Dolphins face Ravens

Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Matt Moore makes his first start of the season Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens, who are facing a must-win situation.

BALTIMORE — The Miami Dolphins hope a quarterback change won’t blunt the momentum they’ve gathered from a three-game winning streak.

Matt Moore makes his first start of the season Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens, who have quarterback issues of a different kind.

Moore replaced the injured Jay Cutler in the second half last week and threw two touchdown passes against the New York Jets in a 31-28 comeback victory. Cutler remains sidelined with cracked ribs, so Miami (4-2) will go with the 33-year-old Moore in this AFC matchup.

“He’s going to take some chances. He’s going to get that ball out quick,” Miami offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said of Moore. “He has a little gunslinger to him.”

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had the reputation of a sharp shooter — until this year. In his 10th season as Baltimore’s starter, the former Super Bowl MVP has thrown eight interceptions compared to only five touchdowns as part of the NFL’s 32nd-ranked passing attack.

In his defense, Flacco has been operating behind an injury-riddled offensive line and with a receiving group that last week at Minnesota was without injured starters Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman.

“There’s been a lot of adversity,” coach John Harbaugh said. “There are going to be a lot of good times ahead for Joe Flacco. Stick with him. It’s going to be fun to watch.”

The Ravens (3-4) have lost four of five, including their past two at home.

“The bottom line is we just have to win football games,” Flacco said. “At this point, it doesn’t matter where it is.”

Flacco acknowledged that his inconsistency has put the Ravens in a must-win situation.

“The fact that I have been up and down, now you are climbing out of a hole and you are putting yourself behind the 8-ball,” he said.