“I feel fine”, the San Diego Chargers running back said, “although I might feel it tomorrow”.
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The Tennessee Titans haven’t played a playoff game since January 10, 2009. Defensively, the Chargers are yielding 26.5 points and 361.1 total yards (275.1 in passing and 86.0 in rushing) per game against the opposing teams.
Coach Mike Mularkey tweeted that “Mariota has to learn to tuck the ball away”. “We’re going to give him the ball and let him roll”.
WHISENHUNT EFFECT: The Titans fired Ken Whisenhunt a year ago after a 1-6 start to his second season.
Running back DeMarco Murray has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in four of the team’s last six games, and he’s second in the National Football League in rushing at the season’s halfway mark. Over the past four games, Mariota is 77 of 112 for 949 yards with 10 TDs and only one interception. Rivers was sacked once and the Chargers had only five negative plays total, not including kneel downs.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota has been especially hot as of late.
Gordon’s yardage was the 15th most in franchise history. He finished with 196 yards on 32 carries.
Mariota, who threw for three touchdowns, was 27 of 43 for 313 yards.
Two possessions later, on first down at Tennessee’s 21, Mariota threw a pass deep along the right sideline but didn’t see cornerback Casey Hayward waiting to jump the route. The second half schedule doesn’t do Tennessee any favors either with games against Green Bay, Denver, Kansas City and Houston still on tap.
The Heisman Trophy victor from Alabama has provided a formidable changeup to DeMarco Murray, who entered the game second in the league in rushing and yards from scrimmage. The Chiefs often pull multiple offensive linemen or tight ends on one play or run misdirection to get the defense off balance.
“The last run was just straight will”, Chargers safety Dwight Lowery said.
“I’d like to make another change”, Mularkey said when asked about the losing streak. “I should have moved on with my read”. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen to a fan favorite in Joe Barksdale. San Diego WR Jeremy Butler hurt an ankle in the first quarter.
The Titans ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 5 yards per carry during a 36-22 thumping of the Jaguars, but Jones and the interior rushing defense held their own.
The Chargers do one thing really well: score points.
The Titans drafted Henry in the second round this past spring. It is a major reason the Titans are just 4-4 and the Chargers sit at 3-5. “We’ve just got to play better as a group”.
The Bolts stormed out early to a 16-0 lead that was quickly erased by the Titans. Melvin Gordon ran 43 yards to the 6, and then Philip Rivers passed 6 yards to Tyrell Williams for a TD. The Chargers lead the series, 25-14-1. They surely want to forget the previous seven matchups as the “Titans”, all won by the Chargers. The Chargers came back with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, but the two biggest plays were defensive holding penalties against Tennessee.
Gordon was in his personal zone for most the game. The Chargers were simply beaten by a better team last week.
“Every year’s different”, McCoy said Wednesday. “Obviously, to come in and make an impact means a lot”, Bosa told the Chargers’ website.
Having a back like Gordon is meaningful as well. If you’re like me then you’re always on the go.
Jatavis Brown is out, and Denzel Perryman is listed as doubtful. LB Deon King and WR Isaiah Burse were elevated from the Chargers’ practice squad.
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Mariota and the Titans have seemingly taken the next step forward. Tennessee OLB Brian Orakpo left with a neck injury but returned.
