The Ravens put on an epic show against Miami Dolphins during TNF. However, the scoreboard wasn’t the only thing showing their aggressiveness. Folks exploded with accusations that Baltimore’s defense was constantly targeting Miami players’ necks with dangerous, reckless tackles.
Lamar Jackson returned from hamstring injury and scored four touchdowns, leading the Ravens to their biggest win of the season. But the Week 9 victory is written to come with some epic controversy.
Multiple clips circulated online showing Ravens defenders wrapping up Dolphins ball carriers by the neck. The majority of the fans weren’t buying it as accidental contact.
Ravens Player Accused of Intentionally Targeting Dolphins’ Necks During Tackle
Rookie safety Malaki Starks grabbed Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington dangerously by the neck to drag him down. The tackle inadvertently knocked Miami running back Ollie Gordon II out of the game with an ankle injury.
Then All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton used a similar neck-grabbing technique on Washington later in the game. The hits led to outrage from fans watching at home.
One frustrated fan didn’t hold back, noting, “I’m calling 911. It’s a Crime Scene.”
Another predicted, “Let him do that to Patrick Mahomes he will be banned by the NFL.” No offense to this comment, as there are numerous examples available where referees went easy on the Chiefs.
What’s up with the Ravens trying to break people’s necks?
This is like the third play in a row where they go for the jugular
Dirty#BALvsMIA https://t.co/VJFlSLFaJt pic.twitter.com/dbHA5DoH80
— Benchwarmer Sports (@bdubsports_) October 31, 2025
A third observer noticed a disturbing pattern, penning, “I did notice that too. I think it was almost 3 tackles in a row all different plays.”
The complaints extended beyond just Thursday’s game. A fourth user who caught last week’s Ravens-Bears matchup claimed, “They hit a couple bears in head last week with no helmet to helmet calls too…”
Not everyone blamed the defense, though. One sarcastic fan remarked, “Ravens defense was dogshit for 7 weeks. Then daddy Lamar shows up and they figured out how to play football again.”
Despite the viral clips and fan outrage, both teams were only called for five penalties total on the day. No ejections. No major flags. Just hard hits that the refs didn’t stop.
Some Defending Ravens Say Their Height Explains the Hits
However, not every football fan thought Baltimore was playing dirty. Many on social media pointed to simple physics as the explanation.
Hamilton stands 6’4″ tall, making him one of the tallest safeties in the NFL. When he tackles shorter offensive players, the height mismatch creates dangerous optics.
One X user broke it down bluntly, “What happens when a 6’4 demon meets a 5’9 minny mouse.”
Another defended, “Stop it. Kyle is not a dirty player and he’s like 6’4 and the offensive player was a munchkin. What normally would have been a waist or a torso, was a neck. Blame genetics.”
The argument makes sense from a biomechanical standpoint. Taller defenders naturally make contact higher on smaller ball carriers. Washington and other Miami receivers aren’t exactly towering over opponents.
