RAMS DC PHILLIPS AWARE OF RUMORS

He is completing another season in an NFL coaching career that began in 1976.

Will a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday be defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ final one with the Rams? Phillips, 72, acknowledged Thursday that he was aware of rumors that he might not be retained after three seasons.

“I don’t pay attention to rumors,” Phillips said during a news conference. “Wherever I’ve been, I’m going to do the best I can do.

“If that’s not good enough for somebody then it isn’t. But we want to finish with a winning season.”

A year after playing in the Super Bowl, the Rams are 8-7 going into their last game at the Coliseum, which has served as a temporary home since their return from St. Louis in 2016. Sofi Stadium in Inglewood will open next season. The Rams’ defense ranks 13th in the NFL in yards allowed (336.1 yards per game), 10th in pass defense, 15th in rushing defense and 17th in scoring defense.

Last Sunday, the Rams lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31, on a field goal as time expired. Early in the season, they lost to the Seattle Seahawks, 30-29, after Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a field-goal attempt with less than 30 seconds left.

“We lost some close games that we won last year,” Phillips said

But along with the close losses were several blowout defeats.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Rams 5540, and the Baltimore Ravens routed the Rams 45-6 — both at the Coliseum. The Dallas Cowboys dominated the Rams in a 44-21 victory at AT&T Stadium.

Asked if he felt that he had performed well enough to be retained, Phillips indicated it was not his decision to make.

“It’s up to somebody else to judge those things,” Phillips said. “You never know what’s going to happen in football.

“But I know one thing: I’m going to do the best I can do and be the best assistant coach I can be.”

Coach Sean Mcvay said he had spoken to Phillips regarding the rumors but would wait until after the season to evaluate the defensive coordinator and other staff members.

Notable

The Miami Dolphins’ most valuable player might not even start next year, which hints at how much the team hopes to upgrade in the offseason.

It also explains why Ryan Fitzpatrick might take that MVP award and head into retirement.

Not that he would exactly be quitting on top; the Dolphins are 4-11 entering Sunday’s season finale at New England. Fitzpatrick has started all four victories and eight defeats, dropping his record over 15 seasons to 5483-1.

But to the Dolphins, the 37-year-old Fitzpatrick would be going out a winner — not that he has said whether he wants to call it quits or play another season.

Another factor is whether there’s a starting job for him. This week Fitzpatrick was chosen the Dolphins’ MVP by the media, and also won the leadership award in a vote by his teammates. Even so, owner Stephen Ross has said the top priority in the offseason will be to acquire a franchise quarterback.

• Falcons rookie cornerback Jordan Miller was suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFL’S policy on performance-enhancing substances.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

gary.klein@latimes.com