Chargers vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats 2026

Introduction

Introduction

The Chargers vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats from Week 6 delivered everything fans love about the NFL.
Late drama. Momentum swings. Individual brilliance under pressure.

On October 12, 2025, the Los Angeles Chargers edged the Miami Dolphins 29–27 at Hard Rock Stadium. The game came down to seconds literally as Cameron Dicker’s field goal with five seconds remaining sealed the outcome.

What makes this matchup especially compelling isn’t just the final score. When you dig into the Chargers vs Miami Dolphins match player stats, a deeper story emerges, one shaped by efficiency, turnovers, and clock control rather than raw explosiveness alone.

In this guide, you’ll find:

• Full player stats tables

• A complete scoring timeline

• Team lineups and inactives

• Tactical analysis of how both teams played

• Coaching decisions that shaped the outcome

If you want clarity instead of raw numbers, you’re in the right place.

Match Context and Game Overview

Final Score:
Los Angeles Chargers 29, Miami Dolphins 27

Date: October 12, 2025
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Attendance: 65,592
Broadcast: CBS

Both teams entered with very different trajectories.

• Chargers (4–2): Trending upward, built on ball control and discipline

• Dolphins (1–5): Explosive but inconsistent, searching for momentum

From the opening drive, the contrast was obvious.
The Chargers leaned into patience. The Dolphins chased big plays.

That tension shaped every major entry in the Chargers vs Miami Dolphins match player stats.

Quarter-by-Quarter Scoreboard

Miami jumped ahead early.
Los Angeles responded methodically.
The fourth quarter turned into a chess match.

Full Scoring Timeline (Play-by-Play)

One sentence says it all.
Miami scored late. Los Angeles answered calmly.

Team Lineups and Inactives

Los Angeles Chargers – Key Starters

• QB: Justin Herbert

• RB: Kimani Vidal

• WR: Ladd McConkey

• TE: Will Dissly

• Defense: Derwin James Jr., Daiyan Henley, Odafe Oweh

Inactive:

• Omarion Hampton (injury)

Miami Dolphins – Key Starters

• QB: Tua Tagovailoa

• RB: De’Von Achane

• WR: Jaylen Waddle

• TE: Darren Waller

• Defense: K.J. Britt, Jordyn Brooks, Minkah Fitzpatrick

Quarterback Performance Comparison

Justin Herbert Breakdown

Herbert didn’t chase highlights.
He chased first downs.

He completed 76.3% of his passes and avoided turnovers entirely. That alone shifted the game. In my experience watching tight NFL finishes, clean quarterback play usually wins. This game followed that rule.

The final drive was textbook.
Calm feet. Quick reads. No panic.

Tua Tagovailoa Breakdown

Tua showed resilience late.
But the three interceptions were too costly.

The Dolphins’ offense thrives on timing. Once that rhythm broke, recovery became difficult. Still, the late touchdown drive showed leadership under pressure.

Rushing Statistics (All Players)

Ground Game Impact

Achane was electric.
Every touch felt dangerous.

Vidal, however, controlled the tempo. His runs didn’t always wow the crowd, but they kept drives alive. That difference mattered late.

Receiving Statistics (All Players)

McConkey’s 42-yard catch on the final drive changed everything.
Sometimes one play defines a game.

Defensive Player Stats

Three interceptions sit at the heart of the Chargers vs Miami Dolphins match player stats story.

Special Teams Impact

Cameron Dicker (LAC):

• 5/5 field goals

• Longest: 35 yards

• 17 total points

That’s not a footnote.
That’s the difference.

Team Stats Comparison

Time of possession quietly decided this game.

Coaching Decisions and Game Management

The Chargers trusted their system.
The Dolphins trusted explosiveness.

Late in the fourth quarter, that difference showed. Los Angeles used the clock. Miami chased urgency.

Neither approach is wrong.
One simply worked better on this day.

Tactical Breakdown: How Both Teams Played

This game wasn’t just close on the scoreboard.
It was a clash of philosophies.

The Chargers and Dolphins approached the matchup with two very different ideas of how to win, and the tension between those styles shaped every quarter.

One team wanted control.
The other wanted chaos.

Chargers Strategy: Control the Game, Control the Outcome

The Chargers played with intention from the opening drive. Nothing felt rushed. Nothing felt desperate.

Short-to-mid passing anchored their offense. Justin Herbert consistently targeted routes that moved the chains rather than chasing deep shots. These throws weren’t flashy, but they were efficient. More importantly, they kept the offense ahead of the sticks.

That approach paired naturally with a balanced rushing attack. Kimani Vidal’s carries didn’t always break headlines, yet they quietly wore down Miami’s front seven. The Chargers didn’t abandon the run, even when the gains were modest. That patience paid off late.

Then there was clock control.
This was the hidden weapon.

By sustaining long drives, the Chargers limited Miami’s total possessions. In tight NFL games, fewer possessions usually favor the team that protects the football. Los Angeles did exactly that.

In my experience watching late-game NFL scenarios, teams that trust tempo almost always look calmer in the final minutes. The Chargers were calm. Almost surgical.

