TV Schedule: Sunday, Nov. 17, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
Stadium: Sun Life Stadium
Weather: High 85, Low 74
Line: San Diego (-1)
Losing to the Denver Broncos at home in week 10 will not be enough to rid this San Diego Chargers team of confidence. Prior to the season, no one thought Philip Rivers had it in him to become one of the top quarterbacks in the league and lead the Chargers to even five wins on the season. The depleted roster looked to be headed for a rebuilding year, but it has been anything but as the Chargers are 4-5 and in third place in the AFC West. Rivers has passed for 2,691 yards and 18 touchdowns — silencing many critics of the quarterback. Rivers has received some solid help from reliable tight end Antonio Gates who leads all receivers with 52 catches for 612 yards and two touchdowns. Keenan Allen is close behind with 38 catches for 568 yards and three scores. Ryan Matthews leads the 19th-ranked rushing attack with 539 yards and two touchdowns.
The Miami Dolphins are coming off their most embarrassing loss of the season in week 10. No, they weren’t blown out or shut out, but they lost to a team that was 0-8 to begin the season, handing them their first win of the year. Ryan Tannehill has been a solid second-year quarterback for the Dolphins, passing for 2,206 yards and 13 touchdowns while connecting with Brian Hartline a team-high 43 times for 534 yards and two scores. Mike Wallace has struggled a bit in his first season in Miami, catching just 40 passes for 495 yards and one touchdown. The run game was supposed to be electric with talented running back Lamar Miller leading the way this season, but he has struggled a bit in recent weeks, including being non-existent against the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week ago. The offensive line has struggled to open holes for Miller as he has rushed for 450 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
Defensively, the Dolphins have been a lower-tier unit this season. Miami ranks 20th in the league in total yards allowed while also ranking 16th in passing yards allowed per game. Their run defense, however, has struggled, giving up the eighth-most rushing yards per game in the NFL. San Diego ranks fourth-to-last in total yards allowed while giving up the fifth-most passing yards per game.
PREDICTION: Chargers 31, Dolphins 28
Related: San Diego Chargers Can’t Always Rely on Short Passing Game
Miami Dolphins Rumors: Players Fined Jonathan Martin For Being ‘Soft’
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at .
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