Midway through a season full of heartbreaking losses, major injuries and wildly inconsistent play, the Miami Dolphins mostly got things right on Monday night.
While their preseason Super Bowl aspirations still seem unlikely, the Dolphins’ gritty 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams showed they still have a chance to make something of a very difficult year.
Tyreek Hill caught a short touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter to end the longest scoring drought of his career, and the Dolphins (3-6) kept Los Angeles out of the end zone as they continued their three-game losing streak broke with just their second win in eight games.
“If we play our best ball, we can still beat anyone,” defensive tackle Calais Campbell said. “We just have to keep believing and keep fighting. And of course the margin of error is zero. So it’s one game, but we have to keep it going. If we want to go where we want to go, we have to keep fighting and believing.”
Rookie receiver Malik Washington rushed for 18 yards on the opening possession of a much-needed turnaround night for the beleaguered Dolphins (3-6), who had lost three games by a combined 10 points since their last win on Oct. 6.
Miami’s solid defense improved impressively at SoFi Stadium, forcing two turnovers and holding the Rams touchdown-less despite returning 327 yards.
Tagovailoa passed for just 207 yards, but he made a series of big throws as the Dolphins converted six third downs, most of them in key moments. Tagovailoa was 9 of 12 for 137 yards on third downs alone.
“We have come a long way despite losing a lot in a row,” Tagovailoa said. “The resilience of this team with the external noise, with everyone ignoring us, hopefully this is an opportunity we can’t waste. Hopefully with this win we can continue and find our rhythm.”
Hill had three receptions – including his first TD catch since the season opener – while playing with a wrist injury, and Jason Sanders made three field goals.
“This is the kind of play that can lead to a run,” Campbell said. “But it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win the next one… The hard part is: how do you continue with this? But as we said in the [pregame] meetings, to start a wildfire it only takes one spark. So we keep believing, keep fighting and running for it.”
The Rams’ run was abruptly halted.
Matthew Stafford passed for 293 yards and rookie Joshua Karty kicked five field goals for the Rams (4-5), whose three-game winning streak ended with a major offensive regression. Los Angeles managed to score a touchdown for only the eighth time in coach Sean McVay’s eight seasons.
“Defensively, I was pleased with the way we played,” McVay said. “In the end we couldn’t use the attack. There was no semblance of complementary football… There have been instances where we haven’t been consistent enough. Dirty? Yes. We have to play better and be more consistent.”
After scoring 76 points in their three straight wins, Los Angeles failed to score a touchdown in Green Bay for the first time since November 2023, while Stafford was injured.
Puka Nacua had nine catches for 98 yards, and Cooper Kupp made seven receptions for 80 yards.
Los Angeles drove to the Miami four-yard line in the fourth quarter, but McVay settled for a fourth field goal, making it a one-score game with 6:31 to play. Odell Beckham Jr. from Miami then made a key catch for a first in the stadium, where he seriously injured his knee while winning the Super Bowl with the Rams three seasons ago, and the Dolphins drove for Sanders’ 50-yard field goal with 2:38 left. left.