Los Angeles Chargers win critical Week 14 game vs. Miami Dolphins. Here’s what we learned.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — There was a sense of urgency for the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14. Sunday night was as labeled as a must-win game for the Chargers as they attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive – and they delivered in front of a primetime audience.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers upset the Miami Dolphins, 23-17, in what was a dominant performance from Los Angeles.
Herbert passed for 367 yards and tossed one touchdown. Wide receiver Keenan Allen had 12 catches for 92 yards.
The win was Los Angeles’ first victory this season against a team with a winning record. The loss was Miami’s second in a row.
“How hard we played tonight. That’s what I’m really proud about. How hard we played and how connected we were,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “The way our guys competed out there. You saw the competitiveness within our program…It was a team effort in every way.”
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Here’s what we learned:
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Chargers welcome back Mike Williams
Mike Williams, who had been injured since Week 11 with an ankle injury, returned to the lineup in Week 14.
The 6-foot-4 wideout made a huge impact in his return.
Williams produced six catches, 116 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers wideout received a game ball after the contest.
“It felt good. I was just trying to be available and make plays,” Williams told USA TODAY Sports. “I was trying to make plays for the team and trying to get a win.”
Williams now has four games with over 100 receiving yards this season.
a fluke fumble recovery.selected with successive picks at No. 5 and No. 6 overall.
Tagovailoa was inaccurate on several throws and looked uncomfortable all night. He was 10-for-28 passing for 125 yards and a TD.
On the other side, Herbert was the best player on the field.
Facing constant pressure, Herbert maneuvered well in the pocket to create time and picked apart the Dolphins defense.
Tyreek Hill had one of the most bizarre touchdowns in NFL history in the second quarter.
Dolphins RB Jeff Wilson Jr. fumbled the football. A pile of Dolphins and Chargers were trying to recover the loose football. While they were attempting to corral the loose ball, it inadvertently bounced to Hill.
Hill grabbed the football and raced down the field for a 57-yard touchdown.
Many believe Hill is the fastest man in the NFL. He ran 21.78 mph on his fumble return touchdown, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Hill was bothered by a nagging hamstring in the loss.
Wild card?
The win moved the Chargers (7-6) into the coveted seventh spot in the AFC wild-card race. If the Patriots defeat the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, New England would move to seventh seed with four regular-season games remaining.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.