Rams collapse in Goff’s debut; Fisher moves up on loss list

The third quarter got off to a wild start as Kiko Alonso forced a Rams fumble and the Dolphins defense recovered, only to have Tannehill throw an interception in the end zone on the very next play. Goff needs to show that he’s the best QB on the Rams roster, which shouldn’t be hard. After shutting the Dolphins out for 56 minutes, they gave up two late touchdowns and lost 14-10. The Rams are still in the playoff hunt, but they will struggle to clinch a spot if the defense continues to collapse in the fourth quarter.

It’s clear that the Rams were mistaken in thinking a top quarterback was the final piece in their puzzle. As little as six weeks ago the Dolphins would have phoned this in but Adam Gase has this team believing that they can win at any time and they proved it today.

“We just need to stay out of our own way”. “He made it hard for our defense”. Everything else? Well, let’s just say that anyone banking on Goff to step in and provide immediate fireworks came away disappointed. Goff completed 17 passes, but none of them traveled more than 10 yards in the air.

Still, Williams writes that Goff got the ball out quickly. While Goff’s performance in Sunday’s loss likely triggered as many questions as it answered, one thing seems certain and that is that the Rams success or failure in the near future will seemingly rest on the shoulders of Jared Goff moving forward. “We’re one play away, one play away”.

It may not have counted.

The Rams (4-5) are coming off a lackluster 9-6 win against the Jets, so coach Jeff Fisher decided it was time to see what Goff can do.

“I was really proud of him”, Fisher said.

That mobility wouldn’t protect him from a handful “welcome-to-the-NFL” licks, though. He did a nice job on the line of scrimmage.

“At times, we definitely got back there and hit him”, Suh said. They also lost receiver A.J. Green to an injured right hamstring on the first pass of the game; he was taken off on a cart. In Philadelphia, Wentz plays for coordinator Frank Reich, a former National Football League quarterback, and Doug Pederson, a first-year head coach who trained for years under Andy Reid, one of the NFL’s most experienced and brightest offensive minds.

Reviews about Goff’s debut were mixed.

Just as Case Keenum was rarely the problem during the Rams’ recent four-game losing streak, Goff was far from the most glaring problem for the Rams. But with the Rams’ defensive line obliterating a banged-up Miami offensive line, Goff had the entire game to seize control, to put together one drive that could have sealed the game.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill got his chance Sunday to match what the special teams and defence had done in a game where they were the only reason the Dolphins even had a chance to conjure more late-game magic.

Goff assuredly would’ve traded that extra abuse for a victory in his debut.

With the game on the line, that group kept Tannehill upright.

Goff was referring to Fisher, Boras and, presumably, quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke.

Think of how long it’s taken Tannehill to even somewhat solidify himself as a starter.

It’s a positive that Gurley broke free with Goff under center, but suggesting that Miami was overly concerned with the rookie’s arm strength is a massive stretch.

“There were a lot of things they did, like anyone would do when you’re facing a first-time starting rookie”, Fisher said.