The Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams were both in the playoffs last season. They both returned playoff quality rosters.
But you only get so many chances in an NFL season, and a few tough losses can create too big of a hole. The Dolphins can look at Monday night’s performance in a bittersweet way. They easily beat a pretty good Rams team on the road in a 23-15 win. They can also watch that film and wonder what might have been if Tua Tagovailoa hadn’t missed four games due to a concussion and they didn’t lose consecutive games on last-second field goals when he returned. If they had a couple more wins, maybe they’d be chasing another playoff spot instead of being far behind at 3-6.
The Rams will probably have regrets, too. They started the season slow but were 4-4 coming into Monday night’s game after three straight wins. Then they blew that momentum in an ugly performance against the Dolphins. They looked oddly unprepared, which is rarely the case with a Sean McVay team. At 4-5, the Rams aren’t dead, but their path to a playoff spot got a lot harder.
The Dolphins aren’t technically dead yet either. But barring an incredible finish, they’ll look back at games like Monday night and think about how things might have turned out differently for them with a couple breaks earlier in the season.
Rams have a bad 1st half
The Rams didn’t do much right in the first half. They gave up a very quick touchdown drive to start the game. The offensive line struggled to protect Matthew Stafford. Even when the Rams got an interception off a bad pass from Tagovailoa, Kyren Williams fumbled it away on the next play.
It’s rare to see the Rams look flat, but it was an ugly half for them.
The Dolphins weren’t much better. After their first touchdown drive, which ate up 70 yards in less than three minutes, the offense bogged down. Neither quarterback had 100 yards in the first half. There were six punts and four turnovers before halftime between the teams. The Rams did rally for a field goal as the half expired and trailed just 10-6 at halftime. Given how they struggled, that wasn’t too bad of a result.
The second half started with plenty of the same. The Rams were driving but a flubbed snap was recovered by Stafford for a 13-yard loss. The Rams still got a 52-yard field goal, but it was taken off the board due to a false start penalty. And then Joshua Karty missed the 57-yard try.
The Rams are one of the best-coached teams in the NFL. But they were impossibly sloppy for most of Monday night.
Dolphins extend their lead
The Dolphins took advantage of the 57-yard missed field goal by the Rams. Jonnu Smith had a catch and a tough run downfield to the 1-yard line, then Tyreek Hill caught a touchdown. That put Miami ahead 17-6.
The Rams still weren’t totally out of the game when they trailed 20-9 midway through the fourth quarter. The Rams drove inside the 5-yard line and then the drive stalled and McVay chose to kick the field goal. That made it 20-12 with 6:31 left. The Rams just couldn’t execute when they had to.
The Dolphins put the game away after that, picking up some first downs and chewing up most of the rest of the clock. Jason Sanders hit a field goal with 2:38 to play, restoring the lead to 11 points, and that pretty much sealed the win. It wasn’t necessarily pretty for Miami, but it was a win on the road without much stress.
Miami has the talent to be a pretty good team the rest of the season. The offense wasn’t great on Monday night but it usually is good with Tagovailoa healthy, and the defense stifled a Rams offense that had been playing well. But with six losses already, Miami is going to have to be just about perfect to earn another postseason berth.
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Jason Owens
Dolphins win, 23-15
That's it. Miami recovers the onside kick to ice the game. Dolphins win, 23-15 to snap a three-game losing streak.
On a sloppy night for both teams, the Dolphins were the best team on both sides of the ball. They countered two first-half turnovers with two takeaways of their own and kept the Rams out of the end zone all night.
A pair of touchdowns and some clutch kicking from Jason Sanders (3 field goals, 2 from 50 yards) was enough to secure the win. The Dolphins improved to 3-6 with the win to give a boost to their slim playoff hopes. They delivered a blow to the Rams' postseason aspirations while dropping them to 4-5.
Jason Owens
Rams kick another FG to cut deficit to one possession
On third-and-10 with 42 seconds left, the Rams opted to kick a 31-yard field goal to cut Miami's lead to 23-15. They need a successful onside kick to stay alive.
