Dolphins @ Chargers

[Vin+ 3,121]

TIME: 04:15 P.M. EST

VENUE: Qualcomm Stadium

 

 

 

Philip Rivers knows he'll have to improve if the San Diego Chargers are going to make a run at the AFC West title, but he likes where his team stands after three weeks.

 

The winless Miami Dolphins might have to get better very quickly to save coach Tony Sparano's job.

 

The Chargers look to improve to 3-0 at Qualcomm Stadium for the first time since 2006 when they face the hapless Dolphins, who will try to avoid a seventh straight loss Sunday.

 

San Diego is tied with Oakland atop the West with its second 2-1 start in coach Norv Turner's five seasons. That's despite an uneven start by Rivers, who is on pace to easily surpass his career high of 15 interceptions with a league-worst six - two coming in each contest.

 

He also threw for a season-low 266 yards last week, but the Chargers defeated visiting Kansas City 20-17.

 

"Certainly I need to play better, and I'm going to work like crazy to do that," said Rivers, who has thrown for four touchdowns. "But 2-1 is what's important."

 

While Rivers' six INTs are disconcerting, the Chargers' two wins haven't exactly come in spite of him. He is the league's top-rated fourth-quarter passer at 136.4, going 25 of 30 with three TDs and no INTs in that period.

 

Rivers apparently will have to make do without Antonio Gates for a second straight game, as the Pro Bowl tight end continues to struggle with pain from the torn plantar fascia he suffered last season.

 

"Ive done whatever it is you can imagine to help this problem," Gates said. "At this point rest is the only thing that's left to try and get this thing healed."

 

Even if Gates doesn't play, Rivers and the Chargers could have an easy time moving the ball through the air. The Dolphins are giving up 311.0 passing yards per game, 30th in the NFL.

 

Miami (0-3) is also 30th in total defense at 415.7 yards allowed per contest, and it hasn't been much better on offense, scoring five TDs. The Dolphins fell 17-16 to Cleveland on Sunday, giving up a 14-yard touchdown catch to Mohamed Massaquoi with 43 seconds to play.

 

"It starts with believing you can win," Miami's Chad Henne said after going 19 of 29 for 255 yards. "We have to put the right mental attitude out there, knowing we are going to win. If you have the right attitude, you're more confident in yourself. We're going to find out what kind of team this is."

 

The three-game skid to end last season, along with another three losses to start this year, may have put Sparano's job in jeopardy.

 

"We're putting him in a tough situation," linebacker Karlos Dansby said. "We've got to play better. Right now his job is on the line, and we've got to do a better job of defending it for him. We're the only ones who can."

 

For that to happen, Henne will have get better. He has completed 56.5 percent of his passes and is ranked 31st in fourth-quarter passer rating at 48.7.

 

Henne completed 15 of his first 17 throws Sunday, but went 4 for 12 the rest of the way and was picked off with 13 seconds left. Miami is 0-3 for the first time since Sept. 27, 2009, when it lost 23-13 in its last visit to San Diego.

 

Miami's defense will have to find a way to slow down the Chargers' Ryan Mathews, who has 45 carries for 207 yards and three TDs along with 14 receptions for 186 yards.

 

"He's becoming the complete back we expect him to be," Turner said of the second-year player.

 

Sparano wishes he could say that about new Dolphins running back Reggie Bush, who has totaled 69 yards rushing and 71 receiving.

 

"San Diego's a good team and they've got a really good offense and defense, so we've really got to correct some things quick because we don't want to find ourselves 0-4," Bush said. "I've been 0-4 before my second year in the league (with New Orleans) and it wasn't fun."

 

Miami had won seven straight against the Chargers prior to the 2009 matchup in San Diego.

 

Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.

[Phins4life 271]

I just don't see us winning with the holes evident in the D. I think at best Miami can keep it relatively close. I'll say 35-21 - Chargers.

[Vin+ 3,121]

Vincent Jackson (abdomen) and Ryan Mathews (foot) are both active for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

 

As expected. Jackson took some practice time off this week, but is locked and loaded as a WR1 play. Mathews is expected to carry a majority of the load despite his foot injury, but Mike Tolbert figures to get more work than last week.

 

The Chargers' inactives: RB Jordan Todman, WR Bryan Walters, TE Antonio Gates, DE Luis Castillo, DE Jacques Cesaire, LB Darryl Gamble and CB Quentin Jammer.

 

 

 

Dolphins declared CB Vontae Davis (hamstring) inactive for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

 

Davis' absence is a nice boost for Vincent Jackson and the Chargers' passing game.

 

Daniel Thomas (hamstring) is also inactive, as expected, giving Reggie Bush the start.

 

Other Dolphins' inactives: WR Roberto Wallace, TE Will Yeatman, OL Ryan Cook, DE Tony McDaniel and LB Koa Misi.