Incredible plays, a shorted-out scoreboard, and stars galore. A perfect game for La La Land Sunday, which the Miami Dolphins won 36-34 over the Los Angeles Chargers in the most dramatic fashion.
Neither team wasted any time Sunday, so we shouldn’t either. Here are four instant takeaways from the Dolphins vs. Chargers matchup.
Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers Instant Observations
Tua Tagovailoa is BACK
Tua Tagavailoa had to wait nearly nine long months for a game that counted, and boy, did he make it count.
In his first non-exhibition appearance since suffering a season-ending concussion on Christmas 2022, Tagovailoa showed zero signs of rust.
Rather, he looked like an MVP candidate, completing 28 of 45 attempts for 466 yards — including a 47-yard strike to Tyreek Hill on third-and-10 late in the game and then a four-yard touchdown strike to Hill to give the Dolphins a decisive two-point lead.
The big storyline in the leadup to this game was how the Chargers shut the Dolphins last year with physical play at the line of scrimmage and by flooding the middle of the field with defenders.
No amount of scheming by the Chargers’ defense could slow him down this time, particularly in the first half, when he completed 16 of 26 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown.
Vic Fangio’s Late Aggression
The Dolphins’ defense had a rough day (more on that in a bit). They couldn’t stop the run or generate any pressure without bringing an extra rusher.
So Vic Fangio changed it up when it mattered the most. He dialed up blitzes on back-to-back plays — and it paid off, first with a Justin Herbert intentional grounding, and then a sack by Zach Sieler that set up a third-and-30 and then a fourth-and-13.
Fangio didn’t mess with success, sending Justin Bethel, who combined with Jaelan Phillips for a game-ending sack.
It wasn’t pretty. But the Dolphins got the stops they needed in the end.
Giving Points Away
It’s hard to beat any team when you turn the ball over twice inside the 5. It’s almost impossible to beat a playoff team on the road when you do it.
But that was the Dolphins’ challenge after Tagovailoa and Connor Williams botched a center-quarterback exchange on the first drive of the game, and then Tagoaviloa threw an ill-advised jump ball to Braxton Berrios in the third quarter. J.C. Jackson came down with the interception.
But when you have the kind of offense the Dolphins seem to have this year, you can overcome a lot of mistakes.
WYD J.C. Jackson?
We don’t know how many times in NFL history a drive started with a touchback with less than 10 seconds left in a half and ended with a field goal, but the list has to be short.
The Dolphins are now on that list — thanks to a huge assist by J.C. Jackson. The Chargers cornerback mugged Erik Ezukanma with no time left on the clock, setting up a 41-yard kick by Jason Sanders on the extra play.
Jackson’s day got worse when Hill roasted him on a go-route for a 35-yard touchdown pass late in quarter No. 3.
Dolphins’ Run efense (Yes, That’s a Dad Joke)
We don’t know what was more discouraging from the Vic Fangio Miami Dolphins debut:
The 55-yard run by Austin Ekeler in the first half in which he waltzed through a hole opened by a Chargers front that was roughly five yards wide.
The 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that featured zero Los Angeles completions.
The three touchdown drives of 75, 75, and 94 yards.
Or the fact that the Dolphins allowed 243 yards on 40 carries (with three touchdowns) to a Chargers offense that in 2022 was 30th in yards per carry (3.8) and yards per game (89.6).
If this doesn’t change fast, Tagovailoa is going to need to put up Marino-like stats to keep pace in a loaded AFC East.