Phillip Rivers threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns as the Los Angeles Chargers scored the final 20 points in a 30-10 victory over the winless Miami Dolphins Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Chargers (2-2) never punted for the first time since Nov. 23, 2017, scoring three touchdowns, getting 44-, 45- and 51-yard field goals from Ty Long, losing the ball on downs and running out the clock to end the game on their eight possessions.
The Chargers outgained Miami, 390 yards to 233, including 156-36 in the second half. They led 24-13 in first downs, 11-3 in the second half, and 37:36-22:24 in time of possession, 21:05-8:55 in the second half.
Rivers completed 24 of 30 passes, did not throw an interception and was sacked once as he became the ninth quarterback in NFL history to record 120 career regular-season victories since 1950. (Records before 1950 are incomplete.)
All four of the eligible players above Rivers are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rivers is four away from tying Fran Tarkenton for eighth on the all-time list.
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is the leader with 211.
Austin Ekeler turned a swing pass from Rivers into an 18-yard touchdown 43 seconds before halftime that gave the Chargers a 17-10 lead they would not relinquish.
Ekeler ran 1 yard with 11 minutes, 20 seconds left for the second half’s only touchdown.
Ekeler ran for a game-high 60 yards on 18 carries and caught five passes for 62 yards before a crowd at Hard Rock Stadium announced at 64,278.
Ekeler is expected to return to a reserve role behind Melvin Gordon next Sunday when the Chargers play host to the Denver Broncos at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Gordon was in uniform Sunday but did not play after missing the entire preseason and first three regular-season games as he was holding out seeking a contract extension. He reported to the team Thursday.
Former UCLA star Josh Rosen completed 17 of 24 passes for 180 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown to DeVante Parker in the first quarter, for the Dolphins (0-4). A fourth-quarter interception of a Rosen pass by cornerback Michael Davis was converted by the Chargers into Long’s 51-yard field goal.
Rosen was sacked four times, with Chargers defensive back Desmond King credited with 2 1/2 sacks. King’s 2 1/2 sacks were the most in a game by a Chargers defensive back since safety Rodney Harrison had three in a 16-14 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 6, 1998.
King has 6 1/2 sacks for his career, tying safety Eric Weddle for third in team history among defensive backs.
The sacks were King’s first since his rookie season in 2017.
Both teams scored on each of their first two possessions.
A nine-play, 49-yard game-opening drive ended with Long’s 44-yard field goal. Miami responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive and Rosen’s touchdown pass to Parker.
Running back Troymaine Pope scored the first touchdown of his seven-game, three-team NFL career on the Chargers next possession on a 13-yard pass from Rivers to complete a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
Villa Park High School alumnus Jason Sanders kicked a 30-yard field goal on the next possession for what would be the Dolphins final points.
Sanders missed 50- and 52-yard field goal attempts later in the second quarter.
The game was Rivers’ 65th career 300-yard performance. It was also the 71st time he had a completion percentage of at least 70%, breaking a tie with Brady for third-most all-time.
Rivers had a passer rating of 131.9. The Chargers are 29-0 when Rivers tops a 130.0 passer rating.
Long kicked the Chargers field goals and extra points for the fourth time in four games as Michael Badgley was again inactive because of a groin injury.
Tight end Hunter Henry was inactive for the third consecutive game because of a knee injury suffered in the opener season-opening 30-24 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sept. 8. Virgil Green was inactive because of a groin injury suffered in last Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Houston Texans after starting the previous two games at tight end in place of Henry.
Sean Culkin started at tight end in place of Green and made the second reception of his 18-game NFL career, catching a 12-yard pass from Rivers that gave the Chargers a first down on Miami’s 4-yard line. Ekeler ran for a touchdown three plays later.
Davis returned to the starting lineup after missing two second consecutive games because of a hamstring injury suffered in the opener, making three tackles and breaking up a pass in addition to the fourth-quarter interception.