Darrell Henderson Jr. has helped Rams fans forget all about Todd Gurley. From leading the team in rushing yards to pushing for second efforts on every down, Henderson Jr. has all the makings to carry this team for the long run. Photo by Los Angeles Rams.
By Matt Barrero, Assistant Sports Editor
THIS WEEK –
The Rams (5-2) will hit the road for the fifth time through eight weeks of play. But instead of heading to the northeast again, they’ll be traveling down south to Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins (3-3). Miami is coming out of a bye week and currently has a two-game winning streak. Both teams are battling for the top spots in their divisions, which should make for one hell of a game come Sunday.
HISTORY –
While this will only be the 14th time the two franchises meet, the Dolphins record on paper makes you assume that Miami is the better team overall with 11 wins in the 13 games played so far. In their last meeting in 2016, the Dolphins came into L.A. and only won by four. Los Angeles will be looking to win their first game over the Dolphins since 2001 (when they were formerly the St. Louis Rams).
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR –
WR Robert Woods
The dual-threat, playmaking ability of ‘Bobby Trees’ has him on our watch list for this week’s contest, especially since the Rams are playing on the road. In the four games played outside of Los Angeles so far, Woods has 15 catches for 188 yards and three touchdowns, on top of eight carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. The seven-year veteran has continued to produce when called upon, even though the stat lines do not match seasons’ past. The Dolphins do rank 13th in the league against wide receivers, but with more eyes focused on Cooper Kupp, look for Woods to have his best game of the season under the Miami sunlight.
Aaron Donald’s right-hand man has done well to back up the best defensive player in the entire NFL. With Donald being double-teamed, basically, every game, Brockers has the fortune of working one-on-one with his offensive line opponent in front of him. The Rams defense is tied for the third most sacks in the league (24) while the Dolphins offensive line ranks ninth in the league having only allowed 10 sacks on the season. Brockers finished his outing against the Bears last week accounting for seven total tackles (his most in a game this season). With a young, rookie quarterback starting under center for Miami, Brockers will feast on his one-on-one matchups and continue his dominant play helping Donald and company complete another defensive shutdown.
GAME CHANGERS –
Beware of Trap Game
Playing in the best division in football, that is the NFC West, Los Angeles must maintain momentum to keep up with their in-division counterparts. With the Rams as only 3.5-point favorites, you worry the team could already be overlooking this Dolphins team, given the fact that Miami is asking its rookie quarterback to lead the offense. Not to mention the Rams are traveling across the country once again, along with a chance of rain and wind come game time. With a bye week of their own scheduled after this game against the Dolphins, I quote Admiral Ackbar’s famous line from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi: “It’s a Trap [Game]!”
Run Rams, Run
The Los Angeles run game ranks in the top-10 of the league averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 138.9 yards per game. But the Rams don’t attack with just their running backs. They utilize their wide receivers and tight ends and incorporate the play action leaving their opponent to question who actually has the ball. Add to the fact that the Miami run defense ranks 19th in the league and is giving up five yards per carry along with 124.2 yards per game. In their past four road games combined, the Rams have rushed for, exactly, 600 yards and have scored six touchdowns.
A new element added to the GET ON THE HORN blog is the Hot Take.
And this week, the G.O.T.H. Hot Take sees Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson Jr. splitting the carries and combining for over 150 yards rushing, with each back scoring a touchdown.
FUN FACTS
Rookie Debuts Are A Trend
Back in 2016, it was the Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff making his NFL debut against the Miami Dolphins. Fast forward four years and we get another rookie quarterback making his NFL debut in the same matchup. This time, it’s the Dolphins fifth overall pick from the 2020 draft in Tua Tagovailoa. The southpaw signal caller got word he would be making his first career start after Miami defeated the New York Jets prior to the bye week, thus giving Tagovailoa an extra week to prepare. The Dolphins came into a rainy Los Angeles four years ago and spoiled Goff’s debut with a late, game-winning touchdown. It’s only fair the Rams do their part to return the favor and spoil the anticipated debut of Tagovailoa this week.
Tune in to your local FOX station on Sunday morning with a kickoff scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PST.
GET ON THE HORN (G.O.T.H.) PREDICTION –
RAMS 30, DOLPHINS 27
