The Miami Dolphins last five game winning streak closed the regular season schedule of 2008. In today's tenth game of 2016 Adam Gase' Dolphins have learned (against all odds) how to fight to the end for a fifth successive VICTORY!
It wasn't pretty offensively by any means, (well other than the final four minutes)!
Both the Rams and Dolphins for various reasons went the conservative route on a rainy southern California day.
The Rams because of a rookie quarterback (Jared Goff 17 of 31 for 134). The home teams star running back Todd Gurley had 20 attempts for 76 while the team on 28 carries totaled 102 rushing yards.
Miami because inactive/injured left tackle Brandon Albert was replaced by rookie Laramy Tunsil while the usual starting left guard Tunsil was relieved by Kraig Urbik, and Anthony Steen started at center in place of Mike (Hipless) Pouncey. Today's starting left tackle Tunsil (shoulder) went down in the second quarter, for the remainder of the game the left tackle position was manned by backup right tackle Sam Young. Jay Ajayi compiled 77 yards on 16 carries while the team had 19 attempts for 98 total on the ground.
Slipping, sliding, dripping, dropping, penalty altering, conservative calling, and exceptional defenses kept both offenses in neutral. It was a spirited, scrappy defensive battle with numerous fights throughout the day.
The Rams quarterback and the number one overall pick of the 2016 draft Jared Goff never got his team to the redzone while being sacked just once (Wake). Ryan Tannehill was no better with a 34 yard endzone interception (potentially with the aid of an uncalled defensive pushoff) two minutes into the third quarter, just 60-some total passing yards into the fourth quarter, four sacks and zero redzone trips. (Well "no better" until the last four minutes).
Goff drove his team 44 yards to the Dolphin 24 on their second possession when 2015 top draft pick running back Todd Gurley went that same 24 yards for the Rams 0 - 7 lead. Goff took them 49 yards to the Miami 28 for a field goal with 1:40 left in the third quarter and a 0 - 10 LA advantage that stood until the games 56th minute.
Ryan Tannehill (24 of 34 for 174 with an interception) threw two touchdowns in the games final 4:13. The first was of ten yards when he hit Jarvis Landry at the five, forward motion appeared stopped when the offensive line in question formed a scrum with Landry as the ball versus the Rams defensive entirety. Landry's feet were off the ground for the remaining five yards as the offensive line literally carried him to the touchdown and 7 - 10 deficit. His second was a rifeled 9 yard thing of beauty to Devante Parker with 36 games seconds to go, and the 14 - 10 VICTORY!
Miami lost the penalty and time of possession battles again, but once again times five, they beat a top notch defense. For those that care only about W's. The Dolphins have given you nothing to frown about since early October!
The/Your 2016 Miami Dolphins have WON FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES, and are sitting somewhat pretty at 6 - 4.
GOFINS!!!
