The Tennessee Titans are set to host the Los Angeles Chargers in their home opener on Sunday in a crucial game where they will try to avoid an 0-2 start for the second consecutive year.
Tennessee is currently listed as home underdogs after last week’s dismal performance on offense where they failed to score a single touchdown.
Buy Titans TicketsAs for the Chargers, they’re coming off a gut-wrenching loss to the Miami Dolphins in which they scored 34 points in defeat.
The good news is, the Titans’ defense should be able to limit the Chargers’ offense much better than the Dolphins’ did in order to keep this game within reach.
However, if this contest turns into a shoot-out, there’s no telling whether or not Tennessee will be able to keep up with quarterback Justin Herbert and Co.
As you can probably expect, the consensus narrative around the league going into this game is that the Titans should lose this one, and you’ll see that opinion reflected in the majority of expert picks.
USA TODAY
Jarrett Bell: Titans, 24-22
Chris Bumbaca: Chargers, 21-17
Nate Davis: Titans, 23-20
Safid Deen: Chargers, 24-20
Tyler Dragon: Chargers, 28-25
Victoria Hernandez: Chargers, 24-10
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Chargers, 30-21
Lorenzo Reyes: Chargers, 31-23
NFL.com
Ali Bhanpuri: Chargers, 23-21
Brooke Cersosimo: Titans, 24-23
Dan Parr: Chargers, 25-21
Gennaro Filice: Chargers, 24-20
Tom Blair: Chargers, 34-20
CBS Sports
Pete Prisco: Chargers 25, Titans 17 – “The Chargers are coming off a horrible defensive showing, while the Titans are coming off a terrible offensive showing. Something has to give. I think the Chargers defense will play better against a bad offensive line. That will lead to turnovers again for the Titans and short fields, which Justin Herbert will take advantage of with his arm. Chargers take it.”
Will Brinson: Titans
Jared Dubin: Chargers
Ryan Wilson: Chargers
John Breech: Chargers
Tyler Sullivan: Chargers
Dave Richard: Titans
Jamey Eisenberg: Titans
Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report’s Week 2 picks
Gary Davenport: Chargers
Brad Gagnon: Chargers
Ian Hanford: Titans
Kristopher Knox: Chargers
Maurice Moton: Chargers
Wes O’Donnell: Chargers
Brent Sobleski: Chargers
Score prediction: Chargers 27, Titans 21
ESPN
Stephania Bell: Chargers
Matt Bowen: Chargers
Mike Clay: Chargers
Jeremy Fowler: Chargers
Dan Graziano: Chargers
Kimberly A. Martin: Chargers
Eric Moody: Chargers
Jason Reid: Chargers
Lindsey Thiry: Chargers
Sam Wickersham: Titans
MMQB
Albert Breer: Chargers
Mitch Goldich: Chargers
Claire Kuwana: Chargers
Gilberto Manzano: Chargers
Conor Orr: Chargers
John Pluym: Chargers
Matt Verderame: Titans
Pro Football Talk
Pro Football Talk’s Week 2 picks
Chris Simms: Chargers 28, Titans 24
Mike Florio: Chargers 27, Titans 20
Sporting News
Sporting News’ Week 2 picks
Vinnie Iyer: Chargers 27, Titans 20 – “Derrick Henry should rumble to a big rushing game with some help from rookie Tyjae Spears behind him, but eventually, the Titans will run out of having the necessary firepower with struggling Ryan Tannehill. Justin Herbert can pick apart the Titans’ secondary with multiple receivers and Austin Ekeler can also elude a stout interior run defense by getting into the open field.”
Bill Bender: Chargers 22, Titans 19 – “The Titans are trying to avoid a 0-2 start for the second consecutive season under coach Mike Vrabel. The Chargers allowed 536 yards in Week 1, but they allowed just 70 rushing yards. Los Angeles gutted out a 17-14 victory against Tennessee last season. It’s a similar tight game to the finish this time. Los Angeles is 9-9 in road games under Brandon Staley, so this is a coin flip.”
The 33rd Team
Ryan Reynolds: Chargers 27, Titans 20 – “Both teams lost close games in Week 1. The Los Angeles Chargers have two “plus” matchups against the Tennessee Titans: The Chargers’ offensive line can mitigate Tennessee’s strong front, while Justin Herbert can shred the Titans’ beatable secondary. Herbert’s passing attack has an enormous ceiling in this contest. If Los Angeles can play with a lead, its edge duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack has a trench advantage against Tennessee. The Chargers’ run defense has been a liability for the past two seasons for the Titans. That’s a major problem when facing Derrick Henry. Ultimately, the Chargers have the better roster and the better quarterback, but the Titans have the better head coach.”
Overall expert tally
Number of experts picking Chargers: 41
Number of experts picking Titans: 9
