Tennessee Titans vs. San Diego Chargers
Out of every game this week in the NFL, I would argue this match-up is sneakily one of the best. Both the Tennessee Titans and the San Diego Chargers have intriguing offenses, and this game should be really fun to watch.
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The Titans have been on-again-off-again, but they’re coming off what may have been a statement victory against the rival Jaguars. In that game, Tennessee throttled Jacksonville. While the score was 36-22, the Titans were the better team by miles. It’s always fun to see air-raid offenses push the ball down field, but you have to appreciate an old-school, run-first approach on offense. And hey, it’s working. Running behind Tennessee’s monster offensive line, DeMarco Murray‘s enjoying an absolutely resurgent year. 2014’s leading rusher currently ranks as the NFL’s second leading rusher.
Despite being a 3-5 club, the Chargers are arguably the most exciting team to watch in all of professional sports. They blew leads during the first juncture of the season and the team was exciting even in defeat. Can we all just take a moment and appreciate Philip Rivers, too? This guy is playing phenomenal football, but it’s nothing more than a footnote in the media amid Tom Brady‘s return, Matt Ryan‘s surge and the debuts of Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz.
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Rivers’ club desperately needs a win to stay afloat in an incredibly competitive AFC West race. Dropping a winnable game to Tennessee and falling to 3-6 would likely erase any chances of San Diego making the playoffs.
Keys to Victory
I usually implore the Titans to run the ball, but that may not be that effective against the Chargers. The Chargers rank sixth in the league against the run, but 24th against the pass. Because of that, pounding DeMarco Murray (or Derrick Henry) may hinder the offense. Additionally, one would have to imagine the Chargers are game-planning how to shut down the run, effectively forcing Marcus Mariota to beat them through the air. I’m not sure how that will play out.
The Chargers need to apply pressure on Mariota and make him uncomfortable. If the second-year quarterback can’t find his rhythm and the running game can’t get going, then the Chargers should win this game handily. Applying pressure shouldn’t be too hard, as first-round pick Joey Bosa‘s been an absolute phenom in the trenches thus far.
Odds
Point spread: San Diego -5
Moneyline: San Diego -215, Tennessee +185
Over/under: 47
Predictions
I’d love to pick the Titans here, but I don’t see that pass defense holding up against Rivers’ potent offense. Tennessee’s surrendering 259.5 yards per game through the air, so that defense could be in for a long day. This game may get out of reach early if San Diego’s able to jump out to an early lead. While the Titans offense is fun to watch and easy to admire, it’s not build to come back from big deficits on a regular basis.
Pick: Tennessee Titans: 16, San Diego Chargers: 31