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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Mike McDaniel was optimistic that his Miami Dolphins were on the verge of achieving a complete game of complementary football.
“It’s important to understand that success isn’t just created out of thin air,” McDaniel remarked. “It stems from the teammates you have and the style of play you aspire to showcase.”
In their previous games, the Dolphins exhibited glimpses of excellence. The return of Tua Tagovailoa in Week 8 against Arizona revitalized their offense, leading to one of their strongest performances of the season at Buffalo in Week 9. However, the team suffered losses in both matches, marking their second three-game losing streak of the season.
On Monday night, Miami secured a 23-15 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, displaying a robust defense while the offense performed sufficiently to counteract its mistakes. Despite their 3-6 record, the Dolphins are currently second in the AFC East and remain in contention for a playoff spot, albeit with minimal margin for error moving forward.
“There was a lot of external noise that could have deterred us from what we collectively understood,” McDaniel noted. “We recognized that we dropped a couple of games that were winnable, and you can choose to respond to that in either a positive or negative way. I was really pleased with how the players persevered, stayed united, and managed to travel across the country to claim a win.”
Tagovailoa expressed hope that the game against the Rams marked the beginning of a turnaround for the Dolphins’ season. He believes that they can maintain this momentum if they replicate their performance.
Although Tagovailoa only threw for 207 yards, he excelled on critical third downs, connecting on 9 of 12 attempts for 137 yards and distributing the ball across eight receivers. Miami converted 6 of 13 third downs while restricting the Rams to just 3 of 12 in that category. Tyreek Hill, despite competing with a wrist injury, found the end zone for the first time since Week 1, thus ending the longest touchdown drought of his career.
“I would say the confidence is always present,” Tagovailoa stated. “But witnessing our capabilities on the field and executing complementary football, I truly believe this is a foundation we can continue to build upon.”
What’s working for the Dolphins is the revitalization of their defense, notably marked by the return of tackle Zach Sieler, who made a significant impact following his recovery from an orbital bone fracture. He recorded a tackle for a 10-yard loss on the Rams’ first offensive play. Miami’s defense managed to create two turnovers and successfully denied the Rams any touchdowns despite yielding 327 yards.
However, there are areas that require improvement, particularly in Tagovailoa’s decision-making. He lost a fumble and threw his first interception since returning from injured reserve. Following the interception thrown to Christian Rozeboom in the second quarter, Tagovailoa attempted to tackle the linebacker, but part of Rozeboom’s shin appeared to collide with Tagovailoa’s head.
“That was not a good tackle situation,” Tagovailoa admitted. “That was pretty awful.”
Tagovailoa has previously dealt with two concussions in his career, including one incurred while attempting to evade a Bills defender earlier this season.
“I didn’t hesitate to talk to him,” McDaniel mentioned. “He has to remain mindful of his health not just when he has the ball, but also when he’s trying to recover or tackle. Additionally, avoiding risky passes would certainly help keep those situations at bay, which he is also aware of.”
Stock in Miami’s rookies is rising. Linebacker Chop Robinson, a first-round pick, secured his second sack in as many weeks, contributing two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss. Sixth-round wide receiver Malik Washington impressed with an 18-yard touchdown run during the opening drive and later made a 17-yard catch on Miami’s final drive, helping secure a two-score lead.
On the downside, running back Raheem Mostert saw his stock decrease. He had two fumbles in the three games leading up to Monday’s match and did not carry the ball during the Rams game, playing only eight snaps while finishing with two receptions for 34 yards.
Injury updates indicate that right tackle Austin Jackson will undergo season-ending knee surgery following an injury against Buffalo. Cornerback Kendall Fuller is also in concussion protocol for the second time this season.
A notable achievement for the Dolphins includes winning their 44th Monday night game, improving their regular-season prime-time record to 96-81. The team is set to play two more prime-time games this season, facing off against Green Bay on Thanksgiving night and Cleveland on December 29.
Looking ahead, the Dolphins will host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) this Sunday, followed by a matchup against the New England Patriots (3-7) in Week 12.
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