LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a season marked by tough losses, significant injuries, and erratic performances, the Miami Dolphins managed to pull together an impressive effort on Monday night.
Despite their preseason dreams of a Super Bowl feeling increasingly out of reach, the Dolphins secured a hard-fought 23-15 victory against the Los Angeles Rams. This win served as a vital reminder to Miami’s players that, even in the face of adversity, they have the potential to salvage the remainder of a challenging season.
During the game, Tyreek Hill caught a short touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter, marking the end of the longest scoring drought of his career. The Dolphins (3-6) effectively held the Rams out of the end zone and snapped their own three-game losing streak, achieving only their second win in the last eight games.
Miami’s defense stepped up remarkably, forcing two turnovers and keeping Los Angeles scoreless in the touchdown department, even while allowing 327 yards of offense.
“This kind of game can ignite a winning streak,” said defensive tackle Calais Campbell. “It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t follow it up with another victory. The challenge is figuring out how to maintain this momentum, but like we discussed in our meetings, creating a wildfire only requires one spark. So, we’ll keep believing, keep fighting, and aim to make a run for it.”
Rookie wide receiver Malik Washington also made his mark by running 18 yards for his first NFL touchdown on the opening drive of this much-needed turnaround for the struggling Dolphins, who had suffered three straight defeats by a total of just 10 points since their last win on October 6.
Tagovailoa had a modest passing performance, throwing for 207 yards, yet he delivered crucial throws in key moments, leading the Dolphins to convert six third downs, with most of them occurring under pressure. On third downs alone, he completed 9 of 12 for 137 yards.
Reflecting on the game, Tagovailoa said, “We’ve come a long way despite the losses. The resilience shown by this team, especially with everyone counting us out, makes me hopeful that we won’t waste this opportunity. We need to build on this win to regain our rhythm.”
Hill recorded three catches, including his first touchdown reception since the season opener, while Jason Sanders contributed with three field goals.
On the other side, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 293 yards, but struggled to convert this into points. Rookie kicker Joshua Karty managed to kick five field goals, but the Rams’ (4-5) winning streak came to a halt with disappointing offensive performance. This was only the second time in four years that Los Angeles failed to score an offensive touchdown while Stafford was playing.
“While I was pleased with our defensive performance, we failed to translate that into offensive success,” Rams coach Sean McVay stated. “We need to focus on being more consistent and complementary in our play. There were definitely moments of sloppiness that we must address.”
Los Angeles’ drive into Miami’s territory in the fourth quarter ended with a fourth field goal, making it a one-score game with 6:31 remaining. Miami’s Odell Beckham Jr. then made a crucial catch for a first down in the same stadium where he suffered a serious knee injury while winning the Super Bowl with the Rams three seasons ago. The Dolphins then advanced down the field to set up Sanders’ 50-yard field goal with 2:38 left in the game.
Tua’s tackle
During the second quarter, Tagovailoa threw his first interception since September 12, which was snatched by Christian Rozeboom. In an unexpected turn, Tagovailoa attempted to tackle the linebacker with his upper body, raising concerns among fans and teammates alike.
“I approached the guy who intercepted me and jokingly asked, ‘Couldn’t you have just stepped out of bounds or cut back?’” Tagovailoa remarked, adding, “That tackle was definitely not my best; it was pretty bad.”
Shortly after the interception, the Rams faced their own troubles, with Kyren Williams fumbling the ball. Although Rams rookie Jared Verse managed to sack Tagovailoa and recover the fumble at the Miami 36 yards line four plays later, the Rams were unable to capitalize.
Saving Florida
This victory was a sigh of relief for the state of Florida, preventing an unprecedented 0-12 weekend for its NFL and college teams across the FBS and FCS divisions. It also ensured that the Dolphins, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville wouldn’t finish with three straight losses, a streak not seen since Florida became home to three NFL teams in 1995.
Injuries
Dolphins cornerback Kendall Fuller is now in concussion protocol for the second time this season.
For the Rams, right tackle Joe Noteboom made his first appearance since the season opener, filling in for the injured Rob Havenstein (ankle).
Up next
The Dolphins will host the Las Vegas Raiders this upcoming Sunday, while the Rams will travel to face the New England Patriots.
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AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
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