Dolphins vs Chargers Week 14: The Chargers’ O-Line Needs to Protect Justin Herbert Better

• 8-4 Miami Dolphins have won five of their last six games, still trail the Bills in AFC East

• The LA Chargers' offensive line has allowed 16 total sacks in the last four games

• Watch Dolphins vs Chargers live on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, at 8:20 PM ET on NBC

Dolphins vs Chargers Week 14 Odds

Dolphins vs Chargers Week 14 Picks

POINT SPREAD: Miami Dolphins -3.0 (-110) at WynnBet

POINTS TOTAL: Under 51.5 (-113) at BetRivers

SPECIAL - Team to Score First: Miami Dolphins (-110) at FanDuel

POINT SPREAD: Miami Dolphins -3.0 (-110) at WynnBet

This interdivisional AFC matchup in the NFL’s Week 14 was flexed into the Sunday Night Football slot and it looks exciting as the East’s 8-4 Miami Dolphins travel to California to face the West’s 6-6 Los Angeles Chargers, with both teams coming off a loss and needing to stack more wins if they expect to play meaningful games in January (and February?)

According to the sportsbooks, the Los Angeles Chargers have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four home games, this team struggling to stop rushing attacks (ranked 29th against the run) with an offense that is finding it tough to run the ball, ranked 31st in the league on the ground, a sign that the banged-up offensive line is not playing at full capacity.

The Miami Dolphins have the second-best passing attack in the league led by QB Tua Tagovailoa, the young hurler who gets to target some of the best route runners in the game – WRs Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek ‘Cheetah’ Hill, Trent Sherfield, plus TE Mike Gesicki (who is happy to take advantage of the middle of the field left open thanks to his speedy teammates’ deep routes).

POINTS TOTAL: Under 51.5 (-113) at BetRivers

The Chargers’ O-line needs to protect Justin Herbert better, the typically dangerous-armed QB having been sacked 26 times this season including 16 total sacks during the last four games, the pressure that affects all aspects of LA OC Joe Lombardi’s offense, this week facing a Dolphins defensive rush that has posted 29 total sacks on the season, 17th most in the NFL.

The sportsbooks know that each of the Miami Dolphins' last four road games have gone over the total points line, so they set the points total bet at 51.5, a large, combined total considering the Dolphins’ offense averages 24.9 points per week while the Chargers average 22.7 points per week, that total of 47.6 still well under what the oddsmakers are predicting for this game.

Of course, this game could end up being a defensive battle, so it is smart to do some research on how well each team defends their end zones, with Miami’s defense allowing opponents to score 24.1 points per week and Los Angeles’ defense allowing 25.8 points per game, that total of 49.9 still under what this bet allows, so that is how we are going to go here in Week 14.

SPECIAL - Team to Score First: Miami Dolphins (-110) at FanDuel

The Miami Dolphins are coming off a tough Week 13 loss, but they have actually won five of their last six games, with HC Mike McDaniel making a splash in the league, the former 49ers OC comfortable game planning with so much talent at his disposal, his team with the 6th AFC playoff seed (if the season ended right now) playing the potential 9th seed (with possibly no postseason) Chargers.

This Week 14 Special wager from FanDuel looks like a fun way to add some excitement to this already weighted matchup, with bettors having to guess which of these teams will be the first to post a TD in the game, with a $128 bet on the Dolphins to do it paying out $100 plus the wager, while a $100 special bet on the Chargers to score a TD first pays out $106 plus the initial bet.

As with all NFL teams in Week 14 of the season, both of these franchises are dealing with injured and dinged up players, so be sure to check the injury reports before you place your wagers.

Right now the Dolphins have 10 players on IR and 8 players listed as questionable including QB Tua (ankle), while the Chargers are dealing with a dozen on IR and 8 players listed as a game-time coach’s decision including star WR Mike Williams (ankle).

How to Watch Dolphins vs Chargers

• What: Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers

• Where: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA

• When: Sunday, December 11, 2022, at 8:20 PM ET

• How: NBC