The Miami Dolphins were 2-6 and on the brink of losing their season heading into their Monday Night tilt against the Los Angeles Rams. With their backs against the wall, the Dolphins turned in a 23-15 victory over the Rams that essentially saved their season.
The Dolphins defense saved their season for another week
Miami’s offense gets all the attention, but the defense helped save their season on Monday night.
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
While most associate the Dolphins with explosive, high volume offense, it was the defense that saved their season. In the beginning of the year, I was incredibly optimistic about this defense, and against the Rams they turned in their best performance of the season.
It was an incredible performance by the Dolphins’ defense, one that I was excited to see. Let’s dig in and see how they did it.
First, they got an incredible performance from the defensive line. The Dolphins pressured QB Matthew Stafford 17 times on Monday, despite only blitzing on four of his dropbacks. The combination of Zach Seiler, Calais Campbell and Chop Robinson had Stafford fighting for his life in the pocket, which made everything work so much better for the secondary.
Robinson really stood out. As a rookie, he was only supposed to be brought on for spot pass rush snaps, but because of the injuries to EDGEs Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips he’s been forced into more play. He’s looked good for this defense in his role this season, and he was rewarded with a sack on Monday. He’s supposed to be running a pick for the defensive tackle, but because he’s so darn fast off the ball, he gets to the QB before he can set the stunt correctly. The Rams slide their protection to the formation’s left, and leave the right side in man protection. Robinson darts inside and gets a sack on the play.
Not only was the pressure getting home, but they were rattling Stafford as well. LB Anthony Walker runs a pick for the defensive tackle, but this time it’s from depth, knocking back the center. The DT wraps around and Walker barely gets there, but the imminent pressure forces an errant throw from Stafford. Anthony Weaver had all the buttons working on Monday.
This sack from Jevon Holland was super cool, and showed how the Dolphins’ defense had the Rams in a blender. The Dolphins line up with seven defenders at the line of scrimmage, but the Rams call out the blitz. They get everyone to slide to their left where the blitz was supposed to come from. But right before the snap, the Dolphins flip the blitz call to the right, leaving the Rams out in the cold. LB Jordyn Brooks picks for Robinson, who gets free and finishes the sack with Holland. Just an incredible overall performance by a Dolphins team that desperately needs it.
The Dolphins essentially saved their season with a win on Monday night. While the offense goes through its’ lulls— QB Tua Tagovailoa had some ups and downs—it was the defense that saved the day. This entire season, Miami’s defense has been 12th in EPA per play allowed, and with a reasonably light schedule coming up, they can ride that defense all the way into backdooring the AFC and making the playoffs.
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