The Chargers hit the road again on Sunday, meeting the Dolphins in Miami to try to end their two-game losing streak.

Here’s what LA needs to do on defense to get things done.

Let Odafe Oweh hit the ground running

The Chargers made a big swing on Tuesday, trading for edge rusher Odafe Oweh to try to inject some juice into what’s been a lifeless pass rush outside of Tuli Tuipulotu. Oweh is 35th in pass rush win rate this season, per PFF, and should be able to get some pressure against a Dolphins offensive line that has struggled so far in 2025. Considering that the Chargers’ defense contains a lot of the same terminology and responsibilities of the Ravens‘ defense, letting Oweh loose in full on Sunday should be in the cards.

Contain the perimeter run game

It’s no secret that, with the way the Dolphins offense is built that they want to get their talent to the perimeter. That’s especially true in the run game, where De’Von Achane remains one of the fastest players in the entire NFL. Los Angeles struggled with outside runs last week against the Commanders, but the addition of Oweh and the potential return of linebacker Denzel Perryman should help the Chargers bolster the run defense. Carolina held the Dolphins to 14 rushes for 19 yards last week, a key reason the Panthers were able to come back for a 27-24 win.

Close the middle of the field

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa told the media after the Panthers’ loss that Carolina did a good job of limiting throws over the middle of the field, which has long been the blueprint for defending Mike McDaniel’s offense. Miami wants to get tight end Darren Waller more involved, but the Chargers have a good matchup there with Derwin James Jr. likely to take the bulk of the reps against him. Los Angeles does have a slight question mark on the back end with Alohi Gilman heading to Baltimore in the Oweh trade, so they’ll need Elijah Molden and Tony Jefferson to step up and lock down the deep middle.

Execute the bread and butter

The Chargers’ primary coverage this season has been Cover 3, which defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has called on 35% of Los Angeles’ defensive snaps. On 44 dropbacks against that look this season, Tagovailoa has a passer rating of just 44.5, third-worst in the NFL among passers with at least 10 dropbacks, per PFF. The Dolphins quarterback has thrown five turnover-worthy plays, including three interceptions, with zero big-time throws in those reps. As long as Los Angeles can execute their base coverage, they should be able to force the Dolphins into some uncomfortable offensive scripts.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers’ defensive keys to victory against the Dolphins