The Chargers and Dolphins are linked in NFL history as the two teams which played ā€œThe Epic In Miami,ā€ the 1981 AFC Divisional Playoff Game on a warm Saturday night in the Orange Bowl Stadium. Which team has a better future? Let's discuss.

The Miami Dolphins missed the playoffs by one game in 2020 after rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick took turns leading the team, but the future of the organization is bright.

Head coach Brian Flores turned this team around quickly and gave the Dolphins a shot to compete not just for a playoff spot, but also for an AFC East title, no thanks to the Buffalo Bills and their success.

The Dolphins hold the number three overall pick in the upcoming draft as well as number 18 overall if indeed they keep those as many rumors float about a potential Tua for Deshaun Watson swap.

The Dolphins need playmakers on offense, and that's an understatement. The Dolphins had a revolving door of Myles Gaskin, Lynn Bowden Jr., Matt Breida, Jordan Howard, and Salvon Ahmed at the running back position. Out of the group, Gaskin led the team in rushing with 584 yards in just ten games, so it's no question that they need help there.

The wide receiver situation wasn't much better as DeVante Parker and tight end Mike Gesicki were the only pass catchers to eclipse more than 400 yards on the year, and neither of them got more than 800 yards in 2020 for the Dolphins.

Tua took a while to get an opportunity but ended the year with 1,814 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions, three of those coming in a 56-26 embarrassment against the Buffalo Bills in week 17 that knocked them out of playoff contention. Still, adding a pass-catcher such as Jamar Chase and a running back like Najee Harris in the draft would do wonders for Tua and the Dolphins.

As for the Los Angeles Chargers, they had their own issues in 2020, clearly more than the Dolphins. Head coach Anthony Lynn was on the hot seat for the whole season after countless clock management situations, ill-advised offensive schemes, and blown lead after blown lead.

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Somehow, someway, the Chargers finished 7-9 after a four-game winning streak to end the season, whereas the Dolphins were 10-6, but it was still too little too late: Lynn was fired. They hired Brandon Staley, former Rams defensive coordinator, to be the guy in Los Angeles and people this team forward in 2021.

Justin Herbert, who was taken one pick after Tua of the Dolphins in last year's draft, surprised everybody with his emergence. Herbert finished the year shattering essentially every rookie record with 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns in 15 games, including getting thrown into action week two last minute after the Tyrod Taylor debacle.

The Chargers have one of the most talented defenses in the league when they are healthy, which is rare. Joey Bosa and Derwin James alone cause problems for coordinators around the league, arguably more than the Dolphins, and Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler are among the best at their respective position groups on offense.

Gus Bradley and Shane Steichen left town with Lynn and got jobs elsewhere, so the regime in Los Angeles is almost entirely different than it was just a few weeks ago, and that should bode well for the Chargers going forward.

Decision: Chargers

It's close, really close. However, the fact that Herbert is already playing at a high level, and the fact that Allen and Ekeler are some of the best at their positions gives the Chargers the edge over the Dolphins.

Tua can certainly improve and will hopefully shake off some of the struggles he had last season, and adding two top-20 picks will help him going forward.

Staley with the Chargers defense can do wonders for a group loaded with talent, and the only real concern on this Chargers team is the offensive line, which will almost certainly be addressed in the offseason and with the 13th overall pick in the draft.

The Dolphins and Chargers are both fixtures in the AFC for years to come, and the debate between Tua and Herbert is and will be a never-ending thing until one of them comes away with a coveted Super Bowl victory.