If you glanced at the scoreboard in the first half of Rams-Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, you’d never know Los Angeles was 5-2 and 3.5-point a favorite. The Rams had one of the worst first halves of Sean McVay’s coaching career against Miami, absolutely laying an egg on offense and special teams.
Jared Goff threw two interceptions and fumbled it twice, as he was also sacked two times by the Dolphins. He completed 15 of 32 passes for 136 yards – a lot of which came on the final drive of the half – with no touchdowns and four turnovers.
The Dolphins converted each of the Rams’ four turnovers into touchdowns, jumping out to a 28-7 lead in the first half. L.A.’s four turnovers are the most in a single half by any team in the NFL this season, just to put into perspective how poorly the offense played.
The defense came to play, limiting the Dolphins to just 56 yards on offense in the first half.
On special teams, the Rams allowed an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jakeem Grant, which came just 76 seconds after Andrew Van Ginkel returned a fumble 78 yards for six points.
FIRST PUNT RETURN TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON!@_TheDreamIsHere goes 88 yards to the house. #FinsUp
📺: #LARvsMIA on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/J6oAb5WnGm pic.twitter.com/wIEzR11eru— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2020
Sean McVay’s play calling also came under fire from fans and analysts, questioning why he constantly abandoned the run despite Darrell Henderson rushing for 49 yards on his first seven carries of the afternoon.
Twitter laid into Goff, McVay and the Rams as a whole for looking like a complete mess against the Dolphins, going into halftime down 28-10.
They won't bench Goff, but I would. It's clear he's gonna be under duress all day. I'd at least try with a mobile QB back there.
But we'll see if they can make any adjustments.
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) November 1, 2020
Pathetic @RamsNFL absolutely pathetic
— HoldenCantor (@HoldenCantor) November 1, 2020
FYI: Your passer rating is only 10.5 points lower than Jared Goff’s.
— Bate™ (@NoPlanB_) November 1, 2020
Can we start the bye week at halftime?
— SeattleRams (@seattlerams_nfl) November 1, 2020
And Goff is strip-sacked by Shaq Lawson. The Rams have four turnovers in the half. Two picks and two fumbles. This is as ugly as it gets. Holy train wreck. Miami scores and are up 28-7 at halftime
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) November 1, 2020
Don’t look at this until you have somewhere to like. pic.twitter.com/13tPyy7N5u
— SeattleRams (@seattlerams_nfl) November 1, 2020
Even as a rookie, Goff has never looked this bad. Wow.
— Travis Rodgers (@TravisRodgers) November 1, 2020
Not good when you get 2 opportunities that close to the end zone and can't even find a pass to a receiver
— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) November 1, 2020
I’m sorry. They’re gonna kick it?
— Bate™ (@NoPlanB_) November 1, 2020
Goff has the pocket awareness of a concussed duck
— AJ Schulte (@AJDraftScout) November 1, 2020