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Cameron Dicker helps Chargers survive six lead changes in victory over Dolphins

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Cameron Dicker helps Chargers survive six lead changes in victory over Dolphins

The Chargers leaned on a lot of backups Sunday, but with the game against the Miami Dolphins on the line, they turned to Mr. Reliable.

Cameron Dicker kicked a 35-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to lift his team to a 29-27 win, the final points in a game that included six lead changes.

It was the fifth field goal of the day for Dicker, who has never missed from 40 yards or closer.

Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. clinched the win with an interception on the final play, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s third pick of the day.

The sparse crowd had erupted minutes earlier when Tagovailoa hit Darren Waller for a seven-yard touchdown, reclaiming the lead with 46 seconds on the clock.

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But Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert answered with a lightning-quick drive downfield to set up the winning field goal.

The Chargers, ravaged by injuries, effectively leaned on their reserves to help pave the way for their first victory in three weeks.

Reserve running back Kimani Vidal rushed for 124 yards and turned a short pass into a touchdown. He was promoted from the practice squad last Wednesday after the Chargers lost rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton to an ankle injury. Earlier this season, the team lost veteran running back Najee Harris to a torn Achilles tendon.

Chargers running back Kimani Vidal scores a touchdown in the third quarter Sunday against the Dolphins.

(Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)

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The performance marked the first 100-yard game by Vidal, drafted in the sixth round out of Troy University by the Chargers in 2024.

It was the second consecutive week the 1-5 Dolphins were burned by a little-known running back, as Carolina’s Rico Dowdle trampled them for 206 yards in Week 5. Miami came into the game with the NFL’s worst run defense.

On Sunday, the Chargers made seven trips to the red zone but failed to make the most of those, with two touchdowns and five field goals.

Giving the visiting defense all it could handle was Miami’s De’Von Archane, who had a 49-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a four-yarder in the fourth. The Dolphins repeatedly fed him the ball down the stretch and scored on the touchdown catch by Waller, but they couldn’t hold off Herbert’s final drive.

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Stopping the run has been an issue for the Chargers, too, as Washington’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns against them the week before.

The Chargers won their first three games of the season, running the table against AFC West opponents, but lost the next two games at the New York Giants and home against the Washington Commanders.

Not only had the Chargers lost their two top running backs, but they have had to reshuffle their offensive line multiple times because of injuries. They have designed their offense to get the ball out of Justin Herbert’s hands quickly, as he has been hit more than any quarterback in the league this season.

That was the case in the first half of Sunday’s game as well, as Herbert was hit four times — and sacked once — by the Dolphins, who registered just 18 quarterback hits in the first five games combined.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert scrambles during the second half against the Dolphins.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert scrambles during the second half against the Dolphins.

(Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)

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But the Chargers came alive in the second half, overcoming a 13-9 halftime deficit, with a five-yard touchdown reception by Ladd McConkey, a seven-yard scoring catch by Vidal, and a fourth field goal by Dicker.

The Chargers, without injured receiver Quentin Johnston, leaned more heavily into rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II, whose father played receiver for the Dolphins for six seasons.

The younger Gadsden caught seven passes Sunday but also had a fumble that set up Achane’s first touchdown.

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Eagles grind out low-scoring victory over Packers to win third straight game

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Eagles grind out low-scoring victory over Packers to win third straight game

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It was another primetime slog for the NFL, but the Philadelphia Eagles don’t mind coming away with a 10-7 victory on “Monday Night Football.”

The Eagles improved to 7-2 on the season as they came off their bye week and earned a road victory. Meanwhile, the Packers have lost back-to-back home games to fall to 5-3-1.

It was the first time since the Houston Texans and New York Jets met on Dec. 23, 2023, that an NFL game was scoreless at halftime. And the final result was the same as the Denver Broncos-Las Vegas Raiders game on “Thursday Night Football,” which kicked off the Week 10 slate. 

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Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Nov. 10, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Eagles finally broke through on the opening drive of the second half, as Jalen Hurts connected with Dallas Goedert on multiple passes to reach the red zone. The drive stalled after a delay of game on third-and-long, leading to a 39-yard Jake Elliott field goal.

Given how the game was going, a 3-0 lead felt much larger than usual. But the Eagles eventually found the end zone in the fourth quarter after Saquon Barkley caught a short pass near the line of scrimmage on third-and-7.

NFL FANS SKEWER BRONCOS-RAIDERS GAME AMID LISTLESS OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES

Barkley signaled to Hurts, knowing he had daylight if he could make one Packers defender miss. He hit a quick spin move, stayed in stride and sprinted down the left sideline. With A.J. Brown blocking in front, Barkley appeared to have a chance to score until his former New York Giants teammate Xavier McKinney brought him down after a 41-yard gain.

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Just one play later, Hurts dropped back and took his first deep shot of the game — and it paid off. DeVonta Smith timed his jump perfectly, hauling in a 36-yard touchdown pass over Packers safety Evan Williams to make it 10-0 after Elliott’s extra point.

The Packers, who had been shut out despite multiple trips into Eagles territory, knew they had to respond. Jordan Love led an 11-play drive capped by Josh Jacobs’ six-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to three.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is tackled by. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (53) in the second half at Lambeau Field on Nov. 10, 2025. (Jeff Hanisch/Imagn Images)

With momentum on their side, the Packers got the stop they needed to give Love one final chance. Starting at their own 10-yard line, Green Bay faced a crucial fourth-and-1 at its own 44. Jacobs fumbled under pressure behind the line, and Philadelphia recovered. Even if Jacobs had converted, an illegal formation penalty would have negated the play.

The Eagles chose to go for it on fourth-and-6 after forcing the Packers to use their timeouts. Though Brown appeared to have a chance at a game-sealing touchdown, Hurts’ pass was underthrown, giving Green Bay a slim chance for a last-second drive.

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Love moved the offense just far enough to set up a 64-yard field goal attempt that would have been the longest ever made at Lambeau Field. But Brandon McManus missed badly, and the Eagles celebrated as frustrated murmurs echoed through the Green Bay crowd.

In the box score, Love — playing without tight end Tucker Kraft for the remainder of the season and losing receiver Romeo Doubs to injury midway through the game — finished 19-of-32 for 158 yards. Jacobs rushed for 75 yards on 21 carries.

DeVonta Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles catches a 36 yard touchdown pass against Evan Williams of the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on Nov. 10, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

For the Eagles, Hurts went 15-of-26 for 183 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 27 yards. Barkley was limited to 60 rushing yards on 22 carries but contributed the 41-yard catch-and-run that set up the score. Smith led all receivers with four receptions for 69 yards and the lone touchdown.

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Luka Doncic underlines his 38-point night with monster dunk in Lakers’ win

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Luka Doncic underlines his 38-point night with monster dunk in Lakers’ win

For once, Luka Doncic had to serve the punishment. For not hitting any half-court shots during his pregame warmup, Doncic had to drop to the court and give his coaching staff push-ups.

The exercise seemingly powered him up for the two-handed dunk to come.

Doncic dazzled in the Lakers’ 121-111 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday at Spectrum Center, scoring 38 points with seven assists, six rebounds and one emphatic third-quarter dunk to help the Lakers flush the memories of a blowout loss in Atlanta.

“It was fun, not only because he got the dunk,” coach JJ Redick said, “but just him letting out some emotion.”

Doncic exorcised the demons of a 20-point loss to Atlanta on Saturday in which the Lakers (8-3) led for only 19 seconds and pulled the starters before the third quarter. He spent the majority of that game bickering with officials. He missed six three-pointers and had five turnovers.

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On Monday, Doncic was back to joking with Austin Reaves about who had the better deadball three-quarters-court heave after Reaves returned from a three-game absence with 24 points and seven assists.

“I was pushing him to get back,” said Doncic, who made a 70-foot shot after the whistle and wanted to make sure Reaves knew it was longer than his 50-footer. “I needed him back. … He’s an amazing player.”

Reaves, who was out because of a right groin strain, said he wanted to play against Atlanta but was held out for precautionary reasons. He played one minute and 25 seconds over his supposed 28-minute restriction Monday. Everything felt great, he said, except his jump shot.

When Doncic assisted him on a three-pointer with 8:01 remaining in the fourth, Reaves put his arms up and threw his head back in relief. He had missed his first seven three-point attempts and finished two for 10 from three-point range.

With Reaves’ return, the Lakers are one player closer to a healthy roster. LeBron James is scheduled to practice with the South Bay Lakers this week as he progresses through right sciatica.

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Rookie Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery) also is close to returning. Redick estimated the forward could make his NBA debut during the trip, which has three games remaining, starting Wednesday at Oklahoma City. The defending NBA champions are 10-1.

“They’re the No. 1 team right now,” forward Rui Hachimura said. “So we got to be ready for the war on Wednesday.”

Hachimura scored 21 points Monday with perfect three-for-three shooting from three-point range. In addition to seven steals from Marcus Smart, Hachimura quietly starred on defense, helping the Lakers hold the Hornets to 38 combined points in the second and third quarters.

Reaves announced his presence by throwing a lob to Deandre Ayton for the Lakers’ first basket. After Charlotte (3-7) blitzed the Lakers with eight three-pointers in the first quarter to take a 40-36 lead, Reaves answered by scoring seven of the Lakers’ first 10 points in the second. He gave the team a jolt of energy by racing for a transition layup to beat the halftime buzzer, giving the Lakers a two-point lead.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots over Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges during the first half Monday.

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(Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

“He’s an All-Star-level player,” Redick said before the game. “He’s, along with Luka, an incredibly dynamic offensive player. I think our depth increases, the lineup optionality increases, so not having him in the lineup really, really hurts us.”

The Lakers went 2-1 in games without Reaves, but the blowout in Atlanta was so striking that Redick was left questioning the identity of his team. Redick waved the white flag by the middle of the third quarter after the starting unit let the deficit balloon to 25.

With Doncic and Reaves back, the Lakers wouldn’t repeat their third-quarter woes.

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The Lakers started the second half with an 11-4 run that forced the Hornets to call a timeout. Reaves then assisted on a three-pointer from Hachimura that pushed the lead into double digits. Doncic hit a step-back three to put the Lakers up by 12. Doncic’s assist to Hachimura extended the lead to 17.

A driving, two-handed dunk was the exclamation point, stunning the Charlotte crowd as Doncic hung on the rim and screamed for an and-one. Doncic can dunk, he insisted after the game.

“I just don’t want to all the time,” he added with a slight grin.

With two dunks this season — including a barely-there slam at home against Minnesota that his teammates don’t officially count — he already doubled his total from last season.

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“Finally,” Smart said. “The way he be getting by [defenders], he’s always acting. Might as well go and dunk it one time. I guess you gotta piss him off for that.”

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Chargers dismantle Steelers to win third straight game in dominant fashion

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Chargers dismantle Steelers to win third straight game in dominant fashion

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The Los Angeles Chargers put on a show for their home crowd, blowing out the Pittsburgh Steelers to collect a 25-10 win on “Sunday Night Football.”

Los Angeles moves to 7-3 on the year and 4-2 at home, while the Steelers fall to 5-4.

This game was a defensive battle on both sidelines throughout, but it was clear the Chargers were not going to let Aaron Rodgers get comfortable in his pocket. They left him just 16-of-31 for 161 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

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Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Justin Herbert was getting hit hard in his own pocket, as the Chargers are still working things out on the offensive line with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, their starting tackles, both out for the season. Herbert was sacked five times by the Steelers, including one by T.J. Watt as he comes just half-a-sack closer to tying his older brother, J.J. Watt’s, career total (114.5).

But Herbert was still the better quarterback in this game, as he threw for 220 yards, including a touchdown pass to his leading receiver, Ladd McConkey, with just 12 seconds to play in the first half.

STEELERS ADD SUPER BOWL CHAMPION WIDE RECEIVER TO TEAM

McConkey caught just four passes, but he finished the 107 yards after one of those went for 58 yards.

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That 58-yard catch-and-run by McConkey also set up an eventual touchdown run by Kimani Vidal, who certainly helped out Herbert a bit with successful run plays that kept the Steelers’ defense honest. Vidal finished with 95 yards on 25 carries.

Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers is sacked by Khalil Mack #52 of the Los Angeles Chargers and fumbles the ball in the end zone for a safety during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Rodgers was finally able to find the end zone late in the fourth quarter, as Roman Wilson took a slant 27 yards into the end zone to make it a 25-10 ball game. But Keenan Allen secured the onside kick attempt, and that ended any chance at a miracle for Pittsburgh.

Rodgers faced pressure throughout the night from the Chargers front, which included fumbling in his own end zone and luckily recovering the ball for only a safety instead of a fumble for a touchdown. 

With the loss for Pittsburgh, it’s an interesting look in the AFC North, as the Baltimore Ravens have now won three straight games after taking down the Minnesota Vikings on the road earlier on Sunday. They sit at 4-5, just one game behind the Steelers, and they will see each other for the first time on Dec. 7.

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Another interesting tidbit in this game was Allen, whose catch on the final Chargers drive gave him the most in Chargers history with 956. Legendary tight end Antonio Gates, who was on hand to watch Sunday night, was the man Allen passed with the reception.

Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates a second quarter touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Looking more into the box score, Herbert was 20-for-33 for 220 yards while rushing for 19 yards on five carries. Quentin Johnston also had five receptions for 42 yards in the victory.

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