Jason Owens
Dolphins extend lead back to 2 possessions in final 3 minutes
The Dolphins didn't quite close the game out, but they made things awfully hard for the Rams. Miami drove 39 yards on eight plays in 3:53 and capped the possession with a 50-yard Jason Sanders field goal to extend their lead to 23-12.
The Rams need a miracle with 2:38 remaining on the clock.
Jason Owens
Rams settle for another FG in red zone
The Rams just settled for yet another field goal. They drove to the Miami 4-yard line, but Matthew Stafford's pass in the end zone to Demarcus Robinson in the end zone missed the mark. Needing two scores, the Rams opted for a field goal attempt by Jason Sanders.
Sanders was good from 22 yards, and the Dolphins lead 20-12 with 6:31 remaining.
Jason Owens
Dolphins convert on 3rd-and-19, extend lead to 2 possessions
Tua Tagovailoa and Raheem Mostert combined to convert a big third-and-19 with a 25-yard gain. Tagovailoa got rushed out of the pocket on the setup for on a screen pass and found Mostert streaking downfield on the improvised play.
Instead of punting, the Dolphins eventually scored on a 37-yard Jason Sanders field goal to extend their lead to two possessions at 20-9. The Rams have 9:07 to get back in this.
Tua making things happen to convert the 3rd and 19 to Mostert!
The Rams drove again into Dolphins territory only to see their possession blow up. Jevón Holland sacked Matthew Stafford on a third-and-7 blitz to put the Rams in fourth-and-19 at the Miami 35. It was the third Dolphins sack of the night on third down.
Joshua Karty is good from 53 yards to cut Miami's lead to 17-9 early in the fourth quarter. The Rams are still seeking their first touchdown.
Jonnu Smith sets up Dolphins TD with big catch and run: Dolphins 17, Rams 6
Jonnu Smith just played bully ball to set up a Dolphins touchdown. The Miami tight end caught a pass from Tua Tagovailoa over the middle, then bounced off multiple defenders en route to the 1-yard line for a 33-yard gain.
Tagovailoa paid the play off with a one-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill.
Jonnu Smith with his best effort of the game. Picks up plenty yards after the catch on that reception. Great job breaking tackles.#FinsUppic.twitter.com/jLWMiMYc0v
A bad snap just thwarted the best Rams drive of the night. Matthew Stafford couldn't corral the snap above his head from Jonah Jackson. He ended up recovering the ball, but first-and-10 at the Miami 28 turned into second-and-23 at the 39.
A false start eventually pushed a 52-yard field goal attempt back to 57 yards. Joshua Karty missed wide right, and the Rams come up empty. Miami leads 10-6 and takes over possession near midfield.
Jason Owens
Rams start second half with ball
The second half is underway. The Rams have the ball first.
Dolphins 10, Rams 6: Key halftime stats
A sloppy first half is over in a one-possession game. The Dolphins started hot with a quick-strike touchdown on their first drive, but have struggled since on offense. The Rams needed three possessions to pick up their first first down, but trail by just four points after their own strong showing on defense.
Rams turnovers: 2 (one fumble lost, one interception) Dolphins turnovers: 2 (one fumble lost, one interception)
Rams punts: 3 Dolphins punts: 3
Tua Tagovailoa: 9 of 15, 87 yards; 0 touchdowns, 1 interception, 1 lost fumble Matthew Stafford: 15 of 21, 97 yards; 0 touchdowns, 1 interception
De'Von Achane: 6 carries for 23 yards Kyren Williams: 6 carries for 25 yards, 1 lost fumble
Dolphins total yards: 111 (3.8 yards per play) Rams total yards: 106 (3.3 yards per play)
Jason Owens
Rams end half with long FG; Dolphins lead, 10-6 at halftime
The Rams drive 54 yards after the Dolphins punt and end the half with a field goal. Joshua Karty is dead center from 55 yards, and the Rams cut the Dolphins lead to 10-6 as the second-quarter clock hits zero.
