The Los Angeles Chargers faced the Tennesee Titans on Sunday, Oct. 20 in Week 7 of the 2019 NFL season. Here are some highlights from the game.
The Los Angeles Chargers came into Nashville after losing to the Steelers and their third-string quarterback. Meanwhile, the Titans came off a loss to the Broncos in Denver. Ryan Tannehill was named the starter for Tennessee after they decided to bench Marcus Mariota.
The Chargers got the ball first. After the Titans’ defense stood up on fourth down, the Titans moved the ball. Punter Brett Kern connected with safety Kevin Byard on a fake punt to keep the drive alive. Cody Parkey hit a 45-yard field goal to open the scoring.
The Chargers got the ball next and drove to the Titans’ 11-yard line … and the drive stalled. They settled for a 29-yard field goal.
After forcing the Titans to punt on their next drive, Philip Rivers drove his team 94 yards in 14 plays. The drive culminated with a one-yard touchdown pass to Melvin Gordon.
Tannehill answered with an eight-play, 86-yard drive. He found wide receiver Corey Davis for an eight-yard touchdown.
At halftime, we had a 10-10 tie.
After both teams exchanged punts to open the second half, the Titans got the ball back. Tannehill was hit as he let the ball go and the pass was intercepted. Tennessee’s defense forced a punt, though, so Tannehill returned to the field and led his team 85 yards with a few key runs by Derrick Henry. Tajae Sharpe caught a five-yard touchdown pass, but Parkey missed the point after.
Chase McLaughlin would split the uprights for a 50-yard field goal after the Chargers’ next drive stalled.
Derrick Henry capped off a seven-play, 75-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run, and the Titans were up 23-13.
Philip Rivers and his team responded. Rivers hit running back Austin Ekeler, who was lined up wide right, for a 41-yard touchdown.
The Titans got the ball back with five minutes left in the game. They went with Henry to drain the clock offense. Head coach Mike Vrabel decided to go for it on 4th-and-1 with just over two minutes left after the Chargers used all of their timeouts, right at midfield. Tannehill kept it and dove forward and appeared to have the first down. The officials appeared to give the Titans a bad spot, forcing a turnover on downs. Vrabel could’ve challenged the spot, which if overturned would have ultimately ended the game, but for some reason, he decided not to throw the challenge flag.
Rivers led his offense back on the field. He hit Austin Ekeler for an apparent 16-yard touchdown, but after review, Ekeler was ruled down at the one-yard line. A pass interference call on Malcolm Butler after a false start penalty put the ball back on the one.
Melvin Gordon then ran up the middle for another apparent touchdown, but replay ruled that he was short. As it turns out, the ball came out prior to him being down. Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey recovered the ball and the Titans won, 23-20.
The Titans improved to 3-4 as they prepare to host the Buccaneers Sunday. The loss drops the Chargers to 2-5, and they take on the Bears in Chicago on Sunday.
