At LA, it has been an extremely turbulent Monday night game so far. Mistakes galore have contributed to a 10-6 Dolphins lead at halftime.
Rams LB Christian Rozeboom made an early interception, however due to a penalty his return is called back and 1st and 10 at LA 43, Stafford to Allen on out route is batted down at line of scrimmage.
| Player | Team | Position | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams | QB | 32/46, 293 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT |
| Puka Nacua | Los Angeles Rams | WR | 9 receptions, 98 yards |
| Cooper Kupp | Los Angeles Rams | WR | 7 receptions, 80 yards |
| Kobie Turner | Los Angeles Rams | DT | 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass deflection |
| Jared Verse | Los Angeles Rams | OLB | 1 sack, 1 strip-sack, 1 fumble recovery |
| Christian Rozeboom | Los Angeles Rams | LB | Strong coverage game, 1 interception |
| Joshua Karty | Los Angeles Rams | K | 5/6 field goals (longest: 55 yards), missed one key attempt |
| Tua Tagovailoa | Miami Dolphins | QB | 20/28, 207 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Tyreek Hill | Miami Dolphins | WR | Touchdown reception in the second half |
| Jason Sanders | Miami Dolphins | K | 3/3 field goals (longest: 50 yards) |
| Malik Washington | Miami Dolphins | WR | 19-yard rushing touchdown on an end-around play |
| De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins | RB | 37 rushing yards, 5 receptions for 15 yards |
| Dolphins Defense | Miami Dolphins | – | 4 sacks on Matthew Stafford |
Rams vs. Dolphins
At times, mistakes were made on both teams tonight, and it became quite ugly at times. But the Dolphins managed to capitalize on opportunities more frequently than their opponent did and pulled off an unexpected win.
Miami established an early lead with a quick drive that resulted in Jonny Smith scoring from 1-yard out in the opening quarter. Los Angeles responded with a field goal, but that would be all they would manage before halftime. Los Angeles then attempted three more drives but all three ended in 3-and-outs before Josh Karty missed a 57-yard field goal attempt and Kyren Williams fumbled, giving Miami another opportunity to extend their lead with another quick drive that ended with Tyreek Hill collecting short pass in the end zone from Tyreek Hill short pass route and score.
The Rams started their second half drive off right with an eight-yard pass to Lance Kendricks on 3rd and 1, but an errant high snap and false start penalty allowed the Dolphins an immediate field position advantage and allowed them to quickly score themselves. While they attempted a comeback drive of their own, all that they managed to produce was one Jason Sanders field goal with 2:38 remaining in the game.
Losing this game, the Rams fell to 5-8 and were officially out of playoff contention. One of several NFC West teams that have struggled this year, they will need an impressive finish if they wish to qualify for postseason play-offs.
Tua Tagovailoa will be key to the Rams’ chances of making a playoff push this year, so young safeties Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough must step up if they hope to secure one of four wild card spots available to them.
The Rams’ defense mostly held back the Dolphins to yardage on the ground and limited their top receiver to 50 yards when matched up directly against secondary players, though occasional gaps in coverage allowed Dolphins players into the middle of the field and exploit their speed. If they want a chance at contending for a wild-card spot down the stretch, their communication must improve and their coverage tighter; PFF’s dedicated graders will provide full coverage and analysis for every game on schedule and can be found right here starting tomorrow at 12 p.m. EST! Thanks for following along! – PFF Staff
Los Angeles Rams vs. Miami Dolphins
Los Angeles Rams entered this matchup hoping to keep themselves competitive in the NFC West, while Miami Dolphins looked to end a three-game skid and still maintain playoff hopes. Unfortunately for LA, self-inflicted wounds kept them from taking full advantage of opportunities presented, ultimately leading to a tough loss for them.
The opening half was an uphill struggle for both teams. The Rams struggled to establish an offensive rhythm while Tua Tagovailoa and Tua Tagovailoa endured constant pressure blitzes from Miami Dolphins’ defense.
In the second quarter, LA gained some favorable field position when Christian Rozeboom picked off Tagovailoa and returned it to their 14-yard line. Unfortunately, however, an offensive blindside block penalty pushed LA back to their own 42. Four plays later Kyren Williams fumbled the ball, which Kendall Fuller then recovered before giving Miami possession at LA 43.
On their next drive, the Rams finally found some rhythm, only to have their efforts interrupted by a mishandled snap that resulted in 13 yards lost downfield yardage and Joshua Karty missing his 57-yard field goal attempt – leaving them trailing by 17-6 heading into halftime.
After halftime, the Rams continued their struggle to establish any kind of rhythm with the football and were forced to settle for multiple field goals over the remainder of the game. Tyreek Hill scored one touchdown during fourth quarter that helped close to 17-13 deficit.
Miami’s defensive front was instrumental in disrupting the Rams’ offensive rhythm, notching four sacks and nine quarterback pressures to force hurried throws and make deep routes more challenging to execute for Los Angeles. Miami linebackers also played an instrumental role in their success by recording 12 tackles and recovering one fumble.
The Rams secondary allowed too many explosive plays through coverage, yet was still able to hold down Dolphins receiver Jaron Brown when put against them directly. Safety unit performed well as well, limiting wide receiver deep threats while deflecting passes to limit Dolphins receiving production. Going forward, improving communication and tighter coverage should remain priorities for the Rams.
Missed tackles during the second half were also of concern to them; if they want to compete for the division title down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Dolphins appear to be getting healthier just in time to secure a wild-card berth; with an improved offense this team stands a chance at making a run at postseason glory. Meanwhile, Rams will need a miracle just to remain at 4-5 as their lead in NFC West has narrowed drastically after this loss dropped them from 5-4-1.