Tyreek Hill makes key TD catch as Dolphins hold off Rams to snap 3-game skid

By Greg Beacham, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyreek Hill caught a short touchdown passfrom Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter, and the Miami Dolphinssnapped their three-match losing streak with a gritty 23-15 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday evening.

Rookie receiver Malik Washington rushed for his first NFL touchdown on the opening possession of a much-needed turnaround game for the beleaguered Dolphins (3-6), who had lost three games by a combined 10 points since their last victory on Oct. 6. Miami had lost six of seven since the opener, all to ruin a season that started with Super Bowl aspirations.

The Dolphins’ solid defense stepped up impressively at SoFi Stadium, forcing two turnovers and keeping the Rams out of the end zone despite returning 327 yards.

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 failed to score a touchdown for only the eighth time in coach Sean McVay’s eight seasons, and it was unable to score an offensive touchdown for only the second time in four years when Stafford was in uniform.

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.

Hill had three receptions while playing due to a wrist injury, and Jason Sanders made three field goals.

After scoring 76 points in the three straight wins, Los Angeles failed to score a touchdown for the first time since November 5, 2023 in Green Bay, while Stafford was injured.

Puka Nacua had nine catches for 98 yards, and Cooper Kupp made seven receptions for 80 yards.

Miami needed less than three minutes to score first. After Tagovailoa hit Jaylen Waddle 36 yards on third-and-long, Washington — a sixth-round pick out of Virginia — took a throw 18 yards for a score on his second career rushing attempt.

Los Angeles’ offense managed just 27 yards on its first five drives, and Stafford threw an interception in his sixth straight game when Anthony Walker Jr. dived to catch a tipped ball just before the first quarter ended.

Tagovailoa threw his first interception since September 12 to Christian Rozeboom in the second quarter, but Kyren Williams fumbled the Rams’ next play. Rams rookie Jared Verse sacked Tagovailoa and recovered the fumble at the Miami 36 four plays later, but the Rams could only manage a field goal.

After Karty missed a 57-yard field goal attempt when a false start wiped out his successful 52 yards in the third quarter, the Dolphins drove from midfield for Hill’s 1-yard touchdown catch and a 17–6 lead.

Los Angeles drove to the Miami 4 in the fourth quarter, but McVay settled for a fourth field goal, making it a one-score game with 6:31 to play.

Miami’s Odell Beckham Jr. made then a key catch for a first downat 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 to go.

Save Florida

Miami’s win saved Florida State from what would have been an unprecedented 0-12 weekend by the NFL and college teams at the FBS and FCS level.

It also meant the Dolphins, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville didn’t combine to go 0-3 for the third straight week, which would have been the first time since Florida became a three-team NFL state in 1995.

The state’s FBS teams went 0-6 this weekend, and Florida’s three FCS schools all lost as well.

Injuries

Dolphins: CB Kendall Fuller was injured on the fourth play of the second half and entered the concussion protocol. … RT Austin Jackson (knee) went on injured reserve hours before kickoff. The Southern California product should not play this season, coach Mike McDaniel said.

Rams: With Rob Havenstein (ankle) sidelined, RT Joe Noteboom (ankle) started his first appearance since the season opener, but struggled against Miami rookie Chop Robinson.

Next

Dolphins: Hosts Las Vegas on Sunday.

Rams: Sunday in New England.

AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.

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