Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers 36-34 in NFL Week 1

Miami Dolphins to start their respective 2023-2024 campaigns. Kickoff is scheduled at 4:25 p.m. ET on September 10th at SoFi Stadium.

A deciding factor in this game could be penalties, as these two teams couldn't have been more different last year. The Chargers finished last season ranked fourth overall in penalties, having averaged 4.8 per game. The Dolphins, on the other hand, didn't do so hot: they were ranked 28th with 6.5 per game.

The Dolphins defense struggled most of the game, but it did come up big after Jason Sanders' missed PAT put Miami in jeopardy of losing the game with a field goal, coming up with two sacks sandwiched around an intentional grounding penalty on Justin Herbert.

Jaelan Phillips clinched the victory when he sacked Herbert on a fourth-and-13, two plays after Zach Sieler also had a sack. Those were the second and third of the gam, following one by Kader Kohou in the third quarter.

The Chargers and Dolphins meet for the second time in nine months. Brandon Staley’s Bolts throttled Mike McDaniel’s club last year in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score (23-17) suggested.

The win helped the Chargers make the playoffs for the first time since 2018, while the loss was the Dolphins’ second of five straight during a late-season swoon.

 Miami Dolphins kick off their 2023 season this afternoon in Inglewood California when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Today's game will also serve as a rematch of the two squads that faced off late last season, a game that the Chargers won 23 to 17. In their previous meeting, LA was able to contain the Dolphins' potent offense by taking away the middle of the field, holding Tua Tagovailoa to only a 35 percent completion rate and 145 yards passing.

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 Sarah H

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