Miami Dolphins (2-6) will face off against the LA Rams (4-4) on Monday at 8:15 p.m. EST, airing on ESPN. The current odds from BetMGM show the Rams favored by a point. For those considering the betting spread, the Dolphins are 2-6 and the Rams sit at 3-5. The historical matchup favors the Dolphins, who hold a 12-2 edge in their series, including a recent victory where they outperformed the Rams 28-17 in Miami Gardens on November 1, 2020.
Last week, the Dolphins suffered a close defeat to the Buffalo Bills, ending with a score of 30-27, while the Rams clinched a hard-fought victory over the Seattle Seahawks, winning 26-20 in overtime. In metrics, the Dolphins rank 20th overall in offensive performance, with their rushing game standing out at 9th but the passing game ranked 24th, resulting in them being 31st in scoring. On the other side, the Rams are 18th overall in offense, with a struggling rushing game at 26th but a potent passing attack sitting at 9th, contributing to their 21st overall scoring rank. Defensively, the Dolphins rank 7th, particularly strong in passing at 4th and overall scoring defense at 17th, while the Rams sit lower at 24th in defense across the board.
For the Dolphins, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been on fire since returning from injured reserve, successfully completing 80.3% of his passes, amassing three touchdowns without a single interception over the last two matches. His performance against Buffalo featured a remarkable 14-play, 97-yard drive culminating in a 14-yard touchdown pass to running back De’Von Achane. As for the Rams, rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske is a player to keep an eye on; he impressed by recording two sacks against Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and two tackles for loss, highlighting his potential to disrupt plays as he tallies three sacks and four tackles for loss across the past five games.
A pivotal matchup to watch will be Rams’ wide receiver Cooper Kupp against Dolphins’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Having previously been teammates in Los Angeles for four seasons, this game will mark their competitive return to the field against each other. Kupp recently showcased his talent with 11 receptions and 104 yards in a victory at Seattle after an ankle injury, while Ramsey attained his first interception of the season and effectively contained the Bills during last week’s game.
Injury updates reveal that Dolphins’ coach Mike McDaniel is hopeful about defensive tackle Zach Sieler’s return, having missed two games due to a fractured orbital bone. However, the Rams will be without right tackle Rob Havenstein because of an ankle injury. Havenstein’s position was temporarily filled by Warren McClendon Jr., but Joe Noteboom, recently activated off injured reserve, is also a viable option to step in.
Historically, the Rams have struggled against the Dolphins, having lost five consecutive games since their last victory in 2001 when they were based in St. Louis. Notably, the Dolphins have maintained a perfect score in their four matchups played in Los Angeles.
In recent stats, the Dolphins displayed one of their strongest overall performances despite the loss to Buffalo, with wide receiver Tyreek Hill leading with four catches for 80 yards, while running back Achane contributed a mix of receiving and rushing yards. Odell Beckham Jr. marked his debut catch as a Dolphin, and running back Raheem Mostert unfortunately fumbled for the second time in three games. Beckham and Ramsey both shared a Super Bowl victory with the Rams in the 2021 season.
Rams’ running back Kyren Williams had his consecutive streak of scoring in 10 regular-season games snapped against Seattle. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson had a standout game, achieving 94 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including a game-ending catch in overtime. The Rams’ defense has shown improvements by limiting their last three opponents to under 20 points, a contrast to their early-season average of allowing nearly 28 points per game.
In fantasy football considerations, it would be wise for the Dolphins to leverage short passes due to the Rams’ strong pass rush, making Achane a top target with already a team-high 37 receptions. He is expected to be a key player, especially in formats that reward catch totals.