LOS ANGELES – Tyreek Hill caught a Tua Tagovailoa pass for a touchdown, Jason Sanders made two 50-yard field goals, and the Miami Dolphins ended their losing streak with a 23-15 win on the road against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday.
This Monday evening clash pitted two clubs going in diametrically opposite directions: the Dolphins had fallen in the standings due to three consecutive losses, while the Rams had managed to restore hope to their fans by posting three wins.
In their three consecutive defeats, the Dolphins were defeated by a margin of ten points.
With a record of 3-6, Miami is in turn somewhat reviving hope, although its place in the standings remains far from ideal.
The task that awaits Mike McDaniel’s men promises to be difficult, since only two teams with a 2-6 record have eventually reached the playoffs since 1990.
Malik Washington had an 18-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, scoring his first NFL touchdown. He was drafted in the sixth round this year.
Tua Tagovailoa had 207 air yards. On third downs he was nine for 12, for 137 yards.
As for the Rams, they saw their good progress being slowed down, in addition to slipping below the .500 mark again with this fifth defeat in their ninth game of the season.
All of LA’s points were scored on field goals from Joshua Karty, who hit five of his six attempts, including a long 55-yard try.
Matthew Stafford thought he had led the Rams offense to its first touchdown of the night midway through the fourth quarter. His pass to running back Kyren Williams in the end zone, however, lacked precision, forcing the crowd favorites to settle for a short field goal.
Tagovailoa then completed a few key throws to help the Floridians pick up two first downs, paving the way for Sanders’ third field goal of the night, as well as a renewed two-possession priority.
Once again, the Rams aerial attack was unable to achieve success in the pay zone on the ensuing offensive sequence, so they relied one last time on Karty with 46 seconds left, before fail on the short kick attempt.
Stafford totaled 293 passing yards. Puka Nacua had nine catches for 98 yards, while Cooper Kupp had 80 yards on seven receptions.
