San Diego Chargers @ Tennessee Titans : 5 Keys to Victory

by Aditya T (smashville) on Dec 24, 2009 12:40 PM CST in Tennessee Titans Previews

That's why he's called Boom King. (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)

Run the ball. Yeah, no surprises here. The Chargers are allowing a 9th worst 117 rushing yards per game, and Chris Johnson heeds a good game to stay on pace for Marshall Faulk's record and 2000 rushing yards, and a huge game to get back on pace for Eric Dickerson's rushing record. DE Luis Castillo already says that "he's going to have a big one".
Cover the receivers. The Titans have allowed six 300 yard passers this season, and Philip Rivers could definitely be another one to reach that mark. Rivers has a 25-9 touchdown-interception ratio, and two 1000 yard receivers to throw to. With Rod Hood possibly playing in place of Nick Harper, we already have a higher shot of covering Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson to wipe the smirk off Philip Rivers's face.
Be physical. The Chargers don't like the Titans. The Titans don't like the Chargers. This will be even harder without Keith Bulluck. We need to bring out our 110% for a full 60 minutes, because we saw last week that if we let up, the other team can come right back into the game. The crowd will at LP Field will be very loud, and Vince Young is 5-0 at home this year. Even though they won't admit it, expect that the Titans want revenge for their two recent losses to the Chargers.
Limit the mistakes and force mistakes by San Diego. We can't allow the big passing plays that the Chargers like to create. The Chargers have had 24 30+ yard plays through the air this season, the third most in the NFL. They also have just 15 giveaways this year, second least total in the league, but the Titans have 25 takeaways, the eleventh most in the NFL, including 8 interceptions in the past two games. With two good teams playing, momentum will be a big part in deciding this one.
Score touchdowns, not field goals. The Chargers score an average of 27.8 points per game, fifth best in the NFL. When we get into the redzone, we need to score seven points everytime, because we know the Chargers are going to come right back. Vince Young had 3 touchdowns on Sunday of over 20 yards, a career high. The Titans need to be able to come right back when the Chargers have a quick score.

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#5 will be the biggest key factor in the game.

As a Chargers fan, I’m pretty much resigned to the fact we won’t be able to stop Chris Johnson from racking up big yardage.

The strategy from the defensive standpoint will be “bend but don’t break”. Before the 20 the objective will be to stop the big play (which is probably the specialty of the defense) and be opportunistic on turnovers. In the Red Zone, make the Titans kick FGs.

So far, it’s worked pretty well, the best example being the Philly game. If you want to beat the Chargers you’ll have to score TDs in the Red Zone, because you can’t rely on making a big play (though Chris Johnson may have the best shot of anyone) or stopping the SD passing attack.

by gman87 on Dec 24, 2009 12:57 PM CST reply actions

Miami Dolphins fan here

I am an ever growing fan of that RB the Titans have, you know him, he is really fast, and has a chance to break some record that’s pretty hard to do (not the fat one lol)…hahaha…well anyway, I’m sure there have been talks among Titans fans about him breaking the record and i am sure u guys want him too…but has there been any word from Fisher if he will give CJ the same or even more chances to break that record, or will he stick with what they have been doing all year and if he breaks it, great, if not, still fine…Personally, i want him to break the record, he is a tremendous talent, ridiculously fast, and a great guy from what i have heard…oh and I think he has a real shot break the single game, which will most likely also give him the season record, against Seattle…

-"No excuses, No explanations"
-Matty's assistant
- LN21 and MHTD - Going Commando
- Founder of the Draft Brandon Spikes Bandwagon

by MiamihastheDolphins.... on Dec 24, 2009 1:12 PM CST reply actions

Fisher's stance is...

That winning is of prime importance and records are secondary. If CJ needs 50 yards to get the record, but he’s been getting stuffed all day and the passing game (or, by some miracle Lendale) is working, they’re not going to keep feeding CJ just to get him the record.

by Antoniemey on Dec 24, 2009 4:13 PM CST up reply actions

yea that's how it usually is

thanks

-"No excuses, No explanations"
-Matty's assistant
- LN21 and MHTD - Going Commando
- Founder of the Draft Brandon Spikes Bandwagon

by MiamihastheDolphins.... on Dec 24, 2009 6:05 PM CST up reply actions

Is Merriman injured, or is he just resting up for the game?

RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Hard-on for Hardesty!

by Pride of the Southland on Dec 24, 2009 1:39 PM CST reply actions

He might be playing gimpy.

