Big Implications

The Dolphins host the San Diego Chargers this upcoming Sunday at 1pm, and the winner of this game will have a huge advantage in the head-to-head tie-breaker at the end of the season. Both teams are trailing in their respective divisions and most sports gambling fans would say that they will be fighting for a wild card birth. Not only will this be a huge game for the win column, but it will give the winning team an edge at the end of the year.

Miami has the home-field advantage, however that is not saying much since they are only 2-2 at home this season. But the biggest advantage in being home is that San Diego has to travel all the way from the West Coast and due to day light savings, the clocks will be adjusted an extra hour backwards, which will throw an extra curve ball to the Chargers mental clocks.

This is becoming a common and annoying theme, but the Dolphins need to find a way to start playing better offensively right from the first snap of the game. Lazor and the offense need to find a way to develop the running game, and move the chains. Tannehill and the offense need to find a rhythm and they need to find it fast, because going three and out constantly against the Chargers is not a good recipe for success.

On Defense the Dolphins need to get pressure on Rivers. Rivers is an elite QB and has the ability to punish the Dolphins if given the chance, however just like any other superstar QB, if he does not have time in the pocket, then he is not as dangerous. Another way to stop Rivers is to shut down his key outlets like Branden Oliver and Antonio Gates. Whenever he is pressured, he loves either dumping off short passes into the flat to the slippery Oliver or looking for his big bodied go to guy in the middle of the field in Gates. The Dolphins have a history of having issues covering opposing Tight Ends and speedy Running backs catching passes out of the backfield, so they need to be prepared to handle these two weapons for the Chargers.

On some of the best sportsbooks in the world the Dolphins are surprisingly a -2 point favorite. The public is absolutely pounding the Chargers, and the action is extremely lopsided on the underdog San Diego Chargers. A general rule of thumb when betting is that when the public is decisively more on the underdog, then the favorite usually covers the spread with ease. Hopefully this trend continues, and the Dolphins come up with a full 60 minute team performance, and come out with the all important victory. I am sticking with the Phins, and predict at least a 4 point victory by the aqua and orange.