The Dolphins lost a second consecutive heartbreaker via a buzzer-beating field goal Sunday in Buffalo. After the 61-yard Tyler Bass boot, the Dolphins fell to 2-6, making their margin for error razor thin for the rest of the season. The early season hole makes the Week 10 matchup in Los Angeles against a red-hot Rams team an important game if Miami is going to turn the campaign around.
It's not hyperbole to say the Rams could be the toughest challenge remaining on the Dolphins 2024 schedule. After a rash of injuries across the offense produced a 1-4 start, the Rams are winners of three straight, including Sunday's 26-20 overtime win in Seattle.
With a nine touchdown to six interception ratio, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's stats don't tell the story of his performance. The former Super Bowl MVP is the engine that makes Head Coach Sean McVay's offense go. His ability to throw from various platforms and beat any type of pass rush with his quick decision-making gives the Rams hope in every contest they play.
Stafford now has his full complement of weapons back as wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp recently returned from the early-season injuries that landed both players on injured reserve. The offensive line is both getting help and losing a piece. Veteran tackle Joe Noteboom is expected to be back just in time for the absence of tackle Rob Havenstein. The Rams haven't started the same offensive line combination in multiple games all season. Los Angeles also opened the practice windows for guards Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson, two of their top players up front, who could return on Monday.
The Dolphins defense figures to get reinforcements with the potential return of defensive tackle Zach Sieler, cornerback Kader Kohou and safety Jevon Holland – three stalwarts who could've helped tilt the tide in the Buffalo game. Safety Patrick McMorris also had his practice window opened this week by the Dolphins.
For the Miami offense, the return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has coincided with the reinstallation of a high-powered, highly efficient attack. The Dolphins have scored on two-thirds of their possessions since Tagovailoa's return and produced 3.6 points per drive.
Tagovailoa's top option in both the run and pass game has been sophomore sensation De'Von Achane. His 14 receptions over the last two games lead the team, as do his 268 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
Achane's inclusion in the passing game is concurrent with an area of Tagovailoa's game that Head Coach Mike McDaniel says is a great sign of growth and evolution of his skill set.
"I thought it was a great display of Tua's evolution of finding completions and utilizing his accuracy and challenging the areas of the field that weren't over-populated," he said of Tagovailoa's 25-of-28 performance Sunday in Buffalo.
The 2-6 hole is deep, but if the Dolphins can find a primetime win on the road in Los Angeles, the next two games are at Hard Rock Stadium, where the Dolphins have been one of the better home teams in the NFL the last decade.
Make sure to check out the Injury Report and the team's official social media accounts 90 minutes before kickoff to see who is active for the game.
Watch the game live on Monday, November 11 at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, and listen on the Dolphins Radio Network and view the Game Center for the latest coverage.
