MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Chargers leaned on plenty of backups Sunday, however with the sport towards the Miami Dolphins on the road, they turned to Mr. Dependable.
Cameron Dicker kicked a 35-yard area objective with 5 seconds remaining to carry his group to a 29-27 win, the ultimate factors in a recreation that included six lead modifications.
It was the fifth area objective of the day for Dicker, who has by no means missed from 40 yards or nearer.
Chargers security Derwin James Jr. clinched the win with an interception on the ultimate play, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s third choose of the day.
The sparse crowd had erupted minutes earlier when Tagovailoa hit Darren Waller for a seven-yard landing, reclaiming the lead with 46 seconds on the clock.
However Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert answered with a lightning-quick drive downfield to arrange the successful area objective.
The Chargers, ravaged by accidents, successfully leaned on their reserves to assist pave the way in which for his or her first victory in three weeks.
Reserve operating again Kimani Vidal rushed for 124 yards and turned a brief go right into a landing. He was promoted from the observe squad final Wednesday after the Chargers misplaced rookie first-round choose Omarion Hampton to an ankle harm. Earlier this season, the group misplaced veteran operating again Najee Harris to a torn Achilles tendon.
Chargers operating again Kimani Vidal scores a landing within the third quarter Sunday towards the Dolphins.
(Carmen Mandato / Getty Pictures)
The efficiency marked the primary 100-yard recreation by Vidal, drafted within the sixth spherical out of Troy College by the Chargers in 2024.
It was the second consecutive week the 1-5 Dolphins had been burned by a little-known operating again, as Carolina’s Rico Dowdle trampled them for 206 yards in Week 5. Miami got here into the sport with the NFL’s worst run protection.
On Sunday, the Chargers made seven journeys to the purple zone however didn’t take advantage of these, with two touchdowns and 5 area objectives.
Giving the visiting protection all it may deal with was Miami’s De’Von Archane, who had a 49-yard landing run within the first quarter and a four-yarder within the fourth. The Dolphins repeatedly fed him the ball down the stretch and scored on the landing catch by Waller, however they couldn’t maintain off Herbert’s closing drive.
Stopping the run has been a difficulty for the Chargers, too, as Washington’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns towards them the week earlier than.
The Chargers gained their first three video games of the season, operating the desk towards AFC West opponents, however misplaced the subsequent two video games on the New York Giants and residential towards the Washington Commanders.
Not solely had the Chargers misplaced their two prime operating backs, however they’ve needed to reshuffle their offensive line a number of occasions due to accidents. They’ve designed their offense to get the ball out of Justin Herbert’s palms shortly, as he has been hit greater than any quarterback within the league this season.
That was the case within the first half of Sunday’s recreation as nicely, as Herbert was hit 4 occasions — and sacked as soon as — by the Dolphins, who registered simply 18 quarterback hits within the first 5 video games mixed.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert scrambles in the course of the second half towards the Dolphins.
(Lynne Sladky / Related Press)
However the Chargers got here alive within the second half, overcoming a 13-9 halftime deficit, with a five-yard landing reception by Ladd McConkey, a seven-yard scoring catch by Vidal, and a fourth area objective by Dicker.
The Chargers, with out injured receiver Quentin Johnston, leaned extra closely into rookie tight finish Oronde Gadsden II, whose father performed receiver for the Dolphins for six seasons.
The youthful Gadsden caught seven passes Sunday but additionally had a fumble that arrange Achane’s first landing.
