Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) at Miami (1-4)

BetMGM line: Chargers by 4 1/2

Series record: Dolphins lead 18-15.

Against the spread: Chargers 3-2; Dolphins 2-3.

Last week: Chargers lost to Washington 27-10; Dolphins lost to Carolina 27-24.

Last meeting: Dolphins beat Chargers 36-34 in Inglewood, California, on Sept. 10, 2023.

Chargers offense: overall (12), rush (14t), pass (10), scoring (25).

Chargers defense: overall (7), rush (18), pass (4), scoring (6t).

Dolphins offense: overall (28), rush (30), pass (21), scoring (21).

Dolphins defense: overall (29), rush (32), pass (16), scoring (27).

Turnover differential: Chargers minus-3; Dolphins even.

WR Ladd McConkey. He caught a 2-yard TD on the opening drive of the Chargers’ loss to the Commanders for his first score of the season. McConkey has had a slow start after leading the Chargers in catches, yards and targets last season as a rookie. He hasn’t had more than 70 yards receiving since the opener.

TE Darren Waller. In his two games this season, Waller has eight catches for 105 yards and three touchdowns. He was an important target for Tua Tagovailoa in Week 5, which was the Dolphins’ first game this season without Tyreek Hill. Waller caught all five targets for 78 yards and a 4-yard TD.

Chargers running backs vs Dolphins run defense. Miami has the worst run defense in the NFL, but is facing a Chargers running back unit that has been decimated by injuries. Veteran Najee Harris is out with a season-ending Achilles tendon injury and rookie Omarion Hampton went on injured reserve this week because of an ankle injury. That leaves Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal as Los Angeles’ likely running backs for the matchup. It’ll be the second straight week that the Dolphins’ defense will face a team’s backup running back. Last week, Miami allowed Rico Dowdle to rush for a career-high 206 yards on 23 carries in his debut as a starter.

Chargers: Hampton (ankle) will miss at least four games while on IR after getting hurt late against the Commanders. ... OT Joe Alt (ankle), OLB Bud Dupree (hamstring), G/T Trey Pipkins III (knee) and DB Ja’Sir Taylor (illness) did not practice Wednesday. ... G Mekhi Becton (hand), WR Quentin Johnston (hamstring) and LB Denzel Perryman (ankle) were limited.

Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa appeared on the injury report this week with hip/left thumb injuries, but his status is not expected to be in doubt. ... LB Tyrel Dodson remained in concussion protocol this week. ... CB Storm Duck (ankle) practiced for the first time since Week 1. ... C Aaron Brewer (pectoral) and WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (knee) were limited in practice.

Tagovailoa’s Dolphins beat Justin Herbert’s Chargers in a thrilling comeback the last time the teams met in 2023. Tagovailoa threw for 466 yards, the fourth most in an opener at the time, and three touchdowns in a game that included two ties and nine lead changes. ... The Dolphins are 9-4 when hosting the Chargers and have won seven of the last eight home games against them. ... It’s the 34th all-time meeting between the teams. ... Sunday will be the Chargers’ first visit to Miami Gardens since 2020, when Miami won 29-21.

Whoever the Chargers go with as their lead ball carrier Sunday could be in for a big game based on how the Dolphins’ run defense has performed against running backs, even backups, this season. The Dolphins are allowing an NFL-worst 174.2 yards rushing per game.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl