of all of those other guys that are rushing as well."
Still, on a day where the Ravens' pass rush took pressure off the Ravens' much-maligned secondary, Dumervil was front and center.
His first sack came about midway through the second quarter when he hit Tannehill from the blind side and stripped him of the ball. Dolphins tight end Dion Sims recovered it, but Dumervil was just getting started.
Often having his way with Dolphins right tackle Dallas Thomas, Dumervil shared a sack with Suggs late in the third quarter, forcing a Miami punt after the Ravens had just taken a 14-10 lead.
"I was beating my man, and I'd look up and he was right there," McPhee said. "I've never seen nothing like it. It was crazy. He definitely got in that zone. I just want to congratulate him and hope he keeps it going."
Dumervil tied Boulware's record with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, the four-yard loss leading to another Dolphins punt. He then passed it on Miami's final drive.
Getting a quick jump on the snap, Dumbervil beat his blocker to the edge before getting enough of Tannehill to send him to the turf. There was no outward celebration of his achievement, but that would come later with his teammates.
"Who had the record? Petey?," asked Suggs whose career high in sacks came in 2011 when he had 14. "It stood for so long. It was good. Now, we can set some new records."
Sun columnist Mike Preston contributed to this article