Miami Dolphins Win at Los Angeles Rams: 5 Instant Takeaways

On November 12, 2024By Littum

The Miami Dolphins played the Los Angeles Rams on “Monday Night Football.”

Miami needed a win to keep any long-shot hopes alive at an AFC playoff spot, and the Dolphins got it.

It was Dolphins 23, Rams 15.

The Dolphins, at 3-6, are just one game behind the Broncos for the seventh and final playoff position in the AFC. And they are 1.5 games behind the 5-5 Broncos overall.

Miami has the struggling Raiders and woeful Patriots on deck at Hard Rock Stadium.

The Rams are 4-5.

Before the game, Tyreek Hill was declared active for the Dolphins, despite a wrist injury.

Hill caught a touchdown in the third quarter from Tua Tagovailoa.

The difference in this game?

Miami was effective on third downs on offense.

And Miami was dominant, again, on third downs on defense.

The Dolphins allowed five field goals, but zero touchdowns.

Tua Tagovailoa needs to protect himself, football

Tua Tagovailoa threw an interception to Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom in the second quarter.

It was an unfortunate decision, but Tua almost made it much worse. Tua tried to tackle Rozeboom and ended up kneeing in the helmet.

Tua did not leave the game for evaluation. But can Tua please stop putting herself in danger?

He must.

In the very next series, Tua was sacked and fumbled.

Tua wants to extend more games in the second half of this season.

But he has to know when to throw the ball away. And he must know when to put the ball safely away.

In the fourth quarter, Tua took a bad sack when the team was in field-goal range.

Calais Campbell is a revelation dolphins

Calais Campbell has been one of the Dolphins’ best players this season.

And it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, except he’s 38 years old.

Campbell had a sack in the first half.

Campbell had two batted passes in the first half. And one was that they were intercepted by linebacker Anthony Walker.

The combination of Campbell and Zach Sieler has been dangerous.

Sieler made his presence known early with a tackle for loss of 10 yards after a Rams catch.

Miami can only hope it’s still alive if and when Bradley Chubb returns to the field in 2024.

Miami’s defense was excellent again in the first half, holding the Rams to 0-for-6 on third down.

First-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has done an outstanding job this season.

Rookie contributions by Chop Robinson, Malik Washington

Edge rusher Chop Robinson got his second sack in as many weeks, going outside and then inside to take down Matthew Stafford.

Chop and the teammates threw a party where they simulated cutting down a tree.

Rookie receiver Malik Washington also had an 18-yard touchdown run on an end-around pitch from Tua.

Malik has exceptional quickness — he’s a Dolphin, go figure — and could be a key future contributor in the receiving game and as a high-ceiling punt returner.

With less than five minutes to play, Tua was counting on Washington to get a key finish.

Strong season for Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver

The Dolphins defense has been absolutely dominant on third downs this season.

Credit to first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

The Dolphins defense has been able to generate pressure without tons of blitzes.

Credit to Weaver.

On Monday night, the Dolphins settled into the red zone and held the Rams to three field goals in the first three quarters. All five Los Angeles scores on the night were field goals.

Again, credit to Weaver.

It was hard to know how Miami’s defense would fare with the departure of coordinator Vic Fangio.

This defense is better.

When things are going well, the Dolphins run a version of the 49ers offense and a version of the Ravens defense.

It’s a winning formula.

Weaver is a good communicator and teacher, and he’s a better coordinator in his second NFL crack at the job.

This & that

Receiver River Cracraft is an underrated player in Miami’s offense and the main reason is his blocking. Cracraft had a key block on Malik Washington’s touchdown run. … Guard Rob Jones struggled on a sack and later came off with a knee injury. Guard Liam Eichenberg had a hard time anchoring on a few reps. Eichenberg did brilliantly in one game and pulled off a flagged header. … Kendall Lamb started at right tackle for Austin Jackson (knee), who will miss at least four games on injured reserve. … Security Jevon Holland (hand/knee) returned to the Dolphins and picked up a sack. … Jaylen Waddle failed to make a third-down catch. … Quinton Bell got his first NFL sack and forced a Rams fumble. … Cornerback Cam Smith made a key third-down tackle after Kendall Fuller back due to injury. Fuller was later ruled out with a concussion. … Opponents had made 10 of 11 field goals before the Rams finally missed a 57-yarder in the third quarter. … John Smith absolutely truck a guy in the third quarter, inspiring his teammates. When was the last time Miami had a tight end that will run people over? … Tyreek Hillwho was playing with a wrist injury, caught a 1-yard touchdown from Tua. … Da’Shawn’s hand forced a fumble and later had a tackle for loss. … Siran Neal entered the game when Kader Kohou left in the fourth quarter. But Kohou only missed one game and returned. … Jaylen Wright was a running back Mike McDaniel finally reversed in the fourth quarter. … Odell Beckham, Jr., made the biggest catch of his Dolphins career, a third-down grab with less than five minutes to play. … Jason Sanders was 3-for-3 on field goals.

Joe Schad is a covering journalist Miami Dolphins and NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s Free Weekly Dolphins Pulse newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.