Tyreek Hill caught a short touchdown pass A goal from Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter led the Miami Dolphins to a 23-15 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, ending a three-game losing streak.
Rookie receiver Malik Washington scored his first NFL touchdown on the opening possession of a much-anticipated comeback for the beleaguered Dolphins (3-6), who had lost three games by a combined 10 points since their last win Oct. 6. hurried. A season that started with Super Bowl aspirations was all but ruined after losing six of the first seven games in Miami.
The Dolphins’ solid defense stepped up impressively at SoFi Stadium, forcing two turnovers and keeping the Rams out of the end zone despite gaining 327 yards.
Matthew Stafford passed for 293 yards and rookie Joshua Carty made five field goals for the Rams (4-5), whose winning streak ended at three with a major setback on offense. This is the eighth time in coach Sean McVay’s eight seasons that Los Angeles has failed to score a touchdown, and only the second time in Stafford’s four years in uniform that Los Angeles has failed to score an offensive touchdown.
Tagovailoa passed for just 207 yards, but made a series of big throws, most of them key moments, while the Dolphins converted six third downs. Tagovailoa was 9 of 12 on third down for 137 yards.
Hill had three receptions while playing through a wrist injury, and Jason Sanders kicked three field goals.
Los Angeles, which scored 76 points in its third straight win, failed to score a touchdown for the first time since Nov. 5, 2023, at Green Bay while Stafford was injured.
Puka Nacua had nine catches for 98 yards and Cooper Kupp had seven receptions for 80 yards.
It took Miami less than three minutes to take the lead. After Tagovailoa hit Jaylen Waddle on third-and-long for 36 yards, Washington, a sixth-round pick out of Virginia, threw for 18 yards and a score on his second career rushing attempt.
Los Angeles’ offense gained just 27 yards on its first five drives, and Stafford had his sixth consecutive interception when Anthony Walker Jr. dived to catch a chipped ball just before the end of the first quarter.
Tagovailoa threw his first interception since September 12 to Christian Roseboom in the second quarter, but Kyren Williams fumbled on the Rams’ next play. Rams rookie Jared Barth sacked Tagovailoa and recovered the fumble four plays later at the Miami 36, but the Rams could only manage a field goal.
After Carty’s 52-yard run was negated by a fumble start in the third quarter and he missed a 57-yard field goal, the Dolphins drove up the middle and Hill made a 1-yard TD catch to take a 17-6 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Los Angeles trailed to the Miami 4, but McVay made his fourth field goal with 6:31 remaining to make it a one-point lead.
Miami’s Odell Beckham Jr. then The key catch for a first down In the same stadium where he suffered a serious knee injury while winning a Super Bowl with the Rams three seasons ago, the Dolphins attempted Sanders’ 50-yard field goal with 2:38 remaining.
save florida
Miami’s victory saves Florida State from crisis. It would have been an unprecedented 0-12 weekend. Offered by college teams at the NFL and FBS and FCS levels.
It also meant that for the first time since Florida became a three-team NFL state in 1995, three teams — the Dolphins, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville — failed to go 0-3 for three consecutive weeks. .
The state’s FBS teams went 0-6 this weekend, with three Florida FCS schools losing as well.
injury
Dolphins: CB Kendall Fuller was injured on the fourth play of the second half and entered concussion protocol. … RT Austin Jackson (knee) was placed on injured reserve hours before kickoff. Coach Mike McDaniel said the Southern California product should not be released during the season.
Rams: With Rob Havenstein (ankle) out, RT Joe Noteboom (ankle) made his first start since the season opener, but struggled against Miami rookie Chops Robinson.
to the next
Dolphins: Host Las Vegas on Sunday.
Rams: At New England on Sunday.
Associated Press reported.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to stay informed about games, news and more