Last season, both the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Rams participated in the postseason. They both returned rosters that were of playoff quality.
However, there are only a finite number of opportunities to succeed in an NFL season, and a few difficult losses can leave a significant gap. The Dolphins may regard their performance on Monday night as melancholy. In a 23-15 victory, they comfortably defeated a Rams team that was quite proficient on the road. They may also choose to view that film and contemplate the potential outcomes had Tua Tagovailoa not missed four games due to a concussion and had they not lost consecutive games on last-second field goals upon his return. Maybe they would be pursuing an additional playoff berth if they had a few more victories, rather than being far behind at 3-6.
Probably, the Rams will also harbour regrets. They began the season with a sluggish start, but they were 4-4 heading into Monday night’s game, following three consecutive victories. Subsequently, they forfeited their momentum in an unappealing performance against the Dolphins. They appeared unusually unprepared, a phenomenon that is uncommon among Sean McVay’s teams. At 4-5, the Rams are not yet doomed; however, their trajectory to a playoff berth has become considerably more challenging.
No, the Dolphins are not yet technically extinct. Nevertheless, they will reflect on games such as Monday night and consider how their season might have been different if they had received a few blessings earlier in the season, unless they achieve an extraordinary conclusion.
In the initial half, the Rams have performed poorly.
The Rams did not execute many successful plays during the initial half. At the commencement of the game, they conceded a touchdown drive that was exceedingly rapid. The offensive line encountered difficulty in safeguarding Matthew Stafford. Even though the Rams secured an interception following a poor pass from Tagovailoa, Kyren Williams mishandled it on the subsequent play.
It is uncommon for the Rams to appear unenergized, but they endured an unpleasant first half.
The Dolphins were not significantly superior. The offence became stymied following their initial touchdown drive, which accumulated 70 yards in less than three minutes. In the first half, neither quarterback amassed 100 yards. Before halftime, the teams exchanged six punts and four turnovers. The Rams managed to score a field goal as the half concluded, and they were only 10-6 behind at the break. In light of their difficulties, that outcome was not particularly detrimental.
The second half commenced with an abundance of repetition. Stafford recovered a fumbled kickoff for a 13-yard loss, despite the Rams being in full drive. The Rams were able to score a 52-yard field goal; however, it was disallowed as a result of a false start penalty. Joshua Karty then failed to convert the 57-yard attempt.
The Rams are among the most adeptly managed clubs in the National Football League. However, they were exceedingly negligent throughout the majority of Monday evening.
Dolphins increase their advantage
The Dolphins capitalised on the Rams’ failed field goal from 57 yards. Tyreek Hill scored a touchdown after Jonnu Smith made a reception and a difficult carry downfield to the 1-yard line. This resulted in Miami’s advantage being 17-6.
The Rams were not entirely eliminated from the game when they trailed 20-9 in the middle of the fourth quarter. The Rams advanced to the 5-yard line, but the drive was halted, prompting McVay to elect to attempt a field goal. This resulted in a score of 20-12 with 6:31 remaining. The Rams were unable to execute when it was necessary.
The Dolphins put the game away after that, picking up some first downs and chewing up most of the rest of the clock. With 2:38 remaining, Jason Sanders scored a field goal, effectively securing the victory by extending the lead to 11 points. Although Miami’s victory was not necessarily visually appealing, it was a triumph on the road that was relatively stress-free.
Miami possesses the potential to be a respectable team for the remainder of the season. The Rams offence, which had been performing well, was suppressed by the defence, and the offence was not particularly impressive on Monday night. However, it is typically strong when Tagovailoa is healthy. However, Miami will need to achieve near-perfect performance to secure an additional postseason berth, as they have already suffered six losses.
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