| Game: Los Angeles Chargers (2-6) at Miami Dolphins (5-3) Location: Hard Rock Stadium Time: Sunday,at 4:05 p.m. ET Television: CBS |
Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| Chargers | +3 | +120 | 50 | 23½ |
| Dolphins | -3 | -140 | 50 | 27 |
Head-to-Head
A pair of rookie quarterbacks face off in this AFC matchup between the 2-6 Los Angeles Chargers and the 5-3 Miami Dolphins.
Wins have eluded Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, as all six of their losses have come by one score or less.
Tua Tagovailoa is 2-0 as a Dolphins starter, and Miami has won four straight.
In NFL betting, the Dolphins have opened as a 3-point favorite at home.
Los Angeles Chargers
Betting Record
| Team | Record | ATS | ATS Home | ATS Away | ATS Fave | ATS Dog |
O/U |
| Chargers | 2-6 | 5-3 | 2-2 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 3-1 | 5-3 |
Next game: vs. Jets
Last Game
The Chargers are coming off a 31-26 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at home. With 1 second left from the two-yard line, Herbert threw a corner fade to third-string tight end Donald Parham. The call was initially a touchdown, which would have given the Chargers the lead as time expired. However, the play was reviewed and it was determined Parham did not maintain control of the ball.
“We had two shots to win the game, I felt really good about the shots,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said afterward. “Like I said, we didn’t execute.”
Herbert led the way statistically, throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Justin Jackson was hurt in warmups, which led to running back Kalen Ballage handling 15 carriers for 69 yards and a score. Veteran wideout Keenan Allen had nine receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Stats Pack
Allen is having another strong season, hoping for a fourth consecutive year with 1,000+ receiving yards. Through 8 games, he already has 62 receptions for 651 yards, along with four touchdowns.
Herbert is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year with his 67% completion rate, to go with his 2,146 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Assuming star defensive end Joey Bosa returns from his concussion, he seems poised to continue where he left off, already with 4.5 sacks on the year.
Trends
The Chargers have been cycling in running backs each week as injuries pile up. The latest ascending runner was Ballage. Before him, it had been a split between Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson.
No matter who the runners have been, the volume is there, but until Austin Ekeler returns, it’s best to stay away from betting on any rushing props for an individual player. Keep an eye on NFL breaking news to see if the Chargers name a starter ahead of this game.
Injury Report
RB Austin Ekeler – IR. Ekeler was hurt over a month ago and is in the range of his expected return of 4-6 weeks. He is still listed on the NFL injury report.
DE Joey Bosa – Q (concussion)
OT Bryan Bulaga – Q (back)
RB Justin Jackson – Q (knee)
G Trai Turner – O (groin)
Players to Fade
Tight end Hunter Henry has one touchdown, with backup tight ends combining for three. The goal-line fade to a third-string tight end on the final play of the game last week is a troubling statement to the faith this offense has in Henry.
Miami Dolphins
Betting Record
| Team | Record | ATS | ATS Home | ATS Away | ATS Fave | ATS Dog |
O/U |
| Dolphins | 5-3 | 6-2 | 3-1 | 3-1 | 1-0 | 5-2 | 3-5 |
Next game: at Broncos
Last Game
The Dolphins came out on top in a back-and-forth battle against the red-hot Arizona Cardinals, 34-31. A missed Zane Gonzalez field goal with under two minutes to play halted the Cardinals’ efforts to tie, and Miami was able to put the game away from there.
Rookie quarterback Tagovailoa put together a much stronger statistical output in his second career start, finishing 20-of-28 passing for 248 yards, two touchdowns, and an additional 35 yards rushing.
The Dolphins are hot, winning four straight games. Some NFL expert picks think this current streak could propel Miami to the playoffs.
Stats Pack
The Dolphins have a three-headed receiving core of WR DeVante Parker (431 yards, three touchdowns), TE Mike Gesicki (331 yards, two touchdowns), and Preston Williams (four touchdowns).
Trends
The Dolphins’ defense has scored a touchdown in two straight games, helping to fuel their big wins. Powering this strong defense is cornerback Xavien Howard with four interceptions on the year and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who has seven sacks.
Injury Report
RB Myles Gaskin – O
RB Matt Breida – Q
TE Durham Smythe – Q
WR Preston Williams – Q
Betting on the Game
Point Spread
The Dolphins have opened as three-point favorites on the NFL point spreads, only the second time this year they’ve been a favorite. The Chargers are 3-1 ATS as an underdog. The Dolphins have played a pair of tough NFC teams the last few weeks, winning them both.
Moneyline
The Chargers to win is listed at +140, an interesting value when considering the success they’ve had against the spread and how close their games have been.
The Dolphins have made a statement after beating the Rams and Cardinals in back-to-back weeks. Miami is a true contender for a wild-card spot in the AFC this year.
Over/Under
Currently set at 50, the over/under will depend on Miami’s playmaking defense. If they score another touchdown off of Herbert (five interceptions this year and two fumbles), it may push this game over.
The Dolphins are 3-5 against the over, while the Chargers are 5-3.
