Chargers Beat Dolphins

The Chargers were locked in a low-scoring duel with the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday... 2 offenses that both squandered scoring opportunities and for 3 quarters it was anyone's game...

Shawne Merriman played only 2 plays and was sidelined, as was LaDainian Tomlinson but the Chargers clawed and scraped their way for the win.

Dolphins' starting QB, Chad Pennington, was knocked out of the game (and later revealed for the season) early in the 2nd half and when his backup, Chad Henne, had a pass intercepted for a touchdown it was the death nail for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins' wildcat offense was mostly ineffective and the Charger defense did get some pressure on the Miaim quarterbacks. Add that the defense did make a couple of big plays on 3rd and 4th down, the Charger defense did look better...but I don't think Miami is the powerhouse that some think it may be.

The Charger offensive line continued to look shoddy... Rivers was under pressure for most of the game, sacked and fumbled on one occassion...yet the passing game was still unstoppable. Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd, Antonio Gates, Darren Sproles...all had big games, again. But, as with the previous 2 games, the Charger running game is still non-existent and the offensive line is unable to manage any sort of defensive rush.

The red zone continues to be an issue with the Chargers as well... Rivers scrambled in for a touchdown score, which was the only one scored by the offense on the day and the Chargers settled for field goals on their other trips inside the 20...a continuing trend for the team.

Chargers have a Sunday night game against Pittsburgh...who's lost 2 games in a row now...they systematically beat the Chargers last year in the playoffs with ball control offense that wore down the Charger defense and kept the ball out of the hands of the Charger offense. I would think Pittsburgh will attempt to use that same strategy and unless they turn the ball over or the Charger defense finds a way to stop them, the outcome will likely be similar...