Early NFL picks, predictions for Week 1 of 2023 season

Miami Dolphins (9-8) @ Los Angeles Chargers (10-7)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

Ah look, a matchup between two teams that are extremely talented yet nearly impossible to project.

Over the last couple of seasons, both the Chargers and Dolphins have had some horrendous injury luck and it has cost them greatly at the most inopportune times. I can’t think of a more appropriate example than last year with both teams as the Dolphins entered the playoffs with Skylar Thompson as their starting quarterback, and the Chargers entered the postseason without star receiver Mike Williams.

The injury to Mike Williams that kept him out of the playoffs can be directly tied to Brandon Staley’s moronic decision to play his starters in the regular season finale against the Denver Broncos, while the Dolphins’ issues were pretty much happening all throughout the second half of the season.

Is Tua Tagovailoa going to be able to play all or most of the season? If not, can Mike White really keep this talented Dolphins team afloat?

The Dolphins landed Vic Fangio as their DC in 2023 and Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Rams. They are clearly pushing all their chips into the middle of the table on this season. They’re banking a lot on Tua.

The Chargers struggle with injuries all over the place, but Justin Herbert finally carried this team to the playoffs last year. Will he be able to carry them past a Dolphins team and a DC in Fangio who has historically had Herbert’s number?

Prediction: Dolphins win 24-17