Tua and the Dolphins keep their playoff hopes alive in the win vs. Rams

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — If the Miami Dolphins can salvage a 2-6 start to the season, a win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10 could be a boost.

The Dolphins won at SoFi Stadium for the second year in a row, this time 23-15 against the Rams in a game they never let go. Miami snapped a three-game losing streak, two of which included last-second field goals.

More importantly, the Dolphins opened the door to a potential playoff run as the win moved them 1½ games back of the Denver Broncos for the AFC’s seventh seed. Only three teams in NFL history have bounced back from a 2-6 start to make the playoffs, but with home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots over the next two weeks, Miami could be 5-6 when the team travels to Green. Bay on Thanksgiving to play the Packers.

Entering Week 10, the Dolphins have an 8.1% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN’s FPI, and have the 10th easiest schedule in the league. With the chances of winning the AFC East almost non-existent, the Dolphins need to grab one of the three wild card spots to keep the playoffs going for two years.

QB details: Tua Tagovailoa capped a potentially dangerous second quarter when he had an interception and lost a fumble on consecutive drives. He finished with 207 yards and a touchdown but converted five third down attempts. He took a couple of untimely sacks, which coach Mike McDaniel said was the result of trying to do too much, something Tagovailoa continued to do in the fifth season.

Describe the game in two words: Constant pressure. Miami’s defense made life miserable for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was pressured 13 times and sacked four times – a season high for the Dolphins.

Promising trends: No Dolphins player has had more quarterback pressure since Week 5 than Chop Robinson, who stepped into a more important role after Jaelan Phillips’ injury. He continued that trend with five pressures Monday night and recorded his second sack of the season in as many games. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: vs. Raiders (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Rams entered the game with an 18.4% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN Analytics, but they couldn’t keep pace in the NFC West with the loss.

After the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers win on Sunday, ESPN Analytics has the Rams’ chance to win the division at 11.5%.

But there, the offense struggled, despite having wide receiver Cooper Kupp, wide receiver Puka Nacua and offensive linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson all returning from injury for the first time since the season opener.

According to ESPN Research, this is the 50th game for the Rams that Matthew Stafford has started at quarterback. It was just the second time in 50 games that Los Angeles failed to score.

The Rams’ offensive woes emerged in the third. The offense entered the game converting 36% of third downs, which ranked 23rd in the NFL. On Monday night, the Rams were 3-of-12 (25%).

Los Angeles fell to 4-5, losing for the first time since Week 6.

Quarterback Breakdown: After throwing six touchdowns in the Rams’ previous two games, Stafford never had a run against a Dolphins defense that entered the game ranked 26th in pass defense DVOA. Stafford completed 32 of 46 passes for 293 yards and an interception. He has thrown an interception in six straight games, tied for the longest streak of his career, according to ESPN Research.

Most impressive performance: The offensive line. In the Rams’ previous three games, Stafford has been sacked once. But on Monday night, he was sacked four times, even as Avila (MCL sprain) and Jackson (shoulder) returned from injured reserve. The Rams were without right tackle Rob Havenstein, who was out with an ankle injury. The Dolphins defense did this despite entering the game with 10 sacks, second fewest in the NFL.

Promising trends: First round draft pick Jared Verse continues to impress. He had a sack for the third straight game and two tackles for a loss. According to the Rams, Verse’s 11 tackles for loss through his first nine career games is tied for second most with Von Miller and Micah Parsons since becoming an official statistic in 1999. –Sarah Barshop

Next game: on Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)