Tua and the Dolphins keep playoff hopes alive in win vs. Rams
Tua and the Dolphins keep playoff hopes alive in win vs. Rams
INGLEWOOD, Calif.– If the Miami Dolphins manage to turn around their 2-6 start to the season, their victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10 could mark the turning point. The Dolphins secured their second consecutive win at SoFi Stadium, defeating the Rams 23-15 in a game where they maintained the lead throughout. This victory snapped a three-game losing streak, two of which ended with last-second field goals.
More importantly, the win keeps Miami's playoff hopes alive, placing them 1.5 games behind the Denver Broncos for the AFC's seventh seed. Historically, only three NFL teams have reached the playoffs after starting 2-6. However, with home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots up next, the Dolphins could improve to 5-6 before facing the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving. Prior to Week 10, ESPN's FPI gave the Dolphins an 8.1% chance of making the playoffs, but their remaining schedule ranks as the 10th-easiest in the league. With winning the AFC East unlikely, Miami will need to clinch one of three wild-card spots to continue their two-year playoff streak.
QB Breakdown: Tua Tagovailoa endured a tough second quarter, throwing an interception and losing a fumble on consecutive drives. He bounced back, completing five third-down conversions and ending with 207 yards and one touchdown. Coach Mike McDaniel highlighted that Tua’s untimely sacks stemmed from him trying to do too much—an area for growth in his fifth season.
Game Summary in Two Words:Constant pressure. Miami's defense made life difficult for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, registering 13 pressures and four sacks, a season high for the Dolphins.
Promising Trend:Since Week 5, no Dolphins player has generated more quarterback pressures than Chop Robinson. Stepping up after Jaelan Phillips' injury, Robinson recorded five pressures and secured his second consecutive game with a sack on Monday night. – Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next Game: vs. Raiders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles Rams (4-5)
Despite entering with an 18.4% playoff chance, the Rams failed to keep up in the NFC West after the loss. Wins by the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday dropped the Rams' division-winning odds to 11.5%, according to ESPN Analytics.
Their offense, despite the return of Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson, struggled. Monday marked just the second time in Matthew Stafford's 50-game tenure with the Rams that the team failed to score a touchdown. On third down, the Rams, ranked 23rd in conversion rate entering the game, went a dismal 1-for-10.
QB Breakdown: Following six touchdown passes in the Rams' previous two games, Stafford was held without a score against a Dolphins defense ranked 26th in pass defense DVOA. Stafford completed 32 of 46 passes for 293 yards and one interception, extending his streak of games with an interception to six, tied for the longest in his career.
Most Surprising Performance:The Rams' offensive line, which allowed only one sack over the past three games, conceded four sacks to the Dolphins. This occurred despite the return of Avila and Jackson, with right tackle Rob Havenstein sidelined due to an ankle injury.
Promising Trend:First-round pick Jared Verse continued to impress with a sack in his third consecutive game and two tackles for loss. His 11 tackles for loss through his first nine games tie him with Von Miller and Micah Parsons for the second-most since 1999. – Sarah Barshop
Next Game:at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Despite entering with an 18.4% playoff chance, the Rams failed to keep up in the NFC West after the loss. Wins by the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday dropped the Rams' division-winning odds to 11.5%, according to ESPN Analytics.
Their offense, despite the return of Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson, struggled. Monday marked just the second time in Matthew Stafford's 50-game tenure with the Rams that the team failed to score a touchdown. On third down, the Rams, ranked 23rd in conversion rate entering the game, went a dismal 1-for-10.
QB Breakdown: Following six touchdown passes in the Rams' previous two games, Stafford was held without a score against a Dolphins defense ranked 26th in pass defense DVOA. Stafford completed 32 of 46 passes for 293 yards and one interception, extending his streak of games with an interception to six, tied for the longest in his career.
Most Surprising Performance:The Rams' offensive line, which allowed only one sack over the past three games, conceded four sacks to the Dolphins. This occurred despite the return of Avila and Jackson, with right tackle Rob Havenstein sidelined due to an ankle injury.
Promising Trend:First-round pick Jared Verse continued to impress with a sack in his third consecutive game and two tackles for loss. His 11 tackles for loss through his first nine games tie him with Von Miller and Micah Parsons for the second-most since 1999. – Sarah Barshop
Next Game:at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
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