The Miami Dolphins travel to Inglewood, California, to face the Los Angeles Rams for the final game of the NFL's Week 10 slate on "Monday Night Football" (8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN). The Dolphins enter Monday night's matchup on a three-game losing streak and despite Tua Tagovailoa's return under center, Miami has lost by one score in back-to-back games.
Meanwhile, the Rams are on a three-game winning streak, coming off a huge overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9. Matthew Stafford has found success with his top two receivers, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, back on the field.
Both the Dolphins and Rams have two of most high-powered offenses in the NFL and this game opened with one of the highest totals of the week (50.5). The line has since ticked down to 48.5 likely due to the status of Tyreek Hill, who is listed as a game-time decision for Monday night with a wrist injury. The Rams are 2.5-point favorites and currently have +500 odds to win the NFC West.
The 4-4 Rams have bounced back and are relatively healthy with a shot at the postseason. Is it too late for the 2-6 Dolphins in an AFC where the last playoff spot could end up being claimed by a team with a losing record?
The Rams won the toss and deferred. The Dolphins will receive the opening kickoff. Let's football.
Late injury note for the Rams. Backup cornerback Charles Woods may not be available after injuring his ankle in warmups.
We're moments from kickoff. Two teams whose seasons were derailed early by injury are almost ready to take the field.
Rams inactives include starting right tackle Rob Havenstein, who was ruled out earlier in the week with an ankle injury.
Dolphins inactives are in, and Tyreek Hill isn't listed. The Dolphins receiver will play through a torn wrist ligament against the Rams.
The Rams defense played like a top 10 unit through October, but had not yet faced a speed-and-timing offense such as the Dolphins’. Still, they handled the quick throw and space-testing plays like screens and checkdowns well – but on a long third down, three players whiffed on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and he was able to create a play downfield to Jaylen Waddle which set up Miami’s first touchdown a snap later.
After a three-and-out on their first possession, the Rams offense started their next drive at the L.A. 49-yard line because of a Dolphins penalty on the previous punt. This should have set them up to move the ball into at minimum field goal range, but instead, Kyren Williams got just a yard on a run, quarterback Matthew Stafford’s second-down pass was tipped by Dolphins defensive end Calais Campbell and nearly intercepted and then Stafford took a sack on third down that led to their second punt in two possessions.
Just when the Rams started moving the ball a little on offense — their first first down came on their third possession — Stafford again had a pass tipped by Campbell and this time he was intercepted.
The Rams were scoreless in the first quarter for the fifth time this season.
The Dolphins extend their lead thanks to a Jason Sanders 50-yard field goal. Sanders is 15-of-19 in field goals this season.
Jaylen Waddle's dropped catch on third down should've been caught.
The Rams have come prepared for the Dolphins' outside rushing attack. Coming into tonight, 61.8 percent of Miami's rushing attempts (151 of 244 attempts) have been outside the tackles.
According to NFL Pro, the Dolphins' -0.28 EPA per rush attempt on outside runs are the second-worst mark behind the Las Vegas Raiders. The Rams allowed 77.3 rushing yards per game on runs outside the tackles before tonight, ninth most in the NFL.
Through one quarter, the Miami Dolphins lead by seven over the Los Angeles Rams. Malik Washington's touchdown run is the difference in this game.
Miami begins the second quarter driving in Rams territory at L.A.'s 39.
Dolphins linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. picks off Matthew Stafford for the first takeaway of the game. It was Calais Campbell who tipped Stafford's pass, leading to the Walker interception.
The Dolphins have great field position, starting at the Miami 46.
The Rams get their first first down of the night, thanks to a Matthew Stafford pass to Blake Corum for seven yards.
The Dolphins can't get into Rams territory on this drive. Another solid job defensively for the Rams, as Kobie Turner bats a Tua Tagovailoa pass on third down.
Rams regain possession.
The Dolphins extend the drive thanks to a Tua Tagovailoa pass to Raheem Mostert for nine yards.
Three of the first four drives of this game have resulted in punts. That might seem to bode towards the over/under in total points moving down, but the opposite has happened. That number started the game at 49.5 points and is now 50.5 in live in-game betting at BetMGM.
The Rams get their first first down of the night, thanks to a Matthew Stafford pass to Blake Corum for seven yards.
The Dolphins can't get into Rams territory on this drive. Another solid job defensively for the Rams, as Kobie Turner bats a Tua Tagovailoa pass on third down.
Rams regain possession.
The Dolphins extend the drive thanks to a Tua Tagovailoa pass to Raheem Mostert for nine yards.
Nothing happening yet for the Rams offense. It's another three-and-out, ending with a Chop Robinson sack.
The Dolphins will start on offense at their own 16.
Three throws. Three incomplete passes for Tua Tagovailoa, leading to a Dolphins three-and-out. It's clear Miami wants to pass the ball tonight.
The Los Angeles offense will look to improve on its first drive.
One Miami touchdown and a Rams opening drive punt were enough to move the Dolphins from underdog to favorite betting odds status. The Dolphins are now listed at -3.5 points in live in-game betting at BetMGM.
Zach Sieler is one of the biggest unsung heroes on the Dolphins defense. That 10-yard tackle for loss gives Sieler his 40th tackle for loss with the Dolphins. Since joining Miami in 2019, he has the second-most tackles for loss for the franchise behind current Raiders edge rusher Christian Wilkins (43).
A strong start for the Miami Dolphins defense to force a Rams three-and-out. The big moment was the first play of the drive when Zach Sieler tackled Kyren Williams for a loss of 10 yards. Sieler missed the last two games due to a fractured orbital.
Miami gains possession and will start on offense at their own 18.
Jaylen Waddle is off to a scorching hot start. Just three minutes into the game, Waddle's 55 yards on the first drive already make this his second-most productive game of 2024, and his best game since his 109-yard performance in Miami's season opener against Jacksonville.
Dolphins tested their workable space early on with some of the quick short stuff and Rams played it well. But three missed tackles later, Tua created downfield and it set up a Dolphins touchdown.
What a start for the Miami Dolphins! Malik Washington, on just his second carry of the season, scurries through the Rams defense to get the running touchdown.
The Dolphins needed just five plays to go 70 yards and open the scoring.
A huge play for the Dolphins on third down. Tua Tagovailoa scrambles and heaves a pass to the left side to Jaylen Waddle for 36 yards.
A wide open catch gives the Dolphins a much needed first down.
We're underway from Sofi Stadium. The Dolphins start with the ball.
