Defense helps Miami Dolphins beat Los Angeles Rams, snap three-game skid

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Linebacker Quinton Bell and Miami Dolphins defenders deleted drives and put the Los Angeles Rams offense in quicksand, holding them without a touchdown to propel a primetime victory and snap a three-game losing streak.

Bell snuck around Matthew Stafford's blind side and smacked the ball out of the quarterback's hands for a sack and forced fumble in the second quarter of the 23-15 win Monday in Inglewood, Calif.

Fellow linebacker Chop Robinson, defensive tackle Calais Campbell and safety Jevon Holland also logged sacks for the Dolphins.

"I think our defense really galvanized the whole team and I think it's very difficult to keep that offense out of the end zone," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters.

The Rams out-gained the Dolphins 327-238 in total yards, but converted just 3 of 12 first-down attempts and settled for five field goals. Stafford completed 32 of 46 passes for 293 yards and an interception.

"When we are playing our best ball, we can beat anybody," Campbell said. "We just have to continue to believe, continue to fight and obviously the margin for error is zero."

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 20 of 28 passes for 207 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

"We've come a long way through however many losses in a row," Tagovailoa said. "The resilience of this team, with the external noise, everyone counting us out.

"Hopefully this is an opportunity for us to not waste. Hopefully we can go on a run with this win and find our rhythm towards the back end of the season."

Rookie wide receiver Malik Washington ran for an 18-yard touchdown about three minutes into the game's opening drive to give the Dolphins a lead they never lost.

The Dolphins defense forced three punts, snatched an interception and forced a fumble on the Rams' first five possessions. Kicker Jason Sanders made a 50-yard field goal for a 10-point Dolphins lead early in the second quarter.

Rams kicker Josh Karty hit two field goals later in the quarter to make the score 10-6 at halftime. He went on to miss a 57-yard attempt on the first drive of the second half.

The Dolphins then pushed their lead to 11 with a 6-play, 53-yard touchdown drive. Tagovailoa threw a 1-yard toss to wide receiver Tyreek Hill to end that possession in the end zone.

Karty and Sanders exchanged field goals on the final five drives of the game. The Rams cut the Dolphins lead to eight points three times in the fourth quarter, but could not prevent the Tagovailoa-led attack from clutch conversions on third down.

The Dolphins were 6 of 13 on third-down conversions, including a 4 for 6 rate in the second half. Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. logged an interception, while defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand forced a fumble and cornerback Kendall Fuller recovered a fumble in the victory.

The Dolphins (3-6) will host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Rams (4-5) will face the New England Patriots (3-7) at the same time Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.