The Chargers rebounded from a rough first half to defeat the Titans 27-17 and advance to 6-3.
The Bolts started the game with a drive, which ended with a 21-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker. On their first drive, the Titans marched down the field, culminating in a 41-yard bomb from Will Levis to star wideout Calvin Ridley. To begin the second quarter, the Chargers got downfield once again but couldn’t close out, meaning Cameron Dicker had to come through once again with a 37-yarder. Tennessee then got down for Nick Folk to hit a 49-yard Field Goal. Folk missed it, and the Titans held onto a 7-6 lead.
The Chargers then finished the scoring in the first half with a touchdown right after the two-minute warning. The drive was characterized by a flea flicker run by Hassan Haskins & Justin Herbert going 36 yards downfield to Joshua Palmer. At the goal line, Herbert put the team on his back and ran it in himself, putting the Chargers up 13-7.
The Titans began the half with a well-put-together drive, ending in a 27-yard Field Goal from Nick Folk. On the kickoff, Chargers second-year KR Derius Davis took the ball 56 yards, heading out of bounds in enemy territory. With the head start, Justin Herbert brought his offense downfield, hitting Quentin Johnston in the end zone for six. On their next drive, they went 95 yards downfield, and former Titan Hassan Haskins was the one to give the Bolts a 27-10 lead. With 49 seconds remaining in the fourth, Will Levis hit Calvin Ridley for another touchdown, but it was too late, as the Chargers recovered the onside kick and ran down the clock to take the win. Los Angeles advanced to 6-3, as the Titans fell to 2-7.
The story of the game for the Chargers was the pass rush. Levis was sacked seven times. Twice from Bud Dupree & Tuli Tuipulotu, with Joey Bosa, Daiyan Henley, and Poona Ford all getting a piece of the pie. Any game where Khalil Mack doesn’t once take down the QB and the pass rush is still dominant for the Chargers is a good one. Without these sacks, the Titans’ momentum doesn’t get rattled how it did, and Sunday may have had a very different outcome.
The Player of the game was without a doubt, Justin Herbert. Herbert’s played surgical football all season, with Sunday being no exception. Even when the stats don’t look as exciting as some other QBs (164 YDS Sunday), Herbert leads his team to victory. He used his legs for a touchdown in this one, a play that many other “pocket passers” wouldn’t be able to make. He generally made the right decision on every play, whether passing to the most open receiver or gaining yards himself. He didn’t get sacked once and went 14-18 passing.
The completion percentage (78%) is even more impressive when seeing how at least two of his incompletions were dropped – his best ball of the day being one of them, a touchdown ball to the TE. If Justin can continue to play like this, he surely has an MVP case, whether he receives the award or not.
Now, the Chargers are preparing for the hardest month of their season. Their next six opponents are the Bengals, Ravens, Falcons, Chiefs, and Buccaneers. Every one of those teams has a real chance to win their divisions, except the Bengals who have picked up their play after a slow start. With the huge win on Sunday, they put themselves in a good spot. Even if they only take two of these games, they will still be .500. Their last stretch of the season features the Broncos, Patriots, and Raiders.
Since they are currently three games over, they could have a mediocre performance against their tough opponents, and – as long as they perform against their worse competition – they would have one of the best records in the AFC. This win was massive for the Chargers’ playoff hopes, and it puts them in a great spot heading into a rough November and December.
