Miami Dolphins predictions: How are NFL experts and analysts picking game vs. LA Chargers?

The Miami Dolphins were flexed to Sunday Night Football for their showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. Will they make the primetime moment pay off?

The last time they were in the Sunday night slot, the Dolphins slogged their way to a 16-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tua Tagovailoa's first game back from a concussion suffered three weeks prior. The MVP hopeful is once again dealing with injury, this time to his ankle that was injured late in Miami's 33-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

That's not the only injury Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins are dealing with: tackle Terron Armstead is fighting to get back from a strained pec, and receiver Jaylen Waddle made just one catch last week because of an injured leg.

It's not much better on the Chargers side. Quarterback Justin Herbert fractured rib cartilage in Week 2 and has been battling that injury ever since. Receiver Mike Williams is also looking to return from an ankle injury; if he does, it will be just the fourth game all season he has played alongside Keenan Allen.

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So who will win? NFL reporters and analysts weigh in with their picks:

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Chargers 30-27

The Dolphins need to make another long road trip from South Florida, this time to Southern California. They have the better overall coaching and are the much healthier team, but both offensive lines are injury-riddled for Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert. Herbert will be motivated about the chatter Tua was the better first-round pick in 2020 and Austin Ekeler will be a massive problem for Miami's weary defense.

Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report: Dolphins 33-28

It has been a very Chargers-esque season in L.A., which is to say that expectation and hope have turned into disappointment with a heaping dollop of injuries thrown in for seasoning. With that said, the Dolphins may have been exposed a little in a lopsided Week 13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and Tua Tagovailoa tweaked his ankle late in that game. This showdown between Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert has the makings of one of Week 14's better games and a close, back-and-forth affair, so give me the home underdog getting over a field goal.

John Breech, CBS Sports: Chargers 30-27

Fortunately for Staley, if there's one team that might not be able to run the ball on the Chargers, it's Miami. The Dolphins are averaging just 89.7 yards per game on the ground, which makes them one of just five teams averaging under 100 yards per game for the season. They also have the fifth-worst yards per carry rate in the NFL. If the Chargers defense can't slow down the Dolphins' rushing attack, then Staley might just want to go ahead and call it quits.

If I know one thing about the Chargers, it's that they love to tease their fans and a big tease would be beating the Dolphins this week only to lose all that momentum by losing next week, so that's exactly what I'm going to say happens.

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Dolphins 30-24

The Chargers will keep it close before finding a way to lose.

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dolphins 33-28

The Dolphins had their four-game streak of scoring 30-plus points ended in San Francisco. But they stayed in California to avoid a back-to-back West Coast trip and get ready for the Chargers, who are 2-3 at home and have lost three of their past four games.

Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com: Dolphins 33-24

Don't expect Tua Tagovailoa's struggles to continue. Even if Terron Armstead doesn't return at left tackle, the Chargers' toothless defense rarely gets pressure. These Bolts don't cover well, either, and Brandon Staley hasn't provided a schematic advantage. The potential return of Mike Williams gives Justin Herbert a chance to win in a shootout, but his offensive line is no better than Miami's -- and his supporting talent, including the coaching staff, is clearly worse.

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Dolphins 31-26

This line has dropped to -1 in a few spots. Is it another Tua Tagovailoa injury? The Dolphins quarterback downplayed the ankle injury suffered against the 49ers. The Chargers are 2-3 in their last five games – all one-score games – and 2-3 S/U at home this season. Los Angeles will fall to under .500 here in a game where the Dolphins pull away in the fourth quarter.

Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk: Dolphins 27-20

The Chargers just haven’t been as good a team as they should be in what was supposed to be a big year for Justin Herbert. The Dolphins win in what really is a big year for Tua Tagovailoa.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Chargers 33-28

This is Tua Tagovailoa against Justin Herbert in a battle of 2020 first-round draft picks. Tagovailoa didn't play well last week, and he's banged up a bit. The Chargers need the game more and should be able to move it against the Miami defense. Herbert gets the best of Tua as the down-field passing game finally explodes for the Chargers.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins vs. Chargers predictions: NFL experts pick Week 14 game