Sports
Cameron Dicker helps Chargers survive six lead changes in victory over Dolphins
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — 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.
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)
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.
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.
(Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)
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.
Sports
Browns to start Shedeur Sanders at quarterback for remainder of 2025 season
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There will be no more quarterback moves for the Cleveland Browns for the remainder of the 2025 season, as Shedeur Sanders will stay as the team’s starter for the next four games.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that he’s seen Sanders “constantly and consistently gotten better in each of these games,” as he’s started the last three contests after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens.
“He’s been working very hard. I feel good about where his development is heading,” Stefanski said of Sanders. “He knows there are always gonna be plays that he could be better and those types of things, but he’s very intentional about getting better each and every game he’s out there.”
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Cleveland Browns’ Shedeur Sanders (12) and Teven Jenkins (74) celebrate a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his first-ever start in the league after helping take down the Las Vegas Raiders for Cleveland’s third win of the season.
And while Sanders completed a season-high 64% of his passes against the San Francisco 49ers in his first start at home, the Browns weren’t able to see the same victory on their record at the end of that contest.
BROWNS COACH DRAWS FURY AS SHEDEUR SANDERS SITS DURING CRUCIAL 2-POINT TRY
Sanders made his third start in a row on Sunday in sloppy conditions in Cleveland against a lowly Tennessee Titans team that beat them, 31-29, to capture just their second win of the year.
During the game, Stefanski drew the ire of Sanders fans when the quarterback was off the field for a two-point conversion try despite throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Stefanski, instead, tried for a wildcat play with rookie running back Quinshon Judkins leading the way. The play ultimately didn’t work out, and fans wondered what could’ve been if Sanders was in the game.
Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns stands for the national anthem prior to a NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 8, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
“Browns removing Shedeur constantly on goal 2 go situations and going wildcat needs 2 be studied,” Shannon Sharpe wrote on X. “He’s on the SL. That’s bulljive.”
Skip Bayless even called for the removal of Stefanski after seeing what transpired at the end of the game.
“SHEDEUR TO FANNIN FOR THE CLUTCH TD — THEN STEFANSKI TAKES SHEDEUR OUT FOR THE WILDCAT — DISASTER. STEFANSKI BLOWS ANOTHER GAME. HE JUST COULDN’T STAND SEEING SHEDEUR TIE THE GAME WITH A 2-POINT CONVERSION AFTER SUCH A GREAT LONG TD DRIVE. FIRE STEFANSKI!”
Sanders was impressive despite the losing result, going 23-of-42 for 364 yards passing with three touchdowns and his first career rushing score.
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The Browns will travel to the Windy City to face the Chicago Bears in Week 15, followed by games against the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and finishing the season against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Sports
Prep talk: Documentary shows the history of CIF Southern Section since 1913
Throughout a new 45-minute documentary showing the history of the CIF Southern Section, the face and voice of its voluntary historian, John Dahlem, lets everyone know about his determination and dedication to preserve, explore and uncover invaluable tidbits of an organization that began in 1913.
A 45-minute documentary on the history of the CIF Southern Section will get its first public airing on Saturday after the Santa Margarita-De La Salle football game on Spectrum.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
From the very first game programs produced by high schools to revealing the unusual sports that used to be played, this documentary offers informative and intriguing details and will be much appreciated by anyone who has participated in California high school sports, whether as a coach, player, parent or past participant.
There are so many historical items Dahlem found before his death last year. From old video to old trophies to old medallions, it’s a look back and a look forward on how high school sports has changed, including the fact girls weren’t welcome to compete in playoffs until 1974.
Nothing was more intriguing than Dahlem showing there used to be a hand grenade competition, with a student from Huntington Park winning the first competition. Yes, it was about arm strength, so baseball players were good throwing hand grenades.
The film will receive its first showing on television on Saturday night on Spectrum at the conclusion of the Santa Margarita-De La Salle state football championship game. Then it will move to the Southern Section’s YouTube site.
Former Southern Section commissioner Rob Wigod serves as narrator in the project in which Taylor Martinez was the executive producer.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
Philip Rivers, 44-year-old who recently became grandfather, to visit Colts for potential NFL return: reports
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The Indianapolis Colts, desperate at the quarterback position after injuries to both Daniel Jones and backup Riley Leonard, are bringing in a retiree to potentially lead the way in a playoff race.
Philip Rivers, the former Colts and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback who turned 44 years old on Monday, will be hosted by Indianapolis on Tuesday for a visit, according to multiple reports.
Rivers would be considered for a practice squad position, NFL Network reported, as the rookie Leonard, who took over for Jones after he suffered an Achilles injury on Sunday, is considered the team’s starter moving forward.
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Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Dec. 2, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
However, Leonard is reportedly dealing with a knee injury that could leave Brett Rypien as the team’s only health option heading into Week 15 against a tough Seattle Seahawks team on the road. Leonard is being considered week to week, according to reports.
ESPN added that, while the Colts will be evaluating to see if Rivers is in shape enough to play in the league, he is still determining whether he wants to make an NFL comeback. But he’s clearly thinking hard about it with a trip to Indianapolis.
COLTS’ DANIEL JONES SLAMS HELMET IN FRUSTRATION AS HE SUFFERS GRUESOME ACHILLES INJURY
Rivers last appeared in the NFL in 2020 when he started 16 games for the Colts. He was 39 at the time and certainly a serviceable option at the position after passing for 4,169 yards with 24 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Indianapolis went 11-5 that season before losing to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs.
Rivers ended up announcing his retirement after that loss to the Bills, though he remained in the rumor mill as someone who could come back. He was open to being the New Orleans Saints quarterback in 2021, and the San Francisco 49ers admitted he was their choice if they made it to Super Bowl LVII when Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson both suffered injuries during the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) throwing a pass during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
But Rivers remained in Alabama, where he coached high school football over the past few years. The Colts clearly came calling, though, after a disastrous Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
During the first quarter, Jones, who has been playing on a broken fibula, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury and he was visibly frustrated as he slammed his helmet to the turf.
The Colts have now dropped into the bubble group of AFC teams hoping to get into the playoffs after losing three straight games since coming off their bye week.
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Rivers, who recently became a grandfather, threw for 63,440 passing yards and 421 touchdowns with a 64.9% completion rate across 244 career games in the NFL. He also owns a 5-7 record in the playoffs.
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