I'm not sure what to make of this game. It was the lowest total points the Chargers put up all season and it was against a team that wasn't playing well and was surrounded in controversy. I really don't get how the offense didn't get it done when they needed a win to stay in playoff contention. Watching the game on NFL Rewind I really didn't see what the Dolphins did that should have gave the Chargers that big of a problem scoring. The Chargers got yards from Ryan Mathews (19 carries, 127 yards) and Phillip Rivers (22-34, 298 yards), but they only scored one TD. Rivers also threw an INT on the Chargers 1st possession on a pass to Vincent Brown. Rivers expected a route down the sideline and Brown turned the pattern inside. Don't know who's fault it was, but Rivers and Brown just haven't gotten on the same page this year.
Also being unable to put the ball in the end zone is getting to be a big problem with this team. Three times in the red zone last week and another three this week resulting in field goals. They had first and goal on the 6 with plenty of time left in the half and couldn't punch it in. Settled for a FG that tied the score 10-10, instead of going up 14-10 at the half.
I really like TE LaDarius Green. He had a team leading 81yards on 4 catches. I've said it since early in the season...with both starting wide receivers out, I would love to see the Chargers go to a double TE set with Antonio Gates and Green. Both TEs can play also be effected in the slot and that would give them a lot of flexibility on offense without having to substitute.
Missed tackles killed the Chargers in this game. Dolphin TE Charles Clay scored on a 39 play were he caught a short pass in the flat and ran thru/pass 5 Charger defenders. The defense definitely didn't play great either. When they needed a stop in the 4th quarter to give the Chargers' offense one last shot at the win, they got the job done, but not before the Dolphins were able to run 2 minutes off the clock and driving from their own 6 out to the 38. A great punt gave the Chargers the ball back with 1:25 left in the game on their own 17. The offense just couldn't get the winning TD, running out of time on the Dolphin 25.
Rookie WR Keenan Allen wasn't in the game on the last drive, hurting his knee and leaving early in the 4th quarter. Allen, the Chargers best receiver, could have made a difference. Luckily, it wasn't anything serious and reports are that Allen will play against the Chiefs Sunday.
So this leaves the Chargers 4-6 on the outside of the playoff picture looking in at the 5-5 Jets, who would be the last team in if the Playoffs started today. Losing to the Dolphins was big, since the Dolphins are also 5-5 and now own the head-to-head tie breaker. They are also stuck in a group of 5 other 4-6 teams, two of which are the Raiders and Titans, teams they've lost to earlier this year.
With two games against the Chiefs, one more against the Broncos (in Denver), and also the AFC North leading Bengals left on the schedule, the Chargers chances of making the playoffs doesn't look good.
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