The Miami Dolphins’ season went into a tailspin when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion in Week 2, but the Dolphins have Tagovailoa back on the field and win to go along with his play for the first time since Week 1.
Tagovailoa went 20-28 passing for 207 yards and a touchdown versus an interception in a 23—15 win over the Los Angeles Rams (4—5) on Monday. The Dolphins (3—6) previously lost Tagovailoa’s first two starts since returning from a concussion on Oct. 27.
“I would say for myself, my confidence level from the time I came back against the (Arizona) Cardinals had never wavered from the first game I played against the Jaguars,” Tagovailoa told reporters afterward.
“I think when you’re out there, the game is too fast for you to think of anything else. And if you start thinking of anything else, it’s hard for you to focus on your job.”
Tagovailoa got the Dolphins going quickly in Week 10 against the Rams with a touchdown on the opening drive for a 7—0 lead. He connected with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for 36 yards on that drive, which set up wide receiver Malik Washignton’s speedy end around touchdown of 18 yards.
Kicker Jason Sanders made it 10—0 on a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter, and the Rams offense only mustered a pair of field goals before halftime, 10—6. That’s also despite two turnovers by Tagovailoa during the half.
“Tua gets so mad at himself and holds himself to a high standard but he’s also recognizing that he’s the franchise QB of this team,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters afterward.
“You can’t go too deep into your own self-lashing; you have to lead, and you have to move on from things, good or bad.”
“I thought he did a very good job of taking those Ls, so to speak, and not having it affect his play as he progressed and moved forward through the game,” McDaniel added.
Tagovailoa and company started the second half strong with a six-play, 53-yard scoring drive after a Rams missed field goal. His 33-yard pass play to wide receiver Jonu Smith set up a 1-yard touchdown pass to wideout Tyreek Hill, 17—6.
Los Angeles chipped away with the field goal, but Tagovailoa then led the Dolphins on an 11-play, 51-yard scoring drive, capped by a Sanders 37-yard field goal.
The Rams and Dolphins traded field goals the rest of the way but Los Angeles couldn’t get the onside kick in the final 38 seconds of the game for a final shot. Rams kicker Joshua Karty kept his team in the game with field goals as he went 5-6 with a long of 55 yards. The Rams never reached the end zone despite 327 yards of total offense.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford went 32-46 for 293 yards and an interception, which Dolphins linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. nabbed in the first quarter. It gave the Dolphins great field position and an easy opportunity to get Sanders in field goal range for his first of three field goals.
Miami also sacked Stafford four times with sacks from defensive tackle Calais Campbell, safety Jevon Holland, linebacker Quinton Bell, and linebacker Chop Robinson. The Dolphins also held the Rams running attack to 70 yards and no runs over nine yards.
Miami, meanwhile, had trouble running the ball outside of Washington’s touchdown and a 15-yard run by De’Von Achane. The Dolphins averaged 3.04 yards per carry as a team.
While the Dolphins sit three games below .500, the team faces opponents with losing records in three of the next four games.
“Hopefully, this is an opportunity for us to … not waste, and go on a run with this win and find our rhythm towards the back end of the season,” Tagovailoa said.
