Rams tape review: Todd Gurley's runs, a special teams gem and the Dolphins pulling off the win

1/30

Rams quarterback Jared Goff leaves the field after a 14-10 defeat to the Dolphins in his first start as a pro.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

2/30

Rams quarterback Jared Goff is helped off the turf by a teammate after he was knocked down by a Miami defensive lineman during the third quarter.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

3/30

-Rams quarterabck Jared Goff is helped to his feet after being knocked down.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

4/30

Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi is tackeled by Rams Alec Ogletree in the 1st quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

5/30

Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry pushes his way into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown catch against the Rams in the fourth quarter. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines breaks up a long pass to Dolphins receiver DeVante Parker during the third quarter.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

7/30

Rams tight end Lance Kendricks fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso for a turnover in the third quarter. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

8/30

Rams safety TJ McDonald tackles Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi for a short gain in the first quarter.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

9/30

Rams defensive tackle Dominique Easley knocks Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill to the ground while reaching around lineman Jermon Bushrod for a sack in the fourth quarter.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

10/30

Rams safety T.J. McDonald can’t make the interception as Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills puts the hit on him in the third quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

11/30

Rams quarterback Jared Goff dives for a first down as Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso tries to slow him down during a fourth-quarter drive. The play was nullified by a penalty against the Rams.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

12/30

Rams safety Mark Barron tackles Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi during a third-quarter play.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

13/30

Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, left, and defensive lineman Dominique Easley celebrate after a sack of Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the fourth quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

14/30

Rams running back Todd Gurley is tackeled by Dolphins linebacker Neville Hewitt in the third quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

15/30

Rams quarterback Jared Goff scrambles from the Dolphins’ pressure during the third quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

16/30

With the rain coming down, Rams quarterback Jared Goff looks for a receiver against the Dolphins in the third quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

17/30

Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso grabs the facemask of Rams running back Todd Gurley during the third quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

18/30

Rams safety Maurice Alexander makes an interception in front of Dolphins receiver DeVante Parkerduring the third quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

19/30

Rams receiver Kenny Britt battles Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell for a pass that fell incomplete during the second quarter.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

20/30

Dolphins receiver DeVante Parker catches a nine-yard touchdown pass against Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson with 36 seconds left in the game for what proved to be the winning score.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

21/30

Miami’s newly renovated stadium created curiosity, and the team’s performance at Hard Rock Stadium kept the fans coming back. Miami’s only losses at home this season have been to the Titans and the Patriots, which is an improvement on last year’s 3-4 record in Miami Gardens, and their 4-4 record in games played in South Florida in 2014. This season has been proof that if you win, fans will come.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

22/30

Rams quarterback Jared Goff is sacked by Dolphins defensive linemen Cameron Wake, right, and Ndamukong Suh during the second quarter.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

23/30

Rams head coach Jeff Fisher cheers Tavon Austin and Todd Gurley after the running back scored a first quarter touchdown.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

24/30

Rams running back Todd Gurley lunges into the end zone for a touchdown as Dolphins safety Michael Thomas tries to stop him in the first quarter.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

25/30

Rams defensive end William Hayes knocks the ball from the hands of Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi, who recovered the fumble during second quarter action. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

26/30

Rams running back Benny Cunningham tries to fend off Dolphins linebacker Spencer Paysinger for a short gain.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

27/30

Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi is upended by Rams safety Maurice Alexander after a short gain in the second quarter.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

28/30

Rams quarterback Jared Goff runs on to the field as the starting quarterback for the first time in his pro career against the Miami Dolphins.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

29/30

Rams rookie and new starting quarterback Jared Goff walks through the tunnel to take the field.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

30/30

Rams players head to the field from the locker room for warmups nearly an hour before taking on the Miami Dolphins.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

By Matt Wilhalme

Nov. 22, 2016 7 AM PT

The Rams held the Dolphins scoreless for three and a half quarters Sunday at the Coliseum before Miami scored on back-to-back drives to deliver L.A. a 14-10 loss.

Each week we take a look at what worked, what didn’t and what you might have missed.

What: Rams RB Todd Gurley’s longest gain of the season, a 24-yard touchdown run

Down: First and 10

Time: 10:16 left in first quarter

Now Todd Gurley (30) deserves a lot of credit on this play, but it should also go to Rodger Saffold (76). The left guard gets a quick push on his man on the left side of the line and then sprints over to corral Dolphins linebacker Donald Butler (56) into a mess of bodies on the right side of the field. Gurley then just does his thing.

What: Rams RB Todd Gurley breaks off a big run when Kiko Alonso guesses wrong

Down: Second and 11

Time: 47 seconds left in the first quarter

Watch Kiko Alonso (47) on this play. His primary responsibility on this play appears to be Gurley (30) and the linebacker seems itching to get into the backfield for a TFL (tackle for loss).

Alonso goes around his defensive end Jason Jones (98) trying to get to Gurley in the backfield, but the running back takes the gap between left tackle Greg Robinson (73) and tight end Lance Kendricks (88). With Alonso out of position it’s a big gain for Gurley.

What: Rams WR Bradley Marquez helps make P Johnny Hekker look good

Down: Fourth and one

Time: 14:37 left in second quarter

Johnny Hekker (6) is one of the best punters in the league. But he’s also got guys around him like Bradley Marquez (15) who help him look good. Here Hekker’s kick flies 61 yards in the air to Dolphins return man Jarvis Landry (14).

Landry doesn’t call for the fair catch and would appear to have time to return the punt, but Marquez makes sure that doesn’t happen. The receiver lines up as the left gunner on this play and bolts past his defender. Marquez’s speed plus Hekker’s hang time on this punt equals a zero-yard return for Landry.

What: Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry gets pushed into the end zone for a touchdown

Down: Second and nine

Time: 4:28 left in fourth quarter

This play should not have ended in a touchdown. But late in the game after catching a short pass from Ryan Tannehill, Landry is contacted by middle linebacker Alec Ogletree (52) and Lamarcus Joyner (20), but he doesn’t go down. Neither player really wraps him up, which allows offensive lineman Anthony Steen (65) to knock the defenders loose and then Ja’Wuan James (70) and company to start the push into the end zone for the touchdown.

What: Dolphins WR DeVante Parker beats CB Trumaine Johnson for the game-winning TD

Down: Second and two

Time: 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter

The Rams defense just couldn’t hold on.

The Rams are playing man-to-man with one safety over the top on this play. Here Tannehill makes the right decision and throws to DeVante Parker (11) even though he’s being defended by one of the Rams’ best corners in Trumaine Johnson (22).

Johnson gives Parker space to pick up speed on the snap, and as he backpedals into the end zone the receiver makes his cut to the sideline for the game-winning score.

matt.wilhalme@latimes.com

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme