Dolphins 16 - 26 Chargers
Final
  for this game

Rivers leads Chargers over Dolphins

Oct 3, 2011 - 1:03 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Philip Rivers threw for 307 yards and a touchdown, as the San Diego Chargers earned a 26-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Vincent Jackson caught three passes for 108 yards and a score for the Chargers (3-1), while Ryan Mathews ran for 81 yards on 16 carries and tallied 68 receiving yards.

Nick Novak hit 4-of-4 field goal attempts.

"Our kicker is outstanding," said Chargers coach Norv Turner. "I'm very confident when he goes on the field to kick field goals."

Matt Moore, thrust into the lineup following a first-quarter injury to starter Chad Henne, threw for 167 yards and an interception for the Dolphins (0-4), who have lost seven straight games dating back to last season.

Lex Hilliard ran for 20 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Marshall caught five passes for 52 yards.

Henne's injury came on a broken play midway through the first quarter. The fourth-year quarterback attempted to hand the ball to Hilliard -- who headed in another direction -- before lunging forward and landing awkwardly on his left side.

Moore, who signed a two-year contract with the Dolphins in the offseason, entered and immediately completed a 31-yard pass to Charles Clay. Later in the drive, Hilliard's goal line touchdown leap gave Miami a 7-0 lead.

The advantage was short-lived, as Jackson made a diving catch, scrambled to his feet, and sprinted into the end zone for a 55-yard touchdown on the Chargers ensuing drive.

In the second quarter, Novak sandwiched field goals of 27 and 48 yards around Dan Carpenter's 41-yard boot for a 13-10 San Diego lead at the half.

The Chargers padded their advantage with a 63-yard scoring drive on their first possession of the third quarter. Rivers extended the march with a 20- yard pass to Vincent Brown on 3rd-and-15 and Mike Tolbert capped it with a one-yard touchdown plunge.

Carpenter then hit a 37-yard field goal, but Novak responded with a 23-yarded and the Chargers led 23-13 through three quarters.

Hilliard extended the Dolphins' next possession with an 18-yard reception on 3rd-and-13 and Reggie Bush kept the march going with a five-yard burst on 3rd- and-1. But the drive eventually stalled, resulting in a 51-yard Carpenter field goal early in the fourth.

"We've got to turn them over into touchdowns," said Dolphins coach Tony Sparano. "I mean, we just can't keep kicking field goals."

The Chargers then took to the ground, burning 7:06 off the clock as they moved 65 yards down the field. Mathews carried the ball five times during the drive, which resulted in a 38-yard field goal and a 26-16 lead.

Moore was intercepted on 3rd-and-18 by Eric Weddle on the Dolphins next drive and the Chargers ran out the clock to secure the win.

Game Notes

The Chargers won their fifth straight home game...Jackson now has 4,022 career receiving yards...The Dolphins, who have a bye next week, were without Daniel Thomas (hamstring), who leads NFL rookies with 202 rushing yards. They claimed running back Steve Slaton off waivers this week. He carried the ball one time for two yards...Bush had 50 yards on 13 carries...Moore spent the last four seasons with the Carolina Panthers...The all-time series is tied, 12-12






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