When it rains, it pours.
Ryan Tannehill threw two touchdowns in the final five minutes and the Miami Dolphins spoiled the NFL debut of Jared Goff, as they rallied to beat the Rams 14-10 on a rainy Sunday afternoon at the L.A. Coliseum.
After a touchdown to Jarvis Landry with 4:02 remaining gave the Dolphins their first points of the game, Tannehill found DeVante Parker in the right corner of the end zone for a nine-yard TD with just 36 seconds left to play.
"That was one of the most disappointing losses I've experienced over the years," said Rams head coach Jeff Fisher after the game. "After everything that went into this...to let things slip away in the last six minutes is really disappointing."
Miami's crazed comeback shocked the soggy and soaked Coliseum crowd and ultimately spoiled the first game of Goff's NFL career.
"The fans, the team, the coaches, everybody is at a loss for words right now," said Rams DT Michael Brockers after the shocking loss. "We had the perfect plan: Goff was doing great, the defense was playing strong, we just have to learn how to execute towards the end of the game and finish people."
The No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft did not set the world on fire in his first NFL start, but he didn't lose the game for his team either.
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"I'm obviously very disappointed with the result and how things turned out," said Goff. "We couldn't put the game away. We need to finish better and stay out of our own way."
Goff went 17-for-31 for 134 yards and did not throw a touchdown, but he also didn't make any glaring mistakes as one would expect from a rookie quarterback in his first game action of the season.
"It took me a couple drives to settle in," explained Goff. "In your first game, it takes a little while to settle in. I think not having any delay of games was a positive, but I think I could have been a little cleaner on my reads. They have a really good defense and did a really good job on us."
Todd Gurley scored the Rams only touchdown of the game when he busted up the middle for a 24-yard scamper in the first quarter. The run was the longest of the season for the 2015 Rookie of the Year. Gurley ran the ball 20 times for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Here's the Todd Gurley we all know. https://t.co/Y2DYpoRXWy — NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) November 20, 2016
Tannehill threw for 172 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception as he capped off the comeback for the Fish. The victory, was the fifth in a row for the Dolphins who were outmatched by the Rams defense for 55 minutes of the game.
"That's why you play sixty minutes," said Dolphins head coach Adam Gase. "We were terrinle on offense before that. Nothing was going right for us. We put a drive together, executed a third-and-three, a couple of plays popped for us and we got a chance to win the game."
After Goff led the Rams down the field for a 46-yard field goal in the final seconds of the third quarter, Los Angeles led 10-0 and seemed fully in control of the game.
The Rams defense was dominant all day and were carrying the term on their proverbial shoulders midway through the fourth quarter.
However, after a 47-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal hit the left upright, negating a potential 13-point lead, momentum seemed to completey switch to the Miami sideline.
"I think we lost the momentum," added Goff. "Momentum shifts back and forth in games. We had it for most of the game, but at the end of the game there, we stepped in front of ourselves, we didn't do what we're supposed to do and they started making plays."
Tannehill drove 77 yards down the field on eight plays, and Landry got into the end zone thanks to an assist from the offensive line which pushed the wily wide-receiver the final few yards past the goal line.
"I couldn't get there alone," joked Landry after the game. "I closed my eyes and went for the ride. Numerous guys helped me get in there. I'm grateful for those players."
After the Rams were forced to punt, Tannehill led a 75-yard, seven play drive that turned into the game-winning score.
Ryan Tannehill & DeVante Parker win it for the Dolphins. pic.twitter.com/yAKHU8z0Rg — Eric (@EricElizondo8) November 21, 2016
Los Angeles got the ball back after the kickoff on their own 41-yard line with 29 seconds left in the game, but a hail mary into the end zone as the clock expired was batted down by Landry who was a safety net on the play.
Players of the Game:
Ryan Tannehill: Two touchdowns.
DeVante Parker: Game-winning touchdown.
Todd Gurley: 24-yard rushing touchdown.
Three Takeaways:
1. Gurley Gashes Dolphins: Todd Gurley scored the first touchdown of the game on a 24-yard burst up the middle. It was the Rookie of the Year's first run of 20+ yards in the 2016 season after he had 11 such runs in his inaugural campaign in 2015.
Todd Gurley's 24-yard TD is his 1st run of 20+ yards this season. Gurley had 11 runs of 20+ yards in 2015, second-most in NFL. — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 20, 2016
2. Defense Wins Championships: We're not insinuating the LA Rams will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy anytime soon, but their defense has been dominant all season and showed it again on Sunday.
The Rams are making just enough plays on offense and relying on a dominant defense thus far. https://t.co/r3z5QZMYHL — James Walker (@JamesWalkerNFL) November 20, 2016
3. Five in a row: Ryan Tannehill's thrilling two-touchdown comeback gave the Miami Dolphins their fifth win in a row, their longest winning streak since 2008.
Steve Ross just emerged from the Dolphins locker room. "Wow...Unbelievable. Don't say [Tannehill] can't bring this team back." — Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 21, 2016
Up Next:
Dolphins (6-4): Miami will return to South Beach where they will host the lowly San Francisco 49ers in Week 12.
Rams (4-6): Los Angeles goes back on the road to the Big Easy where they will scrap with the Saints in New Orleans nest Sunday.
