Game story
In Week 4 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-10-02, the Los Angeles Chargers took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 26–16 final that built a comfortable lead.
The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) paced the passing game, with +16.40 total EPA, and +7.5% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.40 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (+14.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Los Angeles Chargers changed the game: (1:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 7 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 26 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 P. Rivers · Los Angeles Chargers · Passing · +16.40 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
- 2 V. Jackson · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +7.16 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.79 EPA/play
- 3 R. Mathews · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +4.31 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
- 4 V. Brown · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +3.66 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.83 EPA/play
- 5 L. Hilliard · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.57 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.57 EPA/play
- 6 C. Clay · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.50 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.25 EPA/play
- 7 L. Hilliard · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +2.15 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
- 8 M. Floyd · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +2.05 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
P. Rivers — LAC · Passing
P. Rivers posted the highest total EPA (+16.40) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Los Angeles Chargers's efficiency. Across 37 counted snaps, they averaged +0.44 EPA per play.
The signature play (+4.54 EPA) came from Los Angeles Chargers: (1:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Miami Dolphins — L. Hilliard
- Los Angeles Chargers — V. Jackson (P. Rivers pass)
- Los Angeles Chargers — M. Tolbert
Field goals
- Los Angeles Chargers — N. Novak
- Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter
- Los Angeles Chargers — N. Novak
- Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter
- Los Angeles Chargers — N. Novak
- Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter
- Los Angeles Chargers — N. Novak
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the LAC 1 (Q1 47:52); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the LAC 2 (Q1 47:47) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the MIA 55 (Q1 46:47) — (1:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 46:35) — 9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres..
The second quarter: Los Angeles Chargers won the period 6–3. Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the MIA 9 (Q2 37:58) — (7:58) 9-N.Novak 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the LAC 23 (Q2 31:53) — (1:53) 5-D.Carpenter 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the MIA 30 (Q2 30:12) — (:12) 9-N.Novak 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres..
The third quarter: Los Angeles Chargers won the period 10–3. Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the MIA 1 (Q3 24:28) — (9:28) 35-M.Tolbert up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 24:24) — 9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the LAC 19 (Q3 21:49) — (6:49) 5-D.Carpenter 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the MIA 5 (Q3 16:17) — (1:17) 9-N.Novak 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres..
The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the LAC 34 (Q4 11:38) — (11:38) 5-D.Carpenter 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the MIA 20 (Q4 4:32) — (4:32) 9-N.Novak 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Los Angeles Chargers (Q1 46:47) — (1:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 27:01) — (12:01) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short middle to 86-V.Brown to MIA 39 for 20 yards (37-Y.Bell, 20-R.Jones).
- Los Angeles Chargers (Q2 33:13) — (3:13) 5-M.Scifres punts 51 yards to MIA 38, Center-47-M.Windt. 15-D.Bess to LAC 40 for 22 yards (47-M.Windt). PENALTY on LAC-15-R.Goodman, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at LAC 40.
- Miami Dolphins (Q1 55:37) — (10:37) (Shotgun) 7-C.Henne pass deep right intended for 80-A.Fasano INTERCEPTED by 38-M.Gilchrist [56-D.Butler] at LAC 14. 38-M.Gilchrist to LAC 15 for 1 yard (80-A.Fasano). PENALTY on MIA-80-A.Fasan
- Los Angeles Chargers (Q2 42:01) — (12:01) 17-P.Rivers pass deep left to 83-V.Jackson ran ob at MIA 23 for 42 yards.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Los Angeles Chargers (Q1 46:47) — (1:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Miami Dolphins (Q1 55:37) — (10:37) (Shotgun) 7-C.Henne pass deep right intended for 80-A.Fasano INTERCEPTED by 38-M.Gilchrist [56-D.Butler] at LAC 14. 38-M.Gilchrist to LAC 15 for 1 yard (80-A.Fasano). PENALTY on MIA-80-A.Fasan
- Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 25:45) — (10:45) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short left to 24-R.Mathews to MIA 5 for 42 yards (37-Y.Bell).
