Culver City Observer -

The Chargers are 1-2 and they face the 0-3 Miami Dolphins on Sunday on the road at 10 a.m. Are the first three weeks of the season any indication that the Chargers are not the same team as they were last year? They dropped to 1-2 after their second straight loss to the Houston Texans last Sunday at home.

What's missing? One of their best receivers from last year is playing for the Raiders, but the key missing part to complete the Charger puzzle may be running back Melvin Gordon. Gordon is not a great running back but he is very good. His replacement, Austin Ekeler, is a solid runner and pass catcher. However, can he perform double duty as a starter and a backup? The answer is no. He needs help if the Chargers expect to make the playoffs.

Some NFL teams are realizing that it takes two good running backs along with a good or great quarterback in the back field to play at an elite level. A good example of this is the Rams sitting pretty with Todd Gurley II and Malcolm Brown at running back and Jared Goff steering the team at the quarterback position.

The Sparks were knocked out of the WNBA playoffs last Sunday when they were swept 3-0 by the Connecticut Sun. The Sparks ended the regular season on a high note but ran out of gas against a Connecticut team that has no superstar players on its roster.

The LAFC will play three of their last game of the regular season at home on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. against Colorado.

The first place Dodgers will finish their season on the road before they start the playoffs.

The USC women's volleyball team is currently 6-4 and they return home on Saturday, Sept. 28 to play Arizona at the Galen Center at 7 p.m. The UCLA women's volleyball team is currently 5-4 and they face Arizona State Sunday at 12 p.m. at home in Pauley Pavilion.

This Sports Column is dedicated to the former Culver City Observer Editor and Sports Editor Mitch Chortkoff.