The Tennessee Titans are fresh off their second victory of 2024 with their 20-17 overtime victory over the New England Patriots. It wasn’t the prettiest of contests, but they overcame adversity and did not wilt in the face of defeat.
This week, the Titans travel west to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10 action. Under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers aren’t flashy, but at 5-3, are poised to earn a playoff spot. For fans of old-school football, this game should be a throwback to the days of old.
For Titans fans, there are some reasons for optimism in Week 10, and here are three of them.
Speed of the game
This game features the two teams that take the most time between plays. The Chargers use an average 31.5 seconds and the Titans have an average of 31.7 seconds between plays. With the run-first ideology of both teams this game should feature a time of possession battle and a fast-moving clock. The Titans may have a slight advantage in the run game this week and could possibly get Tyjae Spears back to help take some of the load off Tony Pollard. Just like last week, ride the running game to victory.
Defense
The new-look Chargers’ offense is more physical and less explosive than in previous seasons and this should give the Titans a slight advantage. The Chargers like to run the ball, but their offense is not very efficient, ranking 20th after nine weeks. The Titans are stout against the run and match up well with the Chargers receivers. With this could be a low-scoring battle, the Titans’ defense might be able to carry them to victory.
Passing game
In Week 9, the Titans’ passing game again flashed some potential and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is developing into a clutch performer. With Will Levis possibly returning, the Titans could use his added mobility in comparison to Mason Rudolph to stress the Chargers defense in a similar fashion to what the Arizona Cardinals did in the Chargers last loss. If Levis or Rudolph could just complement the rushing attack, the Titans could surprise.
