Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers NFL Preview: Team news, betting, tickets, live stream, Fantasy Football and more

The Los Angeles Chargers came flying out of the gates to start the season, but their early momentum has sputtered after back-to-back, head-scratching losses to a pair of NFC East opponents they were favored to beat. Now, they'll try to right the ship when they head to South Florida for a Week 6 matchup against the struggling Miami Dolphins, a team that's been scrappy, if nothing else.

At 3-2 overall (1-1 on the road), the Chargers are fresh off a humbling 27-10 home defeat to the Washington Commanders, a game that exposed the cracks in what once looked like a well-oiled machine. Justin Herbert and company will be desperate to reassert themselves before their season starts to slip into mediocrity.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins limp into this contest at 1-4, their lone win coming against the winless New York Jets. But don’t let the record fool you — this Miami team has been far more competitive than it appears on paper. 

Their 10-point loss to Buffalo looks respectable in hindsight, and their narrow Week 2 defeat to New England doesn't sting quite as much now that the Patriots have shown some fight. Since getting steamrolled by the Indianapolis Colts in the opener, Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins have managed to hang around in every game.

Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers kick-off time

NFL

Hard Rock Stadium

The Dolphins and the Chargers will meet in Week 6 of the NFL season at Hard Rock Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Sunday, October 12, starting at 1:00 pm ET.

Team news & squads

Miami Dolphins team news

It may only be early October, but the Miami Dolphins are already running out of room on the injury list as they brace for a crucial Week 6 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers. The injury bug hasn't just bitten, it's taken a chunk out of Miami’s roster depth.

At the moment, 14 players sit on injured reserve, including five starters, and reinforcements aren’t coming anytime soon. Head coach Mike McDaniel revealed that both Austin Jackson and James Daniels are still "weeks away" from returning, a frustrating update for a team already scrambling for continuity. Jackson continues to battle a nagging toe issue, while Daniels has been sidelined since Week 1 with a torn pectoral muscle.

And it doesn’t stop there. Even among the active roster, several key contributors remain banged up. Storm Duck (ankle) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (knee) both sat out last week’s 24-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers, while linebacker Tyrel Dodson entered concussion protocol after the game. None of the trio are guaranteed to suit up against the Chargers, leaving the Dolphins anxiously awaiting Wednesday’s injury report.

Despite the chaos, Tua Tagovailoa continues to keep Miami’s offense afloat. The star quarterback has racked up 10 touchdown passes against four interceptions this season and is fresh off his sharpest outing yet — tossing three scores with zero mistakes against Carolina. His chemistry with De’Von Achane, both in the short passing game and on handoffs, has been a saving grace for a Dolphins attack trying to stay above water amid the storm of injuries.

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Los Angeles Chargers team news

The Chargers' offensive line carousel continued last week, with Trey Pipkins III and Mekhi Becton both limping on and off the field as Los Angeles cycled through four different O-line combinations. Consistency? Nowhere to be found.

To make matters worse, rookie running back Omarion Hampton tweaked his ankle in the fourth quarter and didn't return, casting doubt over his availability for Sunday’s matchup. The Bolts will be holding their breath on that one, he's been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise sputtering offense.

There were flashes of promise, though. Rookie wideout Ladd McConkey finally hit paydirt, snagging his first touchdown of the season, while defensive tackle Teair Tart made his presence felt with a forced fumble and recovery to start the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, those moments were exceptions rather than the rule. The Chargers simply couldn’t string together a full, cohesive performance.

Justin Herbert, meanwhile, looked every bit the MVP candidate through the first few weeks, laser-accurate, calm under pressure, and electric in the pocket. But since the injury bug hit his offensive line, the rhythm has vanished. Four interceptions in five games and just three touchdown tosses over the past three weeks paint a grim picture.

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Watch and live stream Dolphins vs Chargers in the USA

The Dolphins vs Chargers game in Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live nationally on CBS. If you've cut the cord, fans can also catch the coverage onParamount+ and Fubo (Try for free today!).

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More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.

Watch and live stream Dolphins vs Chargers worldwide

For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.

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To bypass regional restrictions or to access the game if you are travelling abroad, you can watch the action using a Virtual Private Network like ExpressVPN.

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How to buy Dolphins vs Chargers tickets

The showdown between the Dolphins and the Chargers is set for Hard Rock Stadium in Tampa, Florida, a venue that packs in up to 65,326 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.

Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.

