NASHVILLE — The Chargers gained the battle however misplaced the warrior.
They held off the Tennessee Titans 27-20, however noticed their excellent left deal with Joe Alt go down with the identical injured ankle that sidelined him earlier this season.
It was a troubling and ominous blow Sunday to a franchise that’s in a relentless state of reshuffling its offensive line and unable to sufficiently defend quarterback Justin Herbert. Earlier than shedding Alt, the Chargers misplaced proper deal with Bobby Hart to what they referred to as a groin harm (however seemed to be a harm leg).
On a cool and overcast day, the Chargers had sufficient to get previous the one-win Titans — the Chargers (6-3) had been favored by 9½ factors — however will face far stiffer competitors within the second half of the season. The Titans haven’t gained at dwelling since final Nov. 4.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh helps offensive deal with Bobby Hart off the sphere within the first half.
(John Amis / Related Press)
Herbert, who ran for 62 yards within the Week 8 win over Minnesota, once more offered the majority of the Chargers’ operating sport. He led all rushers with 57 yards in 9 carries, together with a one-yard landing.
The Titans fired coach Brian Callahan final month after the workforce received off to a 1-5 begin, putting in interim coach Mike McCoy, who was head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 2013 to 2016.
The Chargers absorbed an enormous blow within the second quarter when Alt went down with an ankle harm, the identical ankle that precipitated him to overlook three video games earlier this season. Alt, the perfect participant on the offensive line, had returned for the Week 8 sport towards Minnesota and his presence was noticeable in each run blocking and safety of Herbert’s blind aspect.
Chargers large receiver Quentin Johnston catches a landing move subsequent to Tennessee Titans cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis throughout the first half Sunday.
(John Amis / Related Press)
However Sunday, he was felled by 285-pound Titans edge rusher Jihad Ward, who was blocked into the again of Alt’s legs. Alt sat on the turf for a couple of minutes, surrounded by Chargers medical employees, earlier than a cart rolled onto the sphere to take him off.
It was the most recent setback for an offensive line besieged by them this season, and a sign that Herbert will stay essentially the most hit and harassed quarterback within the league this season.
Regardless that the Titans had been with out defensive deal with Jeffrey Simmons, their finest participant, Herbert was nonetheless underneath near-constant stress.
Herbert threw a pair of landing passes within the first half, though his first throw was abysmal. It was straight into the arms of Tennessee linebacker Cody Barton, who turned the guests’ second play from scrimmage right into a 24-yard pick-six.
As he does nearly each week, Herbert picked up some large features together with his ft. He had a 39-yard scramble within the second quarter, and rolled out within the fourth and scored his first dashing landing of the season, sliding in from a yard out. That capped a 15-play, nine-minute, 99-yard drive in response to a goal-line stand.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is sacked by Tennessee Titans linebacker Jihad Ward throughout the second half Sunday.
(George Walker IV / Related Press)
The Titans (1-8), who’ve had troubles transferring the ball within the crimson zone, scored their second landing of the half on a 67-yard punt return by rookie Chimere Dike, who leads the NFL in all-purpose yards.
These points within the crimson zone had been on show within the third quarter, when the Titans had 4 performs inside the ten and couldn’t rating, together with third and fourth downs from the one.
Anchoring the center of the Chargers’ protection was Daiyan Henley, enjoying two days after his older brother was shot and killed. After a sack within the first half, the third-year linebacker dropped to his knees and turned his palms to the sky and held out his palms in prayer.
Edge rusher Odafe Oweh had a pair of sacks, bringing his complete to 4 in 4 video games since being traded to the Chargers by Baltimore final month.
