Chargers Rally, Beat Titans In OT

The Chargers had to score 14 points in the 4th quarter, with the last touchdown coming with little time left, to send the game into overtime. The Titans' defense looked as if it was dominating the Chargers for the entire game until the final quarter when the Chargers, down 17-3, had to muster up some offense if it wanted to make a game of it. The Chargers did just that. The final drive of regulation wasn't without some controversy for the Chargers... 2 plays were reviewed, one where Tomlinson clearly was out of bounds when he caught a 3rd and 5 pass and the following play, on 4th and 5, a pass to Chambers was reviewed, but because there was no clear view, the catch and subsequent first down stood and the Chargers would score the game tying touchdown on that final drive.

Tomlinson scored on a 16 yard touchdown run to nix any field goal attempt and end the game in an overtime that both teams had the ball but the Chargers were able to keep the Titans pinned in and win the field position battle.

The Chargers defense played just as well as the Titans. Merriman played the first half and then got dinged up on what he suspects was a 'dirty play'. He was having a good game up to that point with a couple of sacks and an unrelenting pass rush. And that has been the big difference for the Chargers today than it was at the beginning of the season...the pass rush. The Chargers didn't seem to have any sort of rush until recently and it seems to be really effective.

Philip Rivers was playing absolutely horrible for most of the game but seemed to gather things together for the final quarter and gained more passing yards in one drive then he did for the rest of the game. He had 2 interceptions, was knocked out briefly in the 2nd quarter, in which Billy Volek came in and threw an interception of his own, and Rivers was sacked 4 times...the most of his career. Tomlinson, too, was having an unimpressive game until the 2nd half and then finished with over 100+ yards and had a rushing and receiving touchdown with, of course, the rushing td the game winner.

Both teams seemed to have players dropping like flies and at times the game seemed to get a little 'chippy'. Fullback Lorenzo Neal, for the Chargers, is likely out for the rest of the season, Gates was injured but came back and scored the game-tying touchdown.

The Charger offense still is hit and miss. The defense seems to be playing better, but that may likely be because the offenses they have been playing lately are not that good or, in the case of the Indy game, the opponent handed the game to the Chargers.