Jason Owens
Another sack of Tua forces a punt
Byron Young sacks Tua Tagovailoa for a 15-yard loss to stunt Miami's drive. Dolphins punt with 2:20 left in the half, and the Rams have a chance to tie it before halftime, trailing, 10-3.
The Rams pick up 20 yards and come up short of a touchdown after recovering Tua Tagovailoa's fumble at the Miami 36-yard line. Another disappointing drive, but at least it ends with points. Joshua Karty's field goal is good from 34 yards to cut Miami's lead to 10-3.
Jason Owens
And another Tua turnover
Now the Dolphins give the ball back on a Tua Tagovailoa fumble following their own recovered fumble. Jared Verse comes up with the sack, forced fumble and recovery for the defensive trifecta.
That's three turnovers in less than three minutes. The Rams are seeking just their third first down midway through the second quarter. Miami leads, 10-0.
After the interception, the Rams gave the ball back to the Dolphins on the first play of their drive. Kyren Williams fumbled on a run up the middle, and the Dolphins recovered. The Rams can't get anything right so far.
The @MiamiDolphins get the ball right back on the next play!
Tua throws pick, leans head first for tackle on return
Tua Tagovailoa just threw an interception to Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom on an ill-advised pass over the middle. Nearly making matters worse, he leaned head first in an attempt to make a tackle on the return.
He's looks OK, but another dangerous play given his concussion history. Just let him go, Tua.
Another Rams possession, another punt. Calais Campbell sacks Matthew Stafford on third down, and the Rams punt after a 10-yard drive. Miami leads, 10-0 early on the second quarter.
Jason Owens
Dolphins extend lead to 10-0
Miami picks up 22 yards after the interception of Matthew Stafford and settles for a Jason Sanders field goal. Sanders is good from 50 to extend the Dolphins lead to 10-0. Jaylen Waddle dropped a third-down pass that would have extended the drive.
Jason Owens
Anthony Walker picks off Matthew Stafford
The Rams finally got their first first down on their third possession. But a Matthew Stafford pass tipped at the line by Calais Campbell was intercepted by Dolphins linebacker Anthony Walker. Miami has a 7-0 lead and takes over near midfield late in the first quarter.
Tipped... PICKED! Anthony Walker Jr. comes down with a @MiamiDolphins INT.
Now it's the Rams' turn for a stop. They force a punt after a 16-yard Dolphins drive to get the ball back. Both defenses have been smothering since Miami's quick-strike opening-drive touchdown. Can the Rams get something going on offense? Miami leads, 7-0.
Jason Owens
Another three-and-out for the Rams offense. Dolphins defenders swarm Matthew Stafford on third down, and Chop Robinson comes up with a drive-ending sack. Rams can't capitalize after starting their drive near midfield.
The Rams defense responds with a three-and-out of its own. The Dolphins punt, and the Rams have the ball back in good field position.
Jason Owens
The Dolphins force a three-and-out punt and have the ball back with a 7-0 lead. Strong start for Miami.
Jason Owens
Dolphins strike first for 7-0 lead
One play after Waddle's 36-yard catch, rookie receiver Malik Washington carried the ball 18 yards on an end-around for a quick-strike Dolphins touchdown. Miami leads, 7-0.
Tua Tagovailoa just kept Miami's opening drive alive. Bought some time with his feet on third-and-13 and found a wide open Jaylen Waddle for a 36-yard gain.
We're moments from kickoff. Two teams whose seasons were derailed early by injury are almost ready to take the field.
The 4-4 Rams have bounced back and are relatively healthy with a shot at the postseason. Is it too late for the 2-6 Dolphins in an AFC where the last playoff spot could end up being claimed by a team with a losing record?
Jason Owens
Rams legend and future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald is in the house:
Aaron Donald and his fam are in the house to watch the Rams on MNF ✨
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