For the primary time in practically two months, the Chargers and Rams gained throughout the identical week. Before Week 14, you had to return to Week 6 to search out the final time the L.A. groups each gained. Ironically, they each gained in SoFi Stadium each of these weeks, leaving two clear sweeps in three alternatives (Week 1). Maybe one among them simply must play on Thursday or Monday at residence each week going ahead.
This week, the Rams play on Monday, in Green Bay. The Chargers are at residence on Sunday and have a great opportunity at an enormous win for his or her playoff hopes.
Tennessee Titans at Chargers (-3, 47)
Justin Herbert’s big recreation got here on the proper time final week, because the No. 6 choose within the 2020 NFL draft overshadowed the No. 5 choose. Tua Tagovailoa regarded misplaced a lot of the recreation, whereas Herbert excelled, throwing for a season-high 367 yards with a landing and no picks. As nice as Herbert’s stat line was, although, the Chargers transformed his 51 move makes an attempt and season-high 39 completions into solely 23 factors.
This has been an ongoing downside for the Chargers, who rank twenty eighth in pink zone effectivity. Herbert threw for 335 yards in Week 13 and the Chargers transformed that into solely 20 factors within the loss to the Raiders. Not having Keenan Allen and/or Mike Williams for giant chunks of the season has not helped in that regard, however they’re each again. Williams had six catches for 116 yards final week and a landing, whereas Allen had 14 targets for the second straight week and hauled in 12 of them for 92 yards.
The return of heart Corey Linsley was extra vital than something, as he was in a position to clear concussion protocol. With the band again collectively on offense, the Chargers have to indicate enchancment within the scoring areas this week and going ahead, particularly in the event that they wish to be a playoff risk.
This recreation has the prospect to be a second straight confidence booster for a protection that has gone by the ringer this season. The Chargers are a nasty protection by just about any metric. Injuries haven’t helped, however the Chargers are additionally thirty second in yards per carry allowed and grade poorly in most superior stats. This week, nonetheless, they draw an offense that ranks twenty seventh in EPA/play (anticipated factors added) since offensive coordinator Todd Downing was fired following his DUI arrest. On the entire, the Titans are twenty sixth in rush EPA, regardless of having some man named Derrick Henry.
The Titans are an ideal protection in opposition to the run, however that helps solely a lot in opposition to the Chargers. This must be one other alternative for Herbert to place up massive numbers and an opportunity for the protection to shine in opposition to an offense that fails to generate massive performs.
