MIAMI – The Tennessee Titans earned their first win of the season after quarterback Mason Rudolph replaced an injured Will Levis midway through the first quarter on Monday. The Titans defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-12 on the road, starting their third quarterback in four games.

Tyler Huntley got the start after they signed him from the Baltimore Ravens practice squad on September 16 as they continue to try to find a solution in the absence of the injured Tua Tagovailoa, but Huntley wasn’t the answer under the bright lights of Hardrock Stadium.

The Titans defense was swarming and limited Miami to 184 total yards, and they were able to get things done on the ground – rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Here are the most important things to know for both teams starting Monday night:

Things looked extremely bleak for the Titans after their 0-3 start to the season. The win over the Dolphins changes things going into the bye week. The Titans believe they should have won two of their first three games, but now they will have some momentum going into the bye week.

Titans coach Brian Callahan will have a lot to think about before Tennessee is back on the field with its quarterback situation.

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Will Levis leaves the game after diving for the 1st down marker

Will Levis is injured trying to extend his run for a first down and Mason Rudolph takes over at quarterback for the Titans. (edited)

QB breakdown: Rudolph came in and ran the Titans offense like the veteran he is. It wasn’t pretty, but he played enough to get the Titans to score. His best throw was a 26-yard laser to Tyler Boyd that set up a 53-yard field goal at halftime.

Promising trend: The Titans’ rushing attack showed up in a big way. Their previous high was 61 yards in the opener against the Bears. Tony Pollard led the way with 82 yards, but Tyjae Spears scored the Titans’ only touchdown of the game on a 7-yard run outside the Wildcat formation.

Eye-popping statistic: Nick Folk, at the age of 39, became the oldest player in NFL history to make three field goals of 50 yards or more in a game. He finished 5 for 5 on the night. –Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 13)

An ugly start to the season got worse for the Dolphins.

The game marked the Dolphins’ third straight loss, and their record is their worst start under coach Mike McDaniel. Miami struggled to move the ball with Huntley most of the night; Huntley led an 85-yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, which notably gained more yards than their previous 10 drives combined (84 yards).

With Tagovailoa out for at least two more games, the Dolphins are at risk of the season slipping away during what was considered the easiest part of their schedule. They are still the only team this season not to be ahead for a second. Their only win came on a field goal as time expired in Week 1.

Describe the game in two words: To cling. Like, for the life of me, Dolphins fans. If this product doesn’t improve dramatically over the next three weeks, even Tagovailoa’s return won’t save this season. Huntley was less effective than Skylar Thompson, which was to be expected considering he signed with the team less than two weeks before his first start. After ending the first half with 77 total yards, Miami mustered just 7 yards in the third quarter as Tennessee ran away with the game.

Eye-popping NextGen Stats: Without the threat of a passing play on the field, the Titans stacked the box on eight of the Dolphins players. 17 designed rushing attempts by their running backs. The strategy largely shut down Miami’s run game, as Jaylen Wright and De’Von Achane combined for 47 yards on 19 carries. Huntley led them with 40 rushing yards and Miami’s first touchdown since Week 2 by scrambling late in the fourth quarter, but by then the glory was all but over.

First forecast for next week: The Dolphins will lose to the New England Patriots. Huntley is clearly not entirely comfortable with this offense and while another week of practice should help, New England will likely sell out to stop the run with its 9th-ranked run defense and force Huntley to win with his arm . If he doesn’t improve, it will mean three straight losses and a 1-4 record for a team that had Super Bowl aspirations this season. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at New England Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)