The Miami Dolphins defense put a halt to the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive momentum Monday night, snapping the Rams’ three-game winning streak while correcting their own three-game losing streak with a 23-15 victory at SoFi Stadium on Monday night.
The Dolphins held Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles offense out of the end zone all night, particularly buckling down late as Los Angeles attempted a late comeback.
Miami’s offense fed off that defensive strength as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa orchestrated an efficient game from the opening drive. That opening possession was punctuated by an 18-yard touchdown by rookie Malik Washington to cap a 70-yard drive, which needed less than three minutes to take the early lead.
The Rams (4-5) kept the game close thanks to three fourth-quarter field goals, but after kicker Joshua Karty kicked a 22-yarder in the final minute, Dolphins (3-6) linebacker Duke Reilly recovered the ensuing onside kick to put the game away.
Both team’s kickers did the majority of the scoring for their sides, as Miami’s Jason Sanders made all three of his tries while Karty’s five makes accounted for all of Los Angeles’ points.
Rams offense not playing up to par
The Rams were held without a touchdown Monday night against the Dolphins. The last time they didn’t score a touchdown in a game was in 2023 on the road against Green Bay — when they started backup Brett Rypien in place of an injured Stafford. Rypien was cut after the game.
Simply put, the Rams’ offense is not playing a winning brand of football while the defense is doing all it can to set them up for the opportunity to do so. When gifted the ball at the Dolphins’ 43-yard line in the first half, the Rams turned it over. When gifted it again at the 36-yard line, they were held to a field goal. A false start penalty on the field goal unit took another three points off the board in the third quarter, because it moved Karty’s kick back five yards (he made the first attempt, a 52-yarder, before the flag called it back).
The Rams opened the game with their fifth scoreless first quarter of the season, and their eighth first quarter without a touchdown this season. They were 0-for-6 on third down in the first half (they were 3-for-12 overall), with only six points and seven first downs (106 total yards). — Jourdan Rodrigue, Rams beat writer
Rams shine light on early season woes
Let’s not forget, the win at Seattle looked a lot like this one before Stafford’s overtime heroics with Demarcus Robinson. That was exciting for the team at the time, but certainly not a sustainable existence. Even worse? The offensive line looked less capable than it has over the last few weeks, even though it got back starters Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson.
Jackson’s botched snap to Stafford in the third quarter led to a huge loss of yardage (and Stafford tried to salvage the play instead of just falling on the ball).
Extra pressure wasn’t picked up on another big sack for a loss in the fourth quarter, and Stafford had multiple passes batted at the line of scrimmage including one that led to an interception (both tipped by Calais Campbell, who also had a sack). This feels like a Rams offense that is overthinking the simple executable things, and can only move the ball in spurts that are too infrequent — and often too late. — Rodrigue
Required reading
(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
