In a season that has been defined by heartbreaking losses, major injuries, and maddeningly inconsistent play, the Miami Dolphins finally put it all together on Monday night. While their preseason Super Bowl aspirations may still seem like a longshot, their gritty 23-15 victory over the Los Angeles Rams showed that this team still has some fight left in them.
Tyreek Hill’s Touchdown Ends Scoring Drought
The turning point of the game came in the third quarter when star wide receiver Tyreek Hill hauled in a short touchdown pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The score ended the longest touchdown drought of Hill’s illustrious career and gave the Dolphins a lead they would not relinquish.
Hill, who was playing through a wrist injury, finished the game with three crucial receptions. His touchdown grab exemplified the toughness and resilience that the Dolphins displayed throughout the contest.
Dolphins Defense Stands Tall
While the offense struggled at times, the Miami defense stepped up in a big way. They forced two key turnovers and held the high-powered Rams offense without a touchdown for the entire game, despite giving up 327 total yards.
When we’re playing our best ball, we can still beat anybody. We’ve just got to continue to believe, continue to fight.
Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbell
The defensive effort was especially impressive considering the Dolphins’ struggles this season. They had lost three straight games by a combined 10 points entering Monday night’s matchup. But against the Rams, they finally found a way to close out a tight game.
A Potential Turning Point?
For a team that entered the game with a disappointing 2-6 record, this win could prove to be a pivotal moment in their season. As Campbell noted after the game, a victory like this has the potential to spark a run if the Dolphins can build on this momentum.
This is the kind of game that can spark a run. But it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win the next one.
Calais Campbell
Tagovailoa echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the importance of not letting this win go to waste. “We’ve come a long way through however many losses in a row,” the quarterback said. “The resilience of this team with the external noise, everyone counting us out, hopefully this is an opportunity to not waste.”
Rams Offensive Woes Continue
On the other side, the loss was a disappointing one for a Rams team that had won three straight games entering Monday night. Their offense, which had been clicking during the winning streak, struggled mightily against the Dolphins.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 293 yards but failed to lead the Rams into the end zone. It marked just the eighth time in coach Sean McVay’s tenure that Los Angeles was held without an offensive touchdown.
Defensively, I was pleased with the way we played. Ultimately we weren’t able to capitalize on offense. There wasn’t any semblance of complementary football.
Rams head coach Sean McVay
The Rams had a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter, driving deep into Miami territory. But McVay opted to settle for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 16-15 with just over six minutes to play.
That decision proved costly, as the Dolphins responded with a long drive punctuated by a key third-down catch from Odell Beckham Jr. in his return to the stadium where he won a Super Bowl with the Rams just three seasons prior. The drive ended with Jason Sanders’ 50-yard field goal, effectively sealing the win for Miami.
Looking Ahead
With the victory, the Dolphins improved to 3-6 on the season and kept their slim playoff hopes alive in a crowded AFC race. They will look to build on this performance next week when they host the Cleveland Browns.
The Rams, meanwhile, fell to 4-5 with the loss and saw their three-game winning streak snapped. They will attempt to rebound next Sunday when they visit the New Orleans Saints.
But for one night, at least, it was the Dolphins who emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle between two teams desperate for a win. And if they can bottle up the formula that led them to success on Monday night, perhaps this victory will indeed prove to be the spark that ignites a late-season resurgence in Miami.
