The Miami Dolphins ended their three-game losing streak by defeating the Los Angeles Rams 23-15 at SoFi Stadium on Monday night.

We rank and analyze the five biggest and most important plays in the game.

The Dolphins never led by less than eight points after Tyreek Hill’s third-quarter touchdown run made the score 17-6, but the key play was Jonnu Smith’s 33-yard reception on third-and-3 on 34. Smith’s ability to bounce off the defender turned a 6-yard completion into a 33-yard gain to the 1-yard line. The completion alone was important, because otherwise the Dolphins would have had to attempt a 52-yard field goal to take a seven-point lead. But kudos to Smith for his ability to take advantage of the Rams defender’s failure to close, combined with a nifty open-field run.

Smith’s big play came shortly after the Rams missed a 57-yard field goal attempt to allow Miami to start its next drive at the 47. And it came after the Rams threatened to cut into the lead. 10-6 Dolphins or maybe even. moving forward after reaching a first-and-10 at the Miami 28. But the drive was derailed by a Rams mistake when Matthew Stafford had to jump to catch a high shotgun shot, leading to his transfer. botched and a subsequent loss of 13 yards.

Rookie receiver Malik Washington made two big plays, the first being his first NFL touchdown on an 18-yard pass to cap the game’s first drive. But his second was crucial in putting the Dolphins in position for Jason Sanders’ (just about) decisive field goal. It was Tua Tagovailoa’s 17-yard completion on a great throw between defenders and good work by Washington to make a low catch. This could almost be a “biggest play” combo with the third down conversion from the previous play when Tagovailoa rushed in and found Odell Beckham Jr. in the open field.

The Dolphins spent the fourth quarter staying two scores ahead of the Rams with back-to-back field goals, but the first was nearly derailed by a sack when Tagovailoa held the ball too long and was dropped to force a third-and-1. – 19 from the Rams 47 yard line. But he came back strong when he rushed to his right to avoid pressure and threw a pass to Raheem Mostert behind the first line of defenders. Mostert took advantage of the open field to make a 25-yard gain. It’s worth mentioning that the Dolphins were going to have a first-place finish there anyway because the Rams were flagged for their defensive defense.

The Dolphins never trailed in the game after taking the opening kickoff and driving for a touchdown. And the key play on that 70-yard drive was Tagovailoa moving into the pocket on third-and-13 before spotting a wide-open Jaylen Waddle near the sideline after the Rams somehow forgot another to keep a defender on him. Washington scored on the next play and the Dolphins were on their way.