Chargers Hosting Dolphins in Week 1 Showdown: Moneyline, Spread, Total, and Storylines

The first week of the NFL season features an AFC showdown between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Miami Dolphins.

Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will travel to SoFi Stadium to face Justin Herbert and the Chargers.

All NFL Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Chargers vs. Dolphins Week 1 Moneyline, Spread, and Total

• Moneyline:
  • Chargers: -136
  • Dolphins: +116
• Spread: Chargers -2.5 (-115)
• Total: 49.5 (-110 on the Under)

Chargers vs. Dolphins: Super Bowl Odds and Win Totals

The Chargers and Dolphins are tied with the 10th-best odds (+2500) to win the Super Bowl, according to the Super Bowl odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Chargers have a win total of 9.5, with the odds set at -128 for the over. The Dolphins' win total sits at 9.5, with the odds set at -110 for both the over and under.

Chargers vs. Dolphins Week 1: Storylines to Follow

• Chargers
  • The start of the Kellen Moore era at offensive coordinator
    • The Chargers moved quickly to secure Moore's services after he parted ways with the Dallas Cowboys in late January. Where the Cowboys saw an offense that resulted in too many interceptions for Dak Prescott, the Chargers saw a coordinator who could implement an explosive downfield passing game and take Herbert's game to the next level. To reinforce their decision, Los Angeles used their first-round draft pick on wide receiver Quentin Johnston, who averaged an absurd 19.0 yards per reception in his career at TCU. With Johnston operating alongside veterans Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the Chargers have one of the best wide receiver trios in the league. All the pieces are there for Moore to engineer one of the league's best offenses. If he can do so, the Chargers can be contenders in a loaded AFC.
  • Can Justin Herbert bounce back?
    • Herbert is the long-term solution for the Chargers at the quarterback position, but his 2022 season was the worst of his three-year career. Herbert completed 477 of 699 pass attempts (68.2%) for 4,739 yards (6.8 yards per attempt), 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions last season, setting career lows in yards per attempt, yards per game, and touchdowns. Among quarterbacks who finished in the top 10 in total yards last season, only Tom Brady had a lower yards per attempt (6.4) than Herbert. The change in offensive coordinator away from Joe Lombardi should provide Herbert with the opportunity to push the ball down the field more often. If Herbert can excel while doing so, he could set career highs in all the metrics he regressed in last season and challenge for MVP. As it stands, Herbert has the fourth-best odds (+900) to win MVP, per the NFL MVP odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Dolphins
  • Can the offense take the next step in their second season together?
    • When Tua Tagovailoa was healthy last season, the Dolphins' offense was incredibly successful in their first season under head coach Mike McDaniel. Despite Tagovailoa only starting 13 games, Miami finished the season with the 11th-most points (397). With an entire season together under their belt, can the Dolphins' offense take the next step in 2023 and be one of the top offenses in the league? With Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle showing no signs of slowing down, it's a possibility, assuming Tagovailoa stays healthy.
  • Will offseason changes make an impact on defense?
    • The Dolphins' defense allowed the ninth-most points in the league last season. Despite scoring the 11th-most points, Miami still finished the season with a negative point differential (-2). This offseason, the Dolphins moved on from defensive coordinator Josh Boyer and hired veteran Vic Fangio. They also acquired star cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams and used their first draft pick, the 51st overall selection, on cornerback Cam Smith. For the Dolphins to be serious contenders this season, those changes will need to have a large impact on their defense. A Week 1 clash with Justin Herbert and a new-look Chargers offense will be a difficult task.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.