Dolphins ‘fear Bradley Chubb is lost for the season with suspected torn ACL’ as Miami coach Mike McDaniel admits he should have pulled feared pass rusher in blowout loss to Ravens

The Miami Dolphins were playing the final minutes of a particularly unsavory loss on Sunday when things went from bad to worse.

The first-string defense had already been humiliated and defeated by the Baltimore Ravens when star linebacker Bradley Chubb fell to the ground, flat on his back and unable to move due to a knee injury. He feared it was an ACL tear, as reported by ESPN. A while later, the team's sack leader was lifted onto a cart and wheeled into the tunnel.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel regretted his decision to keep Chubb on the field in the final minutes of what became a 56-19 loss.

“In retrospect, I definitely wouldn't have wanted him there if I knew he was going to get hurt,” McDaniel said. 'That is a well-known part of the work that I fully understand. It doesn't look that smart at all.'

While it seems unlikely the sixth-year pro will return to play this season, McDaniel grimaced and hoped for a favorable diagnosis.

The 27-year-old linebacker had to be helped onto a cart after suffering the injury in the fourth

Chubb was heard screaming in pain immediately after sustaining the injury. In the photo I am being treated

“We don't have the information yet to find out what it is. We'll know on Monday,” McDaniel said.

Overall, it was a terrible day for a team looking to upset the Ravens and earn the top seed in the AFC.

“We came into this game with high expectations to play at the level we wanted to play,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. 'If those standards are not met, it is very disappointing.'

The Dolphins fell behind by 22 points early in the third quarter, and a harried Tagovailoa couldn't make up the deficit after a lopsided setback that kept Miami (11-5) from clinching the AFC East.

In a matchup between the teams with the two best records in the conference, Baltimore (13-3) dominated the Dolphins to earn a first-round bye and the opportunity to play every game at home in the postseason leading up to the Super Bowl.

If Miami can't beat visiting Buffalo next week, the Bills would win the AFC East title and the Dolphins would start the playoffs on the road.

Miami led 10-7 before the Ravens went on a 28-3 run to bridge the second and third quarters. Last year, Tagovailoa took Miami from a 35-14 hole to a 42-38 victory.

But this Baltimore team would have none of that. Not only did the Ravens pick off two passes and finish with three sacks, but Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson tore apart the Miami defense with 321 yards passing and five touchdowns.

Miami could still become the AFC's No. 2 seed if it beats Buffalo. The Dolphins haven't finished top of the division since 2008 and have gone more than thirty years without securing a top-two finish.

But they will likely have to make do without Chubb, who has 11 sacks to go with 74 tackles, including six on Sunday before the injury.

“I want to give a big shout-out to Bradley Chubb,” Tagovailoa said. “We are thinking of you, brother, and we are praying for you too. It's hard to see one of our guys go down like that. It's unfortunate.'

Miami's top-ranked offense was without standout wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and workhorse running back Raheem Mostert, both of whom were inactive due to injuries. Waddle ranks second on the team with 72 catches and 1,014 yards receiving, and last year he had 11 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns in Miami's win at Baltimore.

Tyreek Hill had six catches for 76 yards, but he also dropped a certain touchdown in the back of the end zone.

“I probably had one of the worst games of my career,” Hill said. “As the leader of this team, you just have to erase it and move on.”

In last year's game between these teams, the Ravens took a 35-14 lead into the fourth quarter. In this one it was 35-13 before a touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to rookie running back De'Von Achane with 13:57 left gave Miami hope of another rally.

But Baltimore then rumbled 75 yards in seven plays to make it 42-19 with 9:38 remaining.

Tagovailoa was removed with just over four minutes to go due to a sore shoulder that he insisted was not a problem. At that point, it was almost time for the Dolphins to turn their attention to the finals against Buffalo, a rematch of a game the Bills won at home 48-20 in October.

Except the defense stayed on the field and Chubb paid the price for playing during garbage time. His cousin, Nick, who plays for the Cleveland Browns, suffered a devastating knee injury in a Week 2 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, tearing his MCL and damaging his ACL.