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Bench Warmer
The Miami Dolphins kept the St. Louis Rams out of the end zone, even with Steven Jackson back in the lineup.
The Dolphins (7-5) made it only once themselves in a 16-12 victory Sunday. Instead, they relied on stingy play from a defense that got routed last week by the Patriots to secure their fifth victory in six games.
Miami and St. Louis had the top two picks of the draft and the Rams (2-10) are likely to get another real early pick next April after losing their sixth in a row. They ended a string of blowout losses the previous four games behind Jackson, who had 94 yards on 21 carries, but were undone by mistakes in the second half against a franchise that's quickly become competitive after going 1-15 last season.
Marc Bulger, sidelined by a concussion last week against the Bears, threw three interceptions in the second half -- the clincher by Andre' Goodman at the Dolphins 5 with 35 seconds to go. Renaldo Hill's second pick of the season, and second in two games, set up Dan Carpenter's third field goal for the final score with 6:39 to go.
Against a team that has scored one touchdown the past four games, that was plenty of cushion.
The Rams got a perfect day from kicker Josh Brown, who matched his season best with four field goals in four attempts. Bulger was far from perfect, going 16-for-35 for 149 yards.
The head-to-head matchup of the first two picks, both named Long, was probably was a draw. Dolphins tackle Jake Long, the No. 1 overall selection, had a false start on the first play of the game while Rams defensive end Chris Long had one quarterback pressure.
Buoyed by Jackson's return, the Rams' 6-0 lead after the first quarter was their first lead in four games to end a horrible stretch in which they were outscored 99-6 in the first half. They had possession for more than 17 minutes and Jackson wasn't exactly eased back with 16 touches and 88 yards in the half.
But like they have all season, the Rams failed to finish drives and two of Brown's field goals in the half were chip shots, and Carpenter's 37-yarder at the end of the half put the Dolphins ahead 10-7. The Rams entered the game last in the NFL inside the 20, totaling five touchdowns in only 17 trips.
The lone TD was a 3-yard run by Ronnie Brown, who broke free from Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa early in the second quarter. Miami faced third down only once on a 12-play, 91-yard drive.
The Dolphins (7-5) made it only once themselves in a 16-12 victory Sunday. Instead, they relied on stingy play from a defense that got routed last week by the Patriots to secure their fifth victory in six games.
Miami and St. Louis had the top two picks of the draft and the Rams (2-10) are likely to get another real early pick next April after losing their sixth in a row. They ended a string of blowout losses the previous four games behind Jackson, who had 94 yards on 21 carries, but were undone by mistakes in the second half against a franchise that's quickly become competitive after going 1-15 last season.
Marc Bulger, sidelined by a concussion last week against the Bears, threw three interceptions in the second half -- the clincher by Andre' Goodman at the Dolphins 5 with 35 seconds to go. Renaldo Hill's second pick of the season, and second in two games, set up Dan Carpenter's third field goal for the final score with 6:39 to go.
Against a team that has scored one touchdown the past four games, that was plenty of cushion.
The Rams got a perfect day from kicker Josh Brown, who matched his season best with four field goals in four attempts. Bulger was far from perfect, going 16-for-35 for 149 yards.
The head-to-head matchup of the first two picks, both named Long, was probably was a draw. Dolphins tackle Jake Long, the No. 1 overall selection, had a false start on the first play of the game while Rams defensive end Chris Long had one quarterback pressure.
Buoyed by Jackson's return, the Rams' 6-0 lead after the first quarter was their first lead in four games to end a horrible stretch in which they were outscored 99-6 in the first half. They had possession for more than 17 minutes and Jackson wasn't exactly eased back with 16 touches and 88 yards in the half.
But like they have all season, the Rams failed to finish drives and two of Brown's field goals in the half were chip shots, and Carpenter's 37-yarder at the end of the half put the Dolphins ahead 10-7. The Rams entered the game last in the NFL inside the 20, totaling five touchdowns in only 17 trips.
The lone TD was a 3-yard run by Ronnie Brown, who broke free from Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa early in the second quarter. Miami faced third down only once on a 12-play, 91-yard drive.
