By Tim Peterson
(Inglewood) – The Chargers took control in the third quarter and went on to beat Tennessee 27-17 Sunday before 68,796 fans at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers played a clean game with zero turnovers in the contest and won their third straight game in the process.
Turnovers are a team’s worst enemy is a common theme in the NFL but the Chargers were turnover free with no interceptions and no fumbles. It appeared they committed a big one late in the second quarter but after a review it was overturned.
The Chargers scored on their opening drive when Cameron Dicker “The Kicker” kicked a 21-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead after the Chargers march stalled at the Tennessee two-yard line.
Tennessee responded with a 7-play, 72-yard drive. Will Levis hit Calvin Ridley on a 42-yard touchdown pass to give the Titans a 7-3 lead.
Dicker booted a 37-yard field goal early in the second quarter to cut the Tennessee lead to 7-6.
The Titans then drove down into Chargers territory but a penalty pushed them back and Nick Folk missed a 49-yard field goal as the score remained 7-6 with over six minutes left in the second quarter.
Justin Herbert capped an 8-play, 61-yard drive as he did it himself with a 4-yard touchdown run on fourth down to give the Chargers a 13-7 lead with 1:55 left in the second quarter.
Then it looked like disaster struck. It appeared that the Titans tied the game when a Jeffrey Simmons strip sack of Herbert led to a scoop and score by Roger McCreary. But after further review it was ruled that Herbert’s arm was going forward and it was an incomplete pass. Disaster averted and the Chargers maintained the 13-7 advantage.
The Chargers took that lead into the half.
Folk kicked a 27-yard field goal on Tennessee’s first possession of the third quarter after a drive was halted to make it 13-10.
Derius Davis then took the ensuing kickoff 56 yards down into Tennessee territory. That set up a 16-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to Quentin Johnston to increase the Chargers lead to 20-10 with 3:24 left in the third quarter.
The Chargers opened the fourth quarter with an 11-play, 95 -yard drive that was finished by a 1-yard touchdown dive by Hassan Haskins. The Chargers were firmly in control leading 27-10 with 7:39 left.
Tennessee added a late touchdown when Levis hit Ridley on a 10-yard touchdown pass to finish a 61-yard drive with 49 seconds left.
The Chargers ran out the clock from there.
For the Chargers Herbert completed 14 of 18 for 164 yards and a touchdown. Gus Edwards ran for 55 yards on 10 carries and J.K. Dobbins added 50 yards on 15 carries.
For the Titans Levis was 18 of 23 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Ridley had a big game as he was on the receiving end of both scores and caught 5 passes for 84 yards.
The Chargers improved to 6-3 with the win while Tennessee dropped to 2-7.
Next up for the Chargers is a Sunday Night Football game next week against the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium at 5:20 p.m.
THAT WAS A FUMBLE
Just a couple years ago, the Rams ruled the roost in this town. With the Bolts getting a quality coach, that dynamic has reversed itself entirely. I couldn’t be happier.