Just a few weeks ago, it was widely speculated that the Rams were going to look to rebuild at the trade deadline with both Kupp and Nacua sidelined at the time. The former 2021 Super Bowl MVP was dealing with a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2, and Nacua re-aggravated a knee injury in Week 1 that he suffered in training camp.
Without their explosive playmakers, the Rams’ offense looked bleak and many thought Kupp would be traded to a contender looking for a star receiver.
However, with both healthy in time for LA’s NFC showdown with the Seattle Seahawks, the two teams battled until overtime until the Rams came out on top with a game-winning touchdown to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. That pushed their record to 4-4 and showed Rams fans that this roster still had an opportunity to compete.
The NFC West is up for grabs as the 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams are neck and neck with four wins each, while the Cardinals lead the division with five.
The division’s tight race led LA to focus on competing instead of undergoing a rebuild, as both the front office and coaching staff have expressed their confidence in the current roster.
As the playoffs approach, each week will be crucial for a team hoping to recapture playoff success. They’ll face a Miami Dolphins team on Monday night that has a poorer-than-usual record at 2-6, but many of their losses have been without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa is the face of the ongoing concussion epidemic, suffering a third concussion in two seasons in Miami’s Week 2 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. He’s since returned, and the offense looks much improved as they fell just short to Josh Allen and Co. in Week 9 with a 27-30 loss.
The Dolphins’ offense is led by star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, alongside a dynamic running back duo in De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. With Tua fully healthy, this offense will challenge a young but promising Rams defense.
Rams general manager Les Snead did make one move at the deadline, dealing away cornerback Tre’davious White to the Baltimore Ravens, but he was a healthy scratch for most of the Rams’ recent games. LA’s heavily relied on Byron Young and rookie Jared Verse during White’s absences.
Second-year defensive lineman Kobie Turner has also filled in nicely for the retired Aaron Donald, but the defense has still allowed over 360 total yards per game. The Dolphins’ offense has averaged 24.9 points per game with Tua under center, and as their offense continues to re-adjust after his return, they’re still looking to make the playoffs with their talented roster.
The Dolphins’ defense has struggled as well, especially with Jaelen Phillips suffering a season-ending ACL tear in Week 4. Some of the defensive shortcomings can be accredited to how little the offense has been on the field with subpar quarterback play, but they struggled in Tua’s first game back, allowing 30 points, albeit to a talented Bills offense.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford may be fighting against father time as the 36-year-old has produced average results in his 16th NFL season but showed promising results with most of his offensive core healthy. In his last two matchups, he’s thrown for over 275 yards with a combined 6-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Alongside star running back Kyren Williams who’s scored 10 total touchdowns in 2024, this offense still has plenty left in the tank.
This week’s matchup will dictate how both teams approach the second half of the season, with the Rams fighting for wins to compete in a crowded NFC playoff picture. If the Dolphins were to lose a fourth-straight game, their playoff hopes would become exponentially more distant.
Expect this matchup to be a back-and-forth affair, as both Stafford and Tagovailoa have shown their ability to perform in high-pressure matchups. A Monday night win could propel the Rams into a tie for first in the NFC West, but even with a Cardinals loss to the Jets on Sunday, they’d still hold the lead due to the head-to-head record.