They will be linked in the coming season by what transpired early in the 2020 draft. The Miami Dolphins selected Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick, then the Chargers selected Oregon quarterback at No. 6.
When injuries short-circuited the development and production of Tagovailoa, Miami had plenty of criticism after passing on Herbert. It’s now a fast forward to Tagovailoa as the top-rated passer in the NFL while the Dolphins are 8-1 when he starts and finishes a game. Herbert, meanwhile, has been slowed a bit by injuries to his receivers.
The Dolphins have had receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle available every game this season. They have a combined 219 catches and 2,351 receiving yards. However, the Chargers’ tandem of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have missed nine games between them, with just 818 yards in total. Right on cue, Williams is questionable Sunday (injured ankle).
The Chargers are only 2-3 at home, both record-wise and against the spread at home. Miami is 3-3 on the road, 2-4 against the NFL betting lines.
Per the NFL playoff odds, the Dolphins (+800) are fourth-favorite in the odds to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. The Chargers (+3300) are seventh in the same pool.
Let’s check the latest NFL odds, stats, injury reports, and NFL lines for Dolphins vs Chargers. We’ve plenty of Vegas NFL odds and NFL week 14 picks for you to consider.
Dolphins vs Chargers NFL Betting Lines
Fish to Bounce Back?
Miami managed just one drive to reach the red zone in a 33-17 loss at San Francisco last week, offering further proof that the 49er defense is probably the best in the NFL. Miami will not be playing the 49ers this time around.
They will be going against a secondary without J.C. Jackson. Star safety Derwin James is questionable (quadriceps). Only trailing Buffalo by a game in the AFC East, it’s a huge game in Miami’s quest to win the division.
Miami incurred a heavy cost (five draft picks, including a first-rounder) to acquire Hill. It surrendered a first-round selection to climb the draft ladder and select Jaylen Waddle in 2021.
Hard to argue with the dividends to date, as Hill and Waddle are the leading receiving tandem in the NFL. This is a game where they need to be at their best.
The Dolphins have covered against the NFL betting odds in just three of their last nine.
Scoop on Free Play from the Locker Room
Bolts’ Injuries Abound
The injuries around the Chargers began even before the opening game, with some key players on both sides forced to miss time. Now without star pass rusher Joey Bosa, cornerback J.C. Jackson, defensive linemen Christian Covington, Austin Johnson, and Otito Ogbonnia, while safety Derwin James and linebacker Kenneth Murray (that’s two of the top three tacklers on the team), are questionable.
wednesday’s dolphins-chargers injury report pic.twitter.com/5Uo1scqvOT
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 7, 2022
At less than full strength, a defense going against an explosive Miami offense may not end well.
The Chargers are 26th in the NFL in total defense (19th in passing defense). This will be a huge test indeed. The good news is that being in a division with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chargers are familiar with trying to slow down high-octane offenses throughout the season.
The Las Vegas odds total has gone over in seven of the Chargers’ last nine home games.
Dolphins vs Chargers Game Injuries
Dolphins vs Chargers Head-to-Head
Miami has won five of the last seven games with the Chargers. The last meeting, back in 2020, saw Miami win, 29-21, at home when listed by the sportsbook as a 1½-point favorite. Both quarterbacks were held under 200 passing yards in that game.
Three of the last four meetings have been decided by eight or fewer points.
In the last 17 games in the series, 15 of them went under the total.
Dolphins vs Chargers Game Information
- Game: Dolphins (8-4) vs Chargers (6-6)
- Date/Time: Sunday, Dec.11th, 8:20 p.m. ET
- Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
- Dolphins vs Chargers Live stream: NFL Game Pass
Dolphins vs Chargers Game Weather Conditions
SoFi Stadium is enclosed, so the rainy Sunday forecast won’t impact the game.
Dolphins vs Chargers Picks & Prediction
Predicted Score: Dolphins 31, Chargers 27
- Worth the Moneyline?
Figuring a pretty competitive affair Sunday night, especially with the Chargers having little wiggle room in their quest to reach the playoffs. While the Dolphins are favored and have a Moneyline of -175, those who want to go with the Chargers at home would cash out at +150.
The last two times the Chargers hosted the Dolphins, games were decided by a combined total of nine points. This game could well head in that direction.
- Worth the ATS?
The game opened as a pick-’em, now has the Dolphins favored by 3½. Check any further movement with the line.
There’s nothing suggesting the Chargers can’t win, but not having defensive end Joey Bosa and cornerback J.C. Jackson hurts them. Khalil Mack was acquired by the Bolts in the offseason in anticipation of games such as this.
- Worth the Totals?
The 51½-point total is the second-highest among this week’s games. The last three Bolt games have ended with 57, 49 and 47 points, while an average of 55.2 points have been scored in the last five Fish contests.
Perhaps the defenses will arrive, but this could very well be one back-and-forth game.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
