Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers
The Dolphins were humbled by head coach Mike McDaniel’s former team last week in a lopsided loss to the 49ers that saw injury added to insult with a late ankle issue for QB Tua Tagovailoa. On the positive side for the Dolphins, they go from facing the league’s best defense to one of the worst, as the Chargers have allowed 6.1 yards per play and been shredded to the tune of 5.4 yards per carry on the ground. The Dolphins offense should bounce back at SoFi Stadium.
The question is whether or not the Chargers offense can do the same. Corey Linsley was still in concussion protocol as of Tuesday and he grades as one of the league’s best centers. Right tackle Trey Pipkins remains questionable. The offense may get a boost if wide receiver Mike Williams can return, but this is a Chargers team that hasn’t hit 400 yards of offense since Week 5 and has no semblance of a running game to fall back on.
Against a really bad Raiders defense, the Chargers allowed five sacks and managed only 5.2 yards per play. The travel is not a factor for Miami, as the team stayed on the West Coast after the loss to San Francisco, so it doesn’t seem like there are many things working in the Chargers’ favor this week. Even with a lackluster performance against the 49ers, the Dolphins are getting enough market respect to be a field-goal favorite on the road and may even inch up to -3.5 at some shops.