THE Miami Dolphins the defense was primarily responsible for back-to-back losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills. But it was this unit that proved heroic in a 23-15 primetime battle against the Los Angeles Rams.
Through 60 minutes, the Rams couldn’t get into the end zone once. While outgaining the Dolphins’ offense by nearly 100 yards (327 to 238), Los Angeles was forced to settle for six field goal attempts, five of which were successful.
Despite a lackluster performance from the Dolphins offense, they scored two touchdowns and that was enough.
Here’s who stood out the most – in both good and bad ways – in the Dolphins’ 23-15 victory:
Stallion: Calais Campbell
By halftime, the Dolphins’ perennial defensive lineman had already made a sack and intercepted two passes from Matthew Stafford. One of those tips resulted in an interception by linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. that put Miami in range for a field goal in the second quarter. Campbell, who is in his 17th season in the NFL, has arguably been the Dolphins’ most valuable defensive player in 2024 and made a huge impact on Monday night.
Stud: the dolphins pass the race
A Miami pass rush that has been nonexistent for most of the season came up against a Rams offensive line as healthy as it’s been all year, and somehow the Rams’ front Dolphins ended up wreaking havoc all night. Chop Robinson, Calais Campbell, Quinton Bell and Jevón Holland all recorded sacks and Jordyn Brooks tackled Stafford for a 13-yard loss that was not counted as a sack because it was determined to be of a racing game.
Dud: Tua Tagovailoa’s tackling technique
Tagovailoa threw an interception in the second quarter. His decision to dive headfirst into the Rams’ Christian Rozeboom, thereby taking a knee to the head, was even worse. Luckily for the Dolphins, their starting quarterback wasn’t bothered by the contact with his head.
“I wasn’t planning on using my head to hit him,” Tagovailoa said after the match. “It was very bad tackling form, quite terrible.”
It would probably be a good idea for Tagovailoa to step aside if he finds himself in a similar situation in the future.
Stallion: Jalen Ramsey
Matthew Stafford completed 32 passes and racked up 293 yards through the air, but it was far from a dominant performance for the Rams quarterback. Those numbers came on 46 attempts and the most important stat of all was his zero touchdown passes.
With big plays coming against Kendall Fuller, Kader Kohou and Cam Smith, throwing in Ramsey’s direction was a failed attempt. Along with some lockdown coverage against the Rams’ star receiver duo, Ramsey was a reliable tackler who made some big stops.
Dud: dolphin racing game
The Dolphins’ first run of the game was an 18-yard touchdown run to rookie receiver Malik Washington. From then on, nothing changed on the ground for Miami. De’Von Achane only managed to collect 37 yards on 12 carries and it was even more difficult for rookie Jaylen Wright, who managed only three yards on five carries.
Stallion: Discipline
Seven penalties were handed down Monday evening. Six were against the Rams.
The only flag thrown for a penalty against the Dolphins was unsportsmanlike conduct by special teamer Siran Neal for spending a little too much time going out of bounds on a punt.
After often shooting itself in the foot in three straight one-score losses, Miami avoided those kinds of mistakes in Week 10.
This article was originally published on Dolphins Wire: Nails and misses in Dolphins’ 23-15 win over Rams in Week 10
