Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers hands off to running back Austin Ekeler against the Miami Dolphins. Photo credit: Mike Nowak, via chargers.com

The Los Angeles Chargers beat the hapless Miami Dolphins 30-10 Sunday, evening their record a week ahead of facing their division rival, the Denver Broncos, at home.

Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes, and Desmond King logged 2 1/2 sacks as the Chargers held the Dolphins scoreless in the second half.

The Chargers are now 2-2, but their win came at the expense of a notably poor 0-4 Dolphins team. According to the Associated Press, the team has been “outscored 163-26 this season, which is the NFL’s worst four-game point differential since at least 1940.”

The Chargers never punted, scoring three touchdowns and getting 44-, 45- and 51-yard field goals from Ty Long,

Rivers completed 24 of 30 passes and did not throw an interception. In doing so, he became the ninth NFL quarterback since 1950 to record 120 career regular-season victories.

All four of the eligible players above Rivers are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rivers is four wins away from tying Fran Tarkenton for eighth on the all-time list.

Tom Brady of the New England Patriots tops the list with 211 wins.

The game was Rivers’ 65th career 300-yard performance. It was also the 71st time he had a completion percentage of at least 70%. That breaks a tie with Brady for third-most all-time.

Rivers also had a passer rating of 131.9. The Chargers are 29-0 when Rivers tops a 130 rating.

Austin Ekeler turned a swing pass from Rivers into an 18-yard touchdown 43 seconds before halftime. Melvin Gordon likely will supplant Ekeler next Sunday when the Chargers play host to the 0-4 Broncos at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

Gordon did not play Sunday after missing the preseason and first three regular-season games as he held out seeking a contract extension. He reported to the team Thursday.

Chargers defensive back King received credit for 2 1/2 of the four times former UCLA star Josh Rosen was sacked. King’s sacks were the most by a Chargers defensive back since safety Rodney Harrison had three in 1998.

Michael Badgley sat again due to a groin injury, as did tight end Hunter Henry. Henry suffered a knee injury in the season-opening 30-24 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

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 in Henry’s place.

– City News Service and staff reports
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