TONIGHT’S GAME

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

CHANNEL 7, 6 P.M.

After three consecutive home losses, the Dolphins should be relieved to be in San Diego tonight.

In Miami, the Dolphins have given away three games they might have won had it not been for turnovers.

After 11 turnovers in the three games, the Dolphins dropped from having the NFL’s best record (9-2) to trailing Buffalo in the AFC East by 1 1/2 games.

Miami’s defense forced two turnovers in those games.

“The pattern has been pretty much the same in all three games, where we’ve given up the football and haven’t taken it away,” Miami Coach Don Shula said. “We had our opportunities to win, but we didn’t.”

The Dolphins (9-5) can clinch at least a wild-card playoff spot with a victory tonight. A division title is out of reach.

Scott Mitchell will start at quarterback for Miami. He started well against the Bills last week but seemed to tire and had two interceptions that accounted for 14 points. Shula won’t hesitate to bring in Steve DeBerg if Mitchell falters.

Defensively, the Dolphins lost cornerback Troy Vincent for the season. Safety Louis Oliver, who had a fourth-quarter interception of San Diego quarterback Stan Humphries in last year’s playoff game, is questionable with a foot injury. Linebacker John Offerdahl also is questionable, with a hamstring injury.

San Diego (6-8) has been disappointing, but wide receiver Anthony Miller leads the AFC in yards (933 in 70 catches) and Ronnie Harmon (63) is second in running-back receptions to Miami’s Terry Kirby (65).