LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyreek Hill caught a short touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter, and the Miami Dolphins snapped their three-game losing streak with a gritty 23-15 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
Rookie Receiver Shines
Rookie receiver Malik Washington rushed for his first NFL touchdown on the opening possession of a much-needed turnaround game for the beleaguered Dolphins (3-6), who had lost three games by a combined 10 points since their last victory Oct. 6. Miami had lost six of seven since its opener, all but ruining a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations.
Defensive Effort
The Dolphins’ solid defense stepped up impressively at SoFi Stadium, forcing two turnovers and keeping the Rams out of the end zone despite yielding 327 yards.
Stafford Struggles
Matthew Stafford passed for 293 yards, but rookie Joshua Karty kicked five field goals for the Rams (4-5), whose three-game winning streak ended with a major offensive regression. Los Angeles failed to score a touchdown for only the eighth time in coach Sean McVay’s eight seasons, and it couldn’t score an offensive touchdown for only the second time in four years when Stafford was in uniform.
Tagovailoa Leads the Way
Tagovailoa passed for only 207 yards, but he made a series of big throws while the Dolphins converted six third downs, most of them at key moments. Tagovailoa was 9 of 12 for 137 yards on third downs alone.
Second-Half Surge
Hill had three receptions while playing through a wrist injury, and Jason Sanders kicked three field goals. After scoring 76 points in its three straight wins, Los Angeles failed to score a touchdown for the first time since Nov. 5, 2023, at Green Bay while Stafford was injured.
Post-Game Analysis
Puka Nacua had nine catches for 98 yards, and Cooper Kupp made seven receptions for 80 yards. Miami needed less than three minutes to score first. After Tagovailoa hit Jaylen Waddle for 36 yards on third and long, Washington — a sixth-round pick from Virginia — took a pitch 18 yards for a score on his second career rushing attempt.
Conclusion
The Dolphins’ victory saved the state of Florida from what would have been an unprecedented 0-12 weekend by its NFL and college teams at the FBS and FCS levels. Miami’s win also meant that the Dolphins, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville didn’t combine to go 0-3 for a third consecutive week for what would have been the first time since Florida became a three-team NFL state in 1995.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: The final score was 23-15 in favor of the Miami Dolphins.
Q: Who caught a short touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa?
A: Tyreek Hill caught a short touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa.
Q: How many games did the Dolphins lose before this win?
A: The Dolphins had lost three games before this win.
Q: What was the Rams’ record before this loss?
A: The Rams’ record was 4-5 before this loss.
Q: How many field goals did Joshua Karty kick for the Rams?
A: Joshua Karty kicked five field goals for the Rams.
