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Dolphins match up against high-scoring Chargers
By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR
The Miami Dolphins are coming off of the greatest win of the Tony Sparano Era thus far, a shocking 38-13 rout of the defending AFC champion New England Patriots two weeks ago.
The Dolphins thoroughly confused the great Bill Belichick’s defense with the “Wildcat” formation co-opted from Arkansas, and remolded with running back Ronnie Brown as the trigger.
In his first start of the year, Brown flashed his pre-knee injury form for the first time, slashing for 113 yards and scoring a Dolphins-record four TDs. Brown also threw a 22-yard TD pass to tight end Sal Fasano in the victory.
Starting quarterback Chad Pennington was also sharp, putting together his best performance of the season with 17 completions in 20 attempts for 226 yards.
The Dolphins might improve on those numbers against a San Diego Chargers defense that has struggled so far, allowing an average of 376.2 yards and 28 points per game. San Diego ranks 28th overall in total defense.
However, the Chargers offense, in its second year under Coach Norv Turner and third with starter Phillip Rivers, has become one of the most explosive units in the league.
San Diego ranks eighth in total offense with 356 yards a game, and the Chargers are averaging 34.5 points per game through their 2-2 start.
Rivers has blossomed into one of the top quarterbacks this season, throwing for 10 TDs, just 4 INTs, and passing for 1,024 yards. He has also been accurate, hitting on 64.5 percent of his passes this season.
Rivers has a full complement of weapons in wide receivers Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson, tight end Antonio Gates, and running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
LT, still bothered by a turf toe, is only 13th in the NFL with 296 yards rushing and five TDs, but he can still make the big plays, as he did last week when he ran for 106 yards and two TDs in a 28-18 comeback win over Oakland.
The Dolphins defense played well against a young QB in Matt Cassel two weeks ago, but the Chargers have too much firepower for Miami to make it two wins in a row.
Chargers 30, Dolphins 21.
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