Darnell Sallins
November 12, 2024, 11:20AM
Monday Night Football did not go as planned for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams lost to the Miami Dolphins 23-15 las t night in Los Angeles. A game where the offense shot themselves in the foot too many times despite a valiant effort from their young defense. A young defense under defensive coordinator Chris Shula that continues to improve every week.
The Rams defense forced two more turnovers last night. Linebacker Christian Rozeboom intercepted Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa in the second quarter putting the Rams at the Dolphins' 14-yard line. Prime position to put on the board down 10-0. However, the very next play, running back Kyren Williams fumbles and the Dolphins turn away the Rams in the redzone. The Rams' defense stepped up again three plays later. First round draft pick, defensive end, Jared Verse sacked Tagovailoa, forcing the fumble, and recoverin the fumble, putting the Rams at the Miami 36-yard line. The Rams would settle for their first of five Joshua Karty's field goals.
That was pretty much the theme of the night for the Los Angeles Rams, settling for field goals and not converting touchdown opportunities. The Rams got the second Karty field goal right before the half to trim the Dolphins' lead to 10-6. To the begin the second half, Karty missed from 57 yards after a false start penalty on the Rams when Karty made the field goal from 52 yards. Shooting themselves in the foot and the Dolphins on the following possession, scored a touchdown with Tagovailoa connecting with Tyreek Hill from 1-yard out. Dolphins go up 17-6 instead of Dolphins leading 10-9, a ten-point swing in favor of Miami.
After that, the Rams and Dolphins traded field goals back and forth until the Rams failed to recover the onside kick. Miami takes a couple of kneel downs and end their three-game losing streak. The Rams saw their three-game winning snapped as well.
The Dolphins' offense was not explosive on Monday night. Tagovailoa passed for 207 yards with one touchdown pass, one interception, ad one fumble lost. The running game of the Dolphins was held to 67 yards on 22 carries. Tyreek Hill had three catches for 16 yards and the one touchdown. Jaylen Waddle had three catches for 57 yards. 238 total yards on offense for the Dolphins is a missed opportunity for the Rams to win this game.
The Rams had 327 of total yards, 257 passing yards, 70 rushing yards, 20 first downs all of which were better than the Dolphins. However, the Rams were 3-12 on 3rd downs, Dolphins 6-13 on 3rd downs. Rams committed six penalties for 64 yards, Dolphins one penalty for 15 yards. Most importantly, Rams were 0-3 in the red zone, Dolphins 2-3 in the red zone.
Now the Rams sit at 4-5 on the season and have little room for error for the rest of the season. The Rams are currently third in the NFC West behind the Arizona Cardinals (6-4) and San Francisco 49ers (5-4). The Rams are 2-1 in the NFC West division with the lone lost coming to the Cardinals in Week 2 but have wins over the 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams currently 10th in NFC as the Minnesota Vikings (7-2) hold the fifth spot, Washington Commanders (7-3) in the sixth spot, and Green Bay Packers (6-3) in the seventh spot as wildcard teams. The Rams also behind the 49ers currently eighth and the Chicago Bears (4-5) currently nineth. Losses to Chicago in Week 4 and Green Bay in Week 5 put those teams ahead of the Rams due to head-to-head.
Next game is Sunday, on a short week as the Rams travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots before being back in the primetime slot in Week 12 when the Philadelphia Eagles come to SoFi Stadium.
Comments