Here Come the Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa's first start has ended in victory for the Miami Dolphins. The numbers were rather pedestrian, but with the Miami defense and special teams making big plays, Tua did not need to put up big numbers. The game got off to a rough start for the rookie quarterback as he was rocked by Aaron Donald on his second snap fumbling the ball to set the Rams up for an easy touchdown. Tua Tagovailoa showed poise after the fumble and played cautiously the remainder of the game, likely leading to his unimpressive stats.
While Brian Flores and Chan Gailey took a conservative approach to the Miami offense against the hungry defense of the Los Angeles Rams, it was the Miami defense that began to turn the game in the Dolphins favor. Christian Wilkins picked off Jared Goff late in the first quarter and gave the ball to Tua at the Los Angeles 33-yard line. On the last play of the first quarter, Tagovailoa threw a dart to Devante Parker for the first touchdown of his career.
The Dolphins found themselves in a pickle early in the second quarter as they were pinned up against their own goal line. Myles Gaskin took a first down carry at the three and fumbled, giving the ball to the Rams at the seven-yard line. It was here that the game turned in favor of Miami. On second down Emmanuel Ogbah had a strip-sack of Goff. Andrew Van Ginkel scooped and ran 78 yards for a touchdown to give the Dolphins a 14-7 lead.
The suddenly reeling Rams went three and out on the next possession; Jakeem Grant would take Johnny Hekker's punt and return it 88 yards for a touchdown, the first punt returned for a touchdown in the NFL in 2020. The Rams were able to get the ball into Miami territory on the next possession, but Goff was picked off by Eric Rowe.
Late in the second quarter, Shaq Lawson jarred the ball away from Jared Goff, setting up another Miami touchdown as Kyle Van Noy returned the ball to the one-yard line, setting up a touchdown for Myles Gaskin.
The Rams would get a field goal before halftime, but with a 28-10 lead, the Dolphins did just enough in the second half to ensure the lead would stand as the Rams managed just one score, as Miami improved to 4-3 with a 28-17 win. Tua Tagovailoa completed 12 for 22 passes for 93 yards as Miami managed just 145 yards total offense. Keeping pace with the Buffalo Bills, who beat the New England Patriots 24-21. The Dolphins face a tough test next week as they travel to the desert for a game against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals.