The Los Angeles Chargers are on a roll and let’s hope the good times keep coming against a Tennessee Titans team that hasn’t found its rhythm.
Here are some things the Chargers could do to notch another “W.”
Better Quarterback Protection
There was a “sackapalooza” on Sunday in the Chargers game against the Browns. Quarterback Justin Herbert was sacked six times, a season-high, while Browns quarterback Jameis Winston also suffered six sacks.
The Los Angeles Chargers defense is doing what it’s supposed to do while the Chargers offensive line needs some work. Right tackle Joe Alt, left tackle Rashawn Slater, and left guard Zion Johnson were each responsible for their first multiple sacks of the season, while center Bradley Bozeman was responsible for one.
The Chargers have taken a bit of a step back from the prior week in terms of pass protection, which means the offensive line needs to be padded more this week.
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Fullback/defensive lineman Scott Matlock should be involved more as he played single-digit snaps in pass and run blocking on Sunday.
Tight end Will Dissly has been more involved in the run than the pass and perhaps he can be used equally in both.
Players like Titans outside linebackers Harold Landry III and Arden Key, and defensive linemen Jeffery Simmons each have multiple sacks on the season. Key in particular had a sack on quarterback Jared Goff during the first drive of their game against the Lions in Week 8.
Herbert has been playing so well and can’t afford an injury, especially this late in the season when the games count more than ever.
Don’t Count Out Defensive Lineman Morgan Fox
Fox had a pretty hot 2022 when he first got to the Los Angeles Chargers then fizzled a little last season, and though his stats this year haven’t been amazing, he’s currently on pace to meet the same number of sacks he had last year and could exceed his career-high in 2022 if he keeps stacking good games.
In this last game, he had two sacks on Winston, including on a third-and-10 at the Chargers 13, during the second quarter to force a field goal.
Fox may not always be the flashiest player, but he’s reliable, especially as a pass rusher in a group whose two best players are older (Khalil Mack) and injury-prone (Joey Bosa). He may have another big game against whichever Titans quarterback is under center.
Los Angeles Chargers Need To Create More Turnovers
According to Fox Sports, the Los Angeles Chargers are currently number one in scoring defense allowing an average of 12.6 points and 10 touchdowns. Part of the success is the ability of the Chargers to create turnovers, stopping plays in their tracks.
In the Browns game alone there were three interceptions with four pass breakups.
Linebacker Daiyan Henley almost had an interception when he jumped a route during the first quarter. Cornerback Tarheeb Still notched his first career interception on a pass intended for Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore during the fourth quarter. Still also helped to create a takeaway during the third, where he batted the ball and it flew into the hands of cornerback Elijah Molden, who is having a resurgence in LA, reaching a career-high in interceptions (three) this season. Safety Alohi Gilman also got in on the action with a diving catch for an interception.
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The Titans rank 31st in passing offense with an average of 170.8 passing yards. So if the Los Angeles Chargers can cause more disruption, it should be a low-scoring game on the Tennessee side.
Let Wide Receiver Quentin Johnston Cook
Johnston has been exceeding expectations and had a 66-yard touchdown on Sunday on a shot up the sideline where he ran it into the endzone. Johnston’s yards after catch have been steady this year with more double-digits in this area than not, and he can be counted on to create that separation necessary to make those big plays.
So even if wide receiver D.J. Chark Jr. is able to return this week, Johnston should be in for another good game.
Limit The Explosive Plays
Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has managed a receiving touchdown each game since Week 6, while wide receiver Calvin Ridley just had his first triple-digit receiving yard game in Week 8.
Though Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd wasn’t targeted at all against the Patriots on Sunday, that may change this week, and it’s clear the damage he can do based on his time with Cincinnati.
Titans running back Tony Pollard, as long as he’s healthy, is going to be the leading rusher wherever he goes and is already more than halfway to his rushing yardage of 2023.
Just as the Los Angeles Chargers need to create turnovers and pass breakups, they also need to stop any explosive plays from the likes of this offense.
The game against the Cardinals in Week 7, where Cardinals running back James Conner ran all over them, can happen again if the Chargers aren’t careful, so the run defense needs to be at the level of their last game, where Browns running back Nick Chubb only garnered 39 rushing yards.