Chargers Looked Good In Win Over Titans

The question about the San Diego Chargers 38-17 win over the Titans that has all the NFL 'experts' lamenting is whether the Chargers are actually a competent team or are the Titans that pathetic? One week after Drew Brees could barely get a pass within 20 yards of a Charger receiver he goes 16-20 for 220 yards and three touchdowns. LaDainian Tomlinson had 147 yards on 17 carries, garnering him a 8+ yard per carry average. The Charger defense in the first half looked ferocious for the first time all season...forcing the Titans to adjust in the 2nd half...unfortunately the Charger defense made little adjustments and was held in check for most of the 2nd half.

What was most impressive about this Charger win and something the Chargers haven't been able to do over the past few seasons, and that is get out to a respectable lead and put the game away. The Chargers moved the ball very effectively in the first half and went into the locker room with a 21-7 lead. After the Chargers kick a field goal to go up by ten it looked as if the Charger collapse was set and about to take place. The Titans went on a 16 play drive that stalled and forced them to settle for a 24 yard field goal. Titans then proceed to recover an onside kick and mount a 10 play, 58 yard touchdown drive and now trail the Chargers by just a touchdown, with 7:08 left to play in the game...plenty of time for the Charger collapse. But instead of that collapse the exact opposite ocurred. On the second play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff, Reche Caldwell made a fantastic one-handed grab that ended with him walking into the end zone 58 yards later. A Jesse Chatman score with less than 3:30 on the clock sealed the deal for the Chargers.

The Chargers can back this win up with a good showing this weekend when they host the 3-1 Jaguars. Last year the Jaguars beat the Chargers in Byron Leftwich's second career start...he threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns. If the Chargers are looking to legitimize their season, this game will be the first step to doing so... a home win against an above 500 team early in the season. A victory would also put the Chargers above 500 for the first time since Marty Schottenheimer's first season with the Bolts, and they ended up 8-8.

It was exciting for Charger fans to see the team perform very well on both sides of the ball, but most are not kidding themselves. The Chargers do look to be getting better and unfortunately, I have to think the Titans are not the team that they once were.