MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-6) at RAMS (4-4)
When: Monday, 5:15 p.m.
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: ESPN/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 225, 226
Line: Rams by 2.5
Notable injury designations
Dolphins: OUT: OL Austin Jackson (knee). QUESTIONABLE: WR Tyreek Hill (wrist), S Jevon Holland (hand/knee), FB Alec Ingold (calf), WR River Cracraft (shoulder), S Patrick McMorris (calf).
Rams: OUT: RT Rob Havenstein (ankle), DT Neville Gallimore (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: S Kam Curl (knee), RG Kevin Dotson (ankle/knee), LB Christian Rozeboom (knee).
What’s at stake? The Rams will try to keep pace with the NFC West race after the 49ers beat the Buccaneers to improve to 5-4 and stay ahead of the Bears for fourth place in the NFC wild card race. The Dolphins are hoping to end their losing streak and keep their very faint hopes for extending their season alive.
Who’s better? Even with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back from his midseason concussion, the Dolphins have yet to recapture their groove on offense. Miami has lost three in a row, and the defense still hasn’t recovered from the amount of talent it lost during the offseason. Meanwhile, the Rams are inching closer to full health and are on a three-game winning streak. Edge goes to the Rams.
Matchup to watch: Dolphins WRs vs. Rams CBs. This matchup loses a little of its luster if Hill is unable to play with his wrist injury. But the Dolphins receivers present a ton of matchup problems with their blinding speed. After allowing Jaxon Smith-Njigba to have a big game last weekend, the Rams will try to bounce back against the likes of Hill, Jaylen Waddle and old friend Odell Beckham Jr.
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Rams win if: They limit the Dolphins to four explosive plays (a pass that gains 20 or more yards or a run that gains 10 or more). … The ground game gets going and Kyren Williams averages over four yards per carry. … OLB Jared Verse can maintain his three-game streak of at least five pressures per game against Tagovailoa, who is among the best in the NFL at getting rid of the ball quickly.
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Fantasy sleeper: WR Odell Beckham Jr. The former Ram is very familiar with the team he is going up against, and burned the Rams for 97 yards and a touchdown while with Baltimore last season. Coming off a season-high three catches last weekend, perhaps this is the game where the wily veteran gets going again, especially if Hill is sidelined.
Prediction: Rams 30, Dolphins 24. Beat reporter’s record: 6-2 for the season; 4-4 against the spread.