Dolphins Strategy: Speed, Pressure, and Momentum Swings

Miami, by contrast, leaned fully into its identity.

The Dolphins hunted speed mismatches wherever they could find them. De’Von Achane’s usage was intentional. Jaylen Waddle’s routes were designed to stretch coverage horizontally and vertically. Every snap carried the threat of a sudden explosion.

The Dolphins also leaned into aggressive play-calling. Early downs featured bold designs meant to catch the Chargers off guard. When it worked, the stadium came alive. When it didn’t, Miami faced longer drives and tighter margins.

Then came the defining element: vertical pressure.

Miami wanted Los Angeles to feel rushed. They wanted Herbert to speed up. They wanted quick scores that forced the Chargers out of rhythm.

At times, it worked beautifully.
At others, it backfired.

Pace vs. Excitement

This contrast defined the afternoon.

• The Chargers dictated the pace.

• The Dolphins dictated excitement.

Pace wins more often than excitement.
But excitement keeps games close.

This matchup proved both truths.

Key Turning Points That Shaped the Game

Games don’t swing gradually.
They swing on moments.

This one had several.

The First Interception of Tagovailoa (Third Quarter)

The first interception in the third quarter quietly reset the game.

Miami was building momentum. The crowd was engaged. Then suddenly, possession flipped. The Chargers didn’t score immediately, but they flipped field position and tempo.

That mattered.

Turnovers don’t just erase drives. They steal confidence. From that point on, Miami played with urgency instead of rhythm.

De’Von Achane’s Second Touchdown

Achane’s second rushing touchdown was the Dolphins’ reminder to everyone watching.

One play.
One crease.
One burst of speed.

That score reignited belief. For a moment, it felt like Miami might overwhelm Los Angeles with sheer athleticism. Achane’s explosiveness forced the Chargers to respect every edge run and misdirection look that followed.

If Miami had paired that moment with cleaner ball security, the outcome might have changed.

Ladd McConkey’s 42-Yard Catch on the Final Drive

This was the play.

With the game on the line, Herbert found McConkey downfield for a 42-yard gain. The timing was perfect. The route was precise. The execution was fearless.

That single catch flipped the field and turned tension into opportunity. It didn’t end the game immediately, but it made the ending inevitable.

Great teams make their defining plays when pressure peaks.
This was one of them.

Player of the Game Debate

Choosing a single standout from this game isn’t easy.

Each candidate dominated in a different way.

Justin Herbert: Efficiency Under Fire

Herbert finished without an interception. He completed passes at a high rate. He managed the offense with composure.

Efficiency doesn’t always grab headlines.
But it wins games.

Herbert’s calm presence, especially on the final drive, was the backbone of the Chargers’ approach.

De’Von Achane: Pure Explosiveness

Achane was electric.

Every touch felt dangerous. His vision, acceleration, and balance turned routine plays into momentum swings. Two touchdowns and over 120 rushing yards tell part of the story. The fear he created tells the rest.

He was the Dolphins’ most dynamic weapon.

Cameron Dicker: Points That Mattered

Then there’s Cameron Dicker.

Five field goals.
Seventeen points.
One game-winner.

Points decide outcomes. That’s the simplest truth in football.

While quarterbacks and skill players shape narratives, kickers often decide reality. Dicker didn’t miss. Not once.

The argument leans toward Dicker.
Because when the margin is two points, reliability becomes greatness.

What This Game Reveals About the Chargers

This win wasn’t accidental.

It revealed several traits that translate well beyond October.

• They win close games.

• They protect the football.

• They trust fundamentals.

Those traits don’t rely on weather, venue, or opponent. They travel. And they matter most when margins shrink in January.

The Chargers don’t need perfection.
They need discipline.

That’s a dangerous formula for opponents.

What This Game Reveals About the Dolphins

The Dolphins remain one of the league’s most fascinating teams.

• Explosive talent remains elite.

• Turnovers limit upside.

• Discipline must improve.

Miami’s ceiling is undeniable. Few teams can match their speed or big-play ability. However, the floor remains unstable when mistakes stack up.

Clean up the turnovers, and this team looks terrifying.
Fail to do so, and even great performances fall short.

Looking Ahead: 2026 Chargers vs Dolphins Matchup

These teams won’t wait long for another chapter.

The Chargers and Dolphins are scheduled to meet again in 2026, once more at Hard Rock Stadium. Specific dates and broadcast details will be announced during the NFL’s official schedule release in May 2026.

Given how the 2025 matchup ended, expectations will be high. Familiar opponents. Familiar tension. New adjustments.

Games like this tend to linger.
Both locker rooms will remember it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Chargers vs Dolphins 2025?
The Los Angeles Chargers won 29–27.

Who had the best stats in the game?
Justin Herbert led in efficiency. De’Von Achane led in explosiveness.

Why did Miami lose despite strong rushing?
Three interceptions and a time-of-possession imbalance.

Was special teams important?
Yes. Cameron Dicker scored 17 points on five field goals.

Will the Chargers and Dolphins play again?
Yes, during the 2026 regular season.