The Dolphins are leaning on defense to contain the Rams and are on a three-game skid

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – On his first defensive snap in two weeks, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler stuffed a screen pass to Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams for a loss of 10 yards.

Sieler had missed Miami's last two games because of an orbital injury he suffered in practice in Week 8, but returned for Monday night's 23-15 win over the surging Rams. The tackle for loss ultimately led to a three-point win for the Rams and helped set the defensive tone for the rest of the evening.

“As the week goes on, you correct some things from the previous game, and I think the guys had a lot of confidence moving forward,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “Then we’ll bring some important people back… Sieler is such an important part of our work.”

“It was absolutely a moment where the guys caught the momentum and were itching to have one of the most important parts of the unit back on the field ready to play right away.”

The Dolphins allowed 327 yards but held the Rams to five field goals on Monday night – Miami's first time this season that an opponent was kept out of the end zone.

In a spectacular defensive performance, the Dolphins pressured Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford on 15 of his 49 dropbacks and recorded a season-best four sacks, while also limiting their opponents to just three third-down conversions in 12 attempts.

“I think our defense really got the whole team going, and I think it's very, very difficult to keep that offense out of the end zone,” McDaniel said. “I think the takeoff point was the third point. I thought the coaching staff led by (defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver) did a great job of finding a way to attack guys and I thought overall it was the best execution of that. “We tried to do it to do.

“So it was a very, very important game for our team to come away from three losses, two of which came in the final moments of the game, and I think we can build on that in the future.”

Miami ended a three-game losing streak and won a prime-time away game for the first time since Week 2 of the 2023 season.

After back-to-back losses due to last-second field goals over the past two weeks, the Dolphins players felt like they were prepared for a performance like this as they led from start to finish.

“We had our ups and downs, and you have to work through that,” Sieler said. “You have the perseverance to figure it out without certain parts. Then when it clicks, it clicks, and I think tonight was a great example of that.”

Miami recorded 238 yards on offense, the second fewest in a win under McDaniel, and posted a four-game rushing streak of at least 149 yards. But the Dolphins did enough to stay ahead throughout the game – especially quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who converted six third downs with passes on Monday.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill ended a seven-game scoreless streak with a 1-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. He was listed as questionable after a wrist injury prevented him from taking part in several training sessions during the week.

Monday's win put the Dolphins 1½ games behind the Denver Broncos and secured the AFC's seventh and final playoff spot. Three teams in NFL history have recovered from a 2-6 start to reach the playoffs, and Hill said the Dolphins have to treat every game the same if they want to finish fourth.

“The mindset will still be the same, win every game, dog. It doesn’t matter,” Hill said. “I preach to our guys in this locker room that every game counts. It doesn’t matter if we’re 1-6, 2-6, 3-6 – it doesn’t matter. The attitude is to win every game.”

The Dolphins have home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots in the next two weeks before traveling to Green Bay to face the Packers on Thanksgiving evening.