- Miami Dolphins (Q3 23:59) — (8:59) (Shotgun) 8-M.Moore pass deep right intended for 82-B.Hartline INTERCEPTED by 32-E.Weddle at LAC 45. 32-E.Weddle ran ob at LAC 45 for no gain. PENALTY on LAC-38-M.Gilchrist, Defensive Pass Inte
Quarterback report card
P.Rivers led all passers in efficiency for Los Angeles Chargers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- P.Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) · 37 dropbacks · 56.8% completion · +7.5% CPOE · +0.44 EPA/play · +16.40 total EPA
- M.Moore (Miami Dolphins) · 30 dropbacks · 56.7% completion · +6.4% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.33 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Miami Dolphins | Los Angeles Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.021 | +0.112 |
| Offensive success rate | 45.2% | 43.8% |
| Pass EPA/play | -0.060 | +0.443 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.043 | -0.236 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.112 | -0.021 |
| Defensive success rate | 56.2% | 54.8% |
By the numbers
Los Angeles Chargers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.11 vs +0.02), even if the scoreboard told a different story.
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10 drives, +8.94 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
- Miami Dolphins: 10 drives, +1.57 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Los Angeles Chargers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- P. Rivers (LAC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
- M. Moore (MIA) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 47:52 · LAC 1 · Score 6-0
(2:52) 26-L.Hilliard up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 47:47 · LAC 2 · Score 7-0
5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. - Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q1 46:47 · MIA 55 · Score 7-6
(1:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q1 46:35 · MIA 2 · Score 7-7
9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres. - Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q2 37:58 · MIA 9 · Score 7-10
(7:58) 9-N.Novak 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres. - Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 31:53 · LAC 23 · Score 10-10
(1:53) 5-D.Carpenter 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. - Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q2 30:12 · MIA 30 · Score 10-13
(:12) 9-N.Novak 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres. - Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q3 24:28 · MIA 1 · Score 10-19
(9:28) 35-M.Tolbert up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q3 24:24 · MIA 2 · Score 10-20
9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres. - Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 21:49 · LAC 19 · Score 13-20
(6:49) 5-D.Carpenter 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. - Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q3 16:17 · MIA 5 · Score 13-23
(1:17) 9-N.Novak 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres. - Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 11:38 · LAC 34 · Score 16-23
(11:38) 5-D.Carpenter 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. - Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q4 4:32 · MIA 20 · Score 16-26
(4:32) 9-N.Novak 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers?
The Los Angeles Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins 26-16 in Week 4, 2011 on 2011-10-02.
What was the final score of Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers?
The final score was Miami Dolphins 16, Los Angeles Chargers 26 (MIA 16-26 LAC) in Week 4, 2011 on 2011-10-02.
What was the score by quarter in Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers?
Q1: Miami Dolphins 7, Los Angeles Chargers 7; Q2: Miami Dolphins 3, Los Angeles Chargers 6; Q3: Miami Dolphins 3, Los Angeles Chargers 10; Q4: Miami Dolphins 3, Los Angeles Chargers 3; Final: Miami Dolphins 16, Los Angeles Chargers 26.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers?
Miami Dolphins touchdown — L. Hilliard (Q1 47:52) Los Angeles Chargers touchdown — V. Jackson (P. Rivers pass) (Q1 46:47) Los Angeles Chargers touchdown — M. Tolbert (Q3 24:28) Los Angeles Chargers field goal — N. Novak (Q2 37:58, 3 pts) Miami Dolphins field goal — D. Carpenter (Q2 31:53, 3 pts) Los Angeles Chargers field goal — N. Novak (Q2 30:12, 3 pts) Miami Dolphins field goal — D. Carpenter (Q3 21:49, 3 pts) Los Angeles Chargers field goal — N. Novak (Q3 16:17, 3 pts) Miami Dolphins field goal — D. Carpenter (Q4 11:38, 3 pts) Los Angeles Chargers field goal — N. Novak (Q4 4:32, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers?
P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers), 56.8% completion, +7.5% CPOE, +0.44 EPA per dropback, +16.40 total passing EPA. M. Moore (Miami Dolphins), 56.7% completion, +6.4% CPOE, -0.01 EPA per dropback, -0.33 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Chargers?
P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) led the game in total EPA with +16.40 on passing plays. across 37 snaps. The top single-play swing was (+4.54 EPA): (1:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.. The biggest win-probability swing was +14.7%.
Season records after this game
Miami Dolphins
Entered 0-3 Now 0-4 L
Los Angeles Chargers
Entered 2-1 Now 3-1 W
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