LA Chargers 2020 opponent preview: Miami Dolphins
By Jason Reed
![DAVIE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Head Coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins answers questions from the media during a season ending press conference at Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southern University on December 30, 2019 in Davie, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) DAVIE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Head Coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins answers questions from the media during a season ending press conference at Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southern University on December 30, 2019 in Davie, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fboltbeat-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1196726870-850x560-0fb2f4599947d3f77e22ebe89eb11677.jpg)
How the LA Chargers can beat the Miami Dolphins: Don’t fall in an early rut
Right now, we have no idea who is going to start for the Miami Dolphins in Week 7 against the LA Chargers. It could be Ryan Fitzpatrick, it could be Tua and it is not going to be Josh Rosen, unless the team has to break glass for an emergency.
Personally, I would start Tua on Week 1 but I would not be shocked if Fitzpatrick is tasked to be the starter at the beginning of the year. If he is, who starts at quarterback in this game is going to be dependent on his play in the first six weeks.
Regardless of who it is, the LA Chargers have a better all-around roster and are more experienced. All the team has to do is avoid falling in an early rut and the more talented team should prevail. That is easier said than done.
I get that the current Chargers team is different than the teams in the past that would always lose in Miami and that the Bolts even have a different quarterback. The culture is different and it is easy to say that the Miami woes won’t continue because of that.
But there is more to it than just the people on the team. This is a West Coast team that is traveling East and playing a one o’clock game (10 a.m. their time). That is tough. Mix that with the fact that the team will be in Tampa Bay, then New Orleans, then LA then back in Florida in Miami and it is easy to see how a team can wear down and be outright bad at a specific location.
Mix in the fact that the season is undoubtedly going to be different because of the COVID-19 pandemic and it could become even more difficult for the Chargers. If they look groggy and looked worn down and suffer an early two-possesion+ deficit, I do not think that this offseason has the firepower to come back.
Next. Opponent review: New York Jets
Don’t start off on the wrong foot, because this is absolutely a game that the LA Chargers should win that they could lose.