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Dolphins vs Chargers Fantasy Football

Justin Herbert (projected 20.7 fantasy points in Week 6) hasn't delivered a QB1 performance since lighting it up in the season opener, and lately, the numbers have been hard to stomach. Over the last three games, he's averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt, ranking a pedestrian 27th among quarterbacks.

With both of their top offensive tackles sidelined, the Chargers have tried to reinvent themselves, leaning heavier on the ground game and shortening up their passing concepts to protect Herbert. Last Sunday, Los Angeles posted a season-low 56.8% dropback rate in neutral game situations, throwing 6% less often than expected overall, and a whopping 19% below expectations on first down.

When Herbert did air it out, it was mostly short stuff, a mere 3.8 air yards per attempt, his lowest mark of the season. Through the first three games, he was averaging over 9 yards per attempt, but since losing Joe Alt in Week 4 and Mekhi Becton the week after, his deep-ball opportunities have evaporated.

Quentin Johnston caught all four of his targets for 40 yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to Washington but also coughed up a costly fumble. It marked the first time this season he didn’t lead the Chargers in receiving yards. He finished behind Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, and Omarion Hampton in targets, a clear sign that Los Angeles’ offense was completely out of rhythm. Still, Johnston remains a steady fantasy option moving forward.

On the flip side, Tua Tagovailoa (projected 15.4 fantasy points) is coming off his sharpest outing of the year, completing 27-of-36 passes (75%) for 256 yards and three touchdowns against Carolina. The Dolphins quarterback has now thrown multiple TDs in four straight games and sports a 7.1% touchdown rate during that span, fifth-best in the NFL.

That said, this Chargers defense has quietly been stout through the air, allowing just 9.5 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs, second-best in the league, along with a 2.6% touchdown rate (fourth) and 6.1 yards per attempt (third). As a result, Tagovailoa settles into a "safe floor" QB2 territory this week.

With Miami's offense toning down its fireworks lately, De’Von Achane (projected 13.8 points) becomes a volume-driven RB1, though his touchdown ceiling may be capped.

Meanwhile, Jaylen Waddle reasserted himself as the Dolphins' top downfield threat, pacing the team in targets, catches, yards, and explosive plays, including a long gain of 46 yards. His chemistry with Tagovailoa continues to shine when it matters most.

Dolphins vs Chargers Game Predictions

The Los Angeles Chargers are staring down a serious issue in the trenches, with both starting offensive tackles sidelined, and that's the kind of setback that can derail an offense in a hurry. Under normal circumstances, that’d spell disaster against a team that lives off quarterback pressure. Fortunately for the Bolts, this Miami Dolphins defense has been anything but fearsome. Miami ranks dead last in defensive DVOA, 31st in opponent yards per play, 31st in opponent EPA, and dead last again in opponent success rate, numbers that would make even the most patient coordinator cringe.

Simply put, this is the perfect get-right game for Justin Herbert and company. The Chargers offense is too talented to stay quiet for long, and this might be the week they finally hit the reset button and remind everyone why they’re one of the AFC's most dangerous units.

But there's a caveat, Omarion Hampton's health looms large. The rookie running back, nursing an ankle injury, could be key to unlocking Miami's porous run defense, which has been gashed for 174.2 yards per game and a staggering 5.6 yards per carry. If Hampton can't suit up, it'll fall squarely on defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to scheme up chaos for Tua Tagovailoa, forcing the Dolphins to chase the game from behind.

That’s easier said than done, though. With a patchwork offensive line and a defense that's prone to giving up big plays, the Chargers are walking a fine line between redemption and another upset loss. And if they're not careful, Miami could swim right past them in Week 6.

Dolphins vs Chargers Betting Odds

Spread

Chargers -4.5 (-115)

Dolphins +4.5 (-105)

Moneyline

Chargers -230

Dolphins +190

Total

OVER 43.5 (-120)

UNDER 43.5 (-102)

Form

Head-to-Head Record

MIA

Last 5 matches

LAC

3

Wins

0

Draws

2

Wins

• Los Angeles Chargers

  34

  -

  36

  Miami Dolphins

• Los Angeles Chargers

  23

  -

  17

  Miami Dolphins

• Miami Dolphins

  29

  -

  21

  Los Angeles Chargers

• Miami Dolphins

  10

  -

  30

  Los Angeles Chargers

• Los Angeles Chargers

  17

  -

  19

  Miami Dolphins

Useful links

• Dolphins 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• Chargers 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
• 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)