Dolphins earn much needed prime-time win at Rams to keep midseason playoff hopes alive

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Miami Dolphins might just be channeling Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in “Godfather III” at the midway point of the season.

Just when you thought they were out, they pull you right back in.

A season on the verge of seeing its playoff hopes shut down could have the postseason back in the cards after the eager Dolphins took down the Los Angeles Rams, 23-15, in a rare road win in prime time for the franchise on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.

Miami (3-6) snapped a three-game losing streak and stretch of six losses in seven games.

The team is suddenly just 1 1/2 games back of the seventh and final AFC playoff spot, currently held by the Denver Broncos (5-5), with home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots to come.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was 20 of 28 for 207 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a fumble lost. He started hot with an impressive opening drive, struggled in the second quarter with turnovers but then distributed the ball well to several of his targets in the second half to keep the offense humming.

The Miami defense kept the Rams (4-5), who were on a three-game winning streak, out of the end zone. They forced two turnovers and sacked quarterback Matthew Stafford four times and had several other pass deflections at the line of scrimmage.

Stafford finished 32 of 46 for 293 yards and an interception. Wide receivers Puka Nacua had 98 and 80 receiving yards, respectively.

Protecting a one-possession lead late, 20-12, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins drove down into long field-goal range for kicker Jason Sanders with key first-down passes to Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Malik Washington. Sanders snuck the 50-yard kick inside the right upright to give Miami an 11-point lead with 2:38 to play, 23-12.

The Rams kicked a fifth field goal with 39 seconds left to get back within one score, but their ensuing onside kick attempt was recovered by Miami’s Duke Riley to end it.

The Dolphins started Monday with about as good a first drive as they could ask for.

Washington scored his first NFL touchdown on an end-around, going 18 yards to the right for a rushing touchdown. Fellow wide receiver River Cracraft, fresh off his activation off injury reserve, executed some fine downfield blocking on the play.

The score was set up by a third-and-13 conversion on the preceding play. Tagovailoa escaped the collapsing pocket to give himself more time, but instead of taking the scramble yardage in front of him, Tagovailoa stayed behind the line of scrimmage to find Waddle wide open 36 yards down the field.

Late in the first quarter, the Dolphins forced their first turnover on the Rams. After Calais Campbell tipped a Stafford pass at the line of scrimmage, linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. made a diving interception, securing the floating football.

Miami turned it into a 50-yard field goal from Jason Sanders early in the second quarter for a 10-0 lead, after Waddle dropped a downfield sideline pass that would’ve extended the series.

Later in the second period, the teams exchanged a series of turnovers.

Tagovailoa was intercepted by linebacker Christian Rozeboom as he started by looking left and threw across his body over the middle. Tagovailoa took a kick to the head while making the tackle at the end of the run after the pick. He was never announced as being evaluated for concussion.

On the very next play, the Dolphins got the ball right back. Defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand forced a fumble on Rams running back Kyren Williams, and cornerback Kendall Fuller recovered it.

Tagovailoa then lost a fumble as Los Angeles edge rusher Jared Verse got to him on a third-and-long for a strip-sack and recovery.

All in all, it resulted in a Rams field goal as the Miami defense held up in its own territory to cut the lead to 10-3.

Los Angeles added another field goal, of 55 yards from Joshua Karty, right before halftime to make it 10-6 at intermission. Quinton Bell sacked Stafford on the series late in the first half.

The Rams had a chance to add another field goal on the first possession of the second half, but a false start turned the attempt into a 57-yarder that missed wide right.

Miami took advantage, driving 53 yards on six plays, with Tagovailoa tossing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Hill on a simple out route off play action. Tight end Jonnu Smith had a long catch and run breaking tackles to get the Dolphins down to the 1. The score gave the Dolphins a 17-6 lead in the third quarter.

Miami added a field goal in the fourth quarter, and the Rams again kicked another field goal to get those points back and get within a possession with 6:31 remaining, at 20-12. Stafford missed an open Williams on third-and-goal from the 4 as he threw incomplete to Demarcus Robinson.

On a short week following the Monday night game, the Dolphins return home to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.