In a gritty Week 10 Monday Night Football matchup, the Miami Dolphins (3-6) edged out the Los Angeles Rams (4-5) with a 23-15 victory, snapping their three-game losing streak and salvaging the weekend for Florida football. Miami’s win saved the Sunshine State from an unprecedented 0-12 weekend across all NFL and FBS/FCS college teams, while also preventing a third straight winless week for the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars — a streak that would have been the first of its kind since Florida became home to three NFL teams in 1995.
The Rams entered the game on a three-game winning streak, riding high after averaging over 25 points per game. But Miami’s defense rose to the challenge, holding Los Angeles without a touchdown for only the eighth time in Sean McVay’s eight-season tenure. Despite quarterback Matthew Stafford’s 293 passing yards and a relentless receiving effort from rookie Puka Nacua (98 yards on nine catches) and veteran Cooper Kupp (80 yards on seven catches), the Rams could not reach the end zone, a stark offensive regression after their recent scoring surge.
Joshua Karty, the Rams‘ rookie kicker, provided all 15 of Los Angeles’s points with five field goals, but it was not enough to overcome the Dolphins, who managed to get into scoring position repeatedly and seal the win. Miami’s offense, while not spectacular, capitalized on key moments. Veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. came up clutch in the fourth quarter with a pivotal first-down catch in the same stadium where he tore his ACL during the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory. The drive culminated in Jason Sanders’ 50-yard field goal with just 2:38 remaining, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Miami‘s triumph over the Rams prevented the team from falling further in the AFC standings and brought relief to a fan base eager for a turnaround. The win was not just a lifeline for the Dolphins but a much-needed morale boost for Florida football as a whole, which had endured a disappointing weekend.
For Los Angeles, the loss highlighted their struggles to score without Stafford firing on all cylinders. Despite Nacua and Kupp’s combined 178 receiving yards, the Rams lacked red-zone efficiency and offensive cohesion, struggling to move the ball decisively when it mattered most. The Rams’ drought of touchdowns marked the first time they’d failed to find the end zone since their game against Green Bay last November, when Stafford was sidelined with an injury.
Miami’s defense and special teams rose to the occasion, while their offense displayed resilience and consistency, leaning on key players like Beckham to secure crucial yardage and set up Sanders’ field goal for the game-sealing score.
Up next, the Dolphins will host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, hoping to build momentum and keep their season alive in a tight AFC playoff race. Meanwhile, the Rams will face the New England Patriots in Foxborough, aiming to rekindle their offensive spark and put the Miami game’s frustrations behind them.
