OWINGS MILLS, MD. — Kyle Hamilton has been named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week after recording a pair of interceptions in the Ravens’ 33-19 win at San Francisco on Christmas night. Hamilton totaled five tackles and three passes defensed in the win, which kept the Ravens (12-3) atop the AFC with two games left.
Hamilton left the game with a knee injury, and he did not take part in the team’s walk-through practice on Dec. 27.
Asked about Hamilton’s potential availability for the huge AFC showdown against the Miami Dolphins (11-4) at M&T Bank Stadium on New Year’s Eve, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was noncommittal.
“We’re less than 48 hours from the game [Monday night],” Harbaugh said. “We’re just kind of working through all those kinds of things right now.”
With a win against Miami, the Ravens would clinch the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed and earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A loss, though, coupled with a win by Cleveland (10-5) against the New York Jets on Thursday, would keep the AFC North title up for grabs entering the final week of the season. The Ravens host Pittsburgh and Cleveland travels to Cincinnati in Week 18.
Miami would remain in position for the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over Baltimore, but the Dolphins still could lose the division title with two more losses.
“You get into his time of year, [and] you play yourself into these types of a game,” Harbaugh said. “… That’s an earned thing, and the Dolphins have earned the same thing. So it’s that kind of a game.”
Hamilton thwarted the 49ers’ opening drive with an end zone interception, and then later caught a tipped pass despite being sent to the ground by a chop block. Hamilton picked himself up from the turf, pursued the play, and was in position to snare a pass that was first deflected by Marlon Humphrey.
“He got up and pursued,” Harbaugh said. “That’s kind of what I make of it. The defense is playing at a really high level in terms of effort. And everybody has been running to the ball at really the highest level, and that’s kind of how that happened.”
Hamilton has played at an All-Pro level all season. With two games remaining, he ranks third on the team in tackles with 81, second in interceptions with four, and he has set a franchise record by a defensive back with 10 tackles for loss. He also leads the team with 13 passes defensed.
Hamilton is the first NFL defensive back since Tyrann Mathieu in 2015 to record at least 4 interceptions, 10 tackles for loss and 10 passes defensed in the same season.
Last season, Hamilton was playing in just the second game of his career when Miami shocked the Ravens with 28 fourth-quarter points as the Dolphins roared back from a 35-14 deficit to win 42-38 at M&T Bank Stadium.
In the final eight minutes, Tyreek Hill caught touchdown passes of 48 and 60 yards, and then Jaylen Waddle caught a 7-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left — Tua Tagovailoa’s sixth touchdown pass of the game — to complete the stunning comeback.
Harbaugh called that loss “a bitter pill to swallow” and said the Ravens will study the film of that game to prepare for this one.
“You have to study it,” he said. “They did some great things against us in the passing game. Made some huge plays. It was a massive comeback. Obviously, it was a tough pill to swallow for us, and all credit to them for the way they executed and made those plays. We learned a lot.”
“They’re capable of doing that to anybody at any time,” he added, “so that’s why we have to prepare at the highest level and try to be at our best.”
NOTEBOOK
ZEITLER, FLOWERS ALSO SIT OUT: The Ravens held a walkthrough coming off their Monday night game on the West Coast, so their injury report is only an estimation of what their practice participation would have been. In addition to Hamilton, guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad) and wide receiver Zay Flowers (calf) were also listed as not participating.
Limited participants included cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (concussion), cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee), offensive lineman Patrick Mekari (concussion), linebacker Patrick Queen (shoulder), linebacker Roquan Smith (pec), punter Jordan Stout (back) and defensive lineman Broderick Washington (elbow).
The team’s Thursday practice should give a much more revealing indication of the potential availability of those players for Sunday.
DOLPHINS HAVE LENGTHY INJURY LIST: The Dolphins’ injury report was even lengthier than the Ravens and included some of the biggest names on their No. 1-ranked offense. Those missing practice on Wednesday included wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle), running back De’Von Achane (toe), running back Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle), left tackle Terron Armstead (knee/ankle/back) and wide receiver Tyreek Hill (ankle/rest).
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (left thumb/quad) was one of six players listed as limited.
By Week 17, every team is banged up. Regardless of what the final injury report looks like on Friday, both teams will come into Sunday’s huge AFC showdown ailing in some ways.
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