LA Chargers at Miami Dolphins
Time: 3:05 PM EST, CBS
Spread: EVEN
Total: 48.5
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Miami Dolphins are 5-3 and in second place in the AFC, trailing only 7-2 Buffalo. The Dolphins host the LA Chargers this week in a game that has shifted to EVEN Odds per 5dimes latest line. The over-under is set at 48.5 points, per 5dimes, as well. This game will kick off at 3:05 PM EST on CBS, as the Chargers search for some consistency in their season and the Dolphins make its push to stay ahead of the 3-5 New England Patriots while hopefully narrowing the gap on the Bills.
MIA
Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for 1,535 yards, 10 touchdowns and boasts a Quarterback rating of 82.5 as the Dolphins rank No. 23 in passing yards at 225.8 per game. It also ranks just No. 28 in rushing yards with 97.1 per game. The offense, somehow, surprisingly is good for 27.8 points per game despite that, ranking No. 9 in the NFL and bolstering a defensive effort that surrenders just 20.1 points per game to opponents.
The Dolphins, of course, did draft the vaunted prospect that is Tua Tagovailoa. Fitzpatrick remains the main quarterback, but Tagovailoa has been encouraging to watch as well, with his 65.4 percent completions and three touchdowns to the tune of no picks at all. Fitzpatrick has thrown seven interceptions and been sacked 10 times for 49 lost yards. The eventual hope is to of course hand the reigns to Tua, but he will need his seasoning and time to adjust to being an NFL quarterback, and Fitzpatrick has plenty left in the tank for the time being.
Fitzpatrick ranks No. 1 in rushing yards per attempt, requiring at least double-figure attempts. He has 5.4 yards-per-carry and has scored two rushing touchdowns, matching that of No. 1 backfield option Myles Gaskin. Gaskin has 100 attempts at just less than four yards-per-carry, but he also has 21 first downs this season with Fitzpatrick ranking No. 2 at 11. Davante Parker and tight end Mike Gesicki lead the way for the receiving options, with 431 and 331 yards, respectively, on the season. Parker has three touchdowns, but No. 2 Wideout Preston Williams leads the team with four touchdowns on his 18 catches for 288 yards.
LAC
The L.A. Chargers are just 2-6 and just 1-3 on the road this season where it faces the Dolphins in a game with an even spread this Sunday. The Chargers won Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals and also defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it has lost its past two, and a four-game losing streak was sandwiched between its two wins: It has not gone well.
The Chargers have a powerful offense that ranks No. 5 in pass offense and no. 8 in rush offense, but produces the mediocre results of just 25.6 points per game. Having attacks ranked in the top-10 with an offense that is merely middle of the pack is, unfortunately, a thing, as is having a defense that allows even more scoring, giving up 27 points per game and equating the point differential to an unhealthy -1.4 points.
Justin Herbert has been the ignition of this strong pass offense, averaging 330.3 yards per game and already having thrown 17 touchdowns. He has five interceptions and 14 sacks, but his passer rating is outstanding at 104.7, and Herbert has also been effective when rushing. He has 33 attempts for 166 yards and two touchdowns, which leads all rushers for scoring. Joshua Kelley has been good for a lot of short attempts, 91 at a 3.2 yard-per-carry average, while others- particularly Justin Jackson, have been better at finding gaps for bigger plays.
Austin Ekeler has a 5.1 yard-per-carry average and has rushed for 14 first downs despite having just 49 overall attempts this season. There is plenty of talent in the Chargers’ backfield, and it should only be a matter of time before some wins even this season around.
It has been an unfairly bad start for how well several aspects of the game have gone for Los Angeles this season.