He came out of the game after like 10 plays a few weeks ago (against Cleveland, I think) and was being spelled regularly against Cincinnati. He’ll play, but if I had to hazard a guess I would say he’ll play at about 85-90%.

Banned from Arrowhead Pride... and Music City Miracles certainly don't like me very much, either.

"Ah act the way ah feel." --Elvis Presley

by StrangeBroP25 on Dec 24, 2009 8:04 PM CST up reply actions

Cover the receivers?!?!?

Cover the receivers?!?!?
That’s just crazy talk!
I don’t know why we’d want to make such a radical change in our defensive strategy so late in the season. Fisher has made it clear that our strategy is to tackle them after they catch the ball which us why Harper is being coached to hang back 10 or 15 yards to set them up for a stellar running tackle after the catch.
Get with the program!
(I apologize for this post in advance. I just got all worked up into a cynical/sarcastic peak over the whole Harper situation.)

by JimR on Dec 24, 2009 3:46 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I said last week that I thought the Titans matched up well with the Dolphins.

That was true. Run-stopping vs. run-first offense. The problem here is the opposite. The Chargers have a pass-first team and a truly top-flight QB, and the Titans have been victimized by decent-to-good passers all season. Unfortunately, I do not see that stopping here.

I’m not gonna lie: I like the Chargers, and I always have. I own a #14 Dan Fouts jersey, and I wear it regularly. But DETEST Philip Rivers—enough that I have trouble rooting for the current incarnation of the Bolts—even though it’s pretty obvious that he’s the best young QB in the League.

I have a feeling that if the Titans can win this game, as in 2006, they’ll be able to advance to the Playoffs against all odds. Unfortunately, this is exactly the wrong kind of team at exactly the wrong time of the year. And without Bulluck…? We saw Miami score something like 18 unanswered points last week when he went out. Urgh.

I want Tennessee to win, but I just can’t bring myself to believe that they can.

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Dec 24, 2009 5:11 PM CST reply actions

I think we CAN win

I mean, I think it’s possible. But, I also think the odds are now against us for exactly the reasons you said. The offense is going to need to score a TD on almost every possession.

by JimR on Dec 24, 2009 5:14 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Fair enough.

Eh… Bah humbug!

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Dec 25, 2009 6:02 AM CST up reply actions

Scary but not scared

We are at home.It’s cold,wet,and windy.

we start a real corner.CJ has a great game.VY continues to play well.Fisher gets his head out of his ass.Cecil blitzes some.We do some play action.The crowd is loud.Washington catches.The DL smacks Rivers around like a pinata.

by BadV6Blazer on Dec 25, 2009 10:22 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

When we started this winning streak,

I remember thinking we’d lose one. Either Indy or San Diego. I hope I was right.

This one's for you, #9.

by Drubaru on Dec 24, 2009 5:30 PM CST reply actions

I just dont want to see fisher repeat what he did with the Colts

in field goal range with your offense having no momentum on a 4th down

Que Where?!?!

by SouthTexasTitan on Dec 24, 2009 6:18 PM CST reply actions

chargers fan, what AFC team(s) scare you the most?

"hey, quit reading these ridiculous words of wisdom and get back to work!"

by stetix01 on Dec 24, 2009 11:11 PM CST reply actions

hmmmmm sorry, my reply

to that is a little bit lower. for some reason it didnt work when i clicked reply

by $#%@ eli and his daddy on Dec 25, 2009 3:59 PM CST up reply actions

Wow

Itouches r da Bomb

"It's making my head spin from all the activities we can do!"

by jaketitan427 on Dec 25, 2009 10:32 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Yay!

Snowin like a mofo in Clarksville.

by BadV6Blazer on Dec 25, 2009 12:25 PM CST via mobile reply actions

SNOW!

by BadV6Blazer on Dec 25, 2009 12:55 PM CST reply actions

I did not realize this:

Theresa Walker (AP) noted that in the last eight games…

Only New Orleans has averaged more yards on offense (413.9 to 398) or points (30.6 to 29.5) than Tennessee.

Cool. We can hang.

This one's for you, #9.

by Drubaru on Dec 25, 2009 1:51 PM CST reply actions

as a charger fan, i honestly think

you, and the ravens are the 2 scariest teams in the AFC. that being said, you not having bullock to cover gates is going to be HUGE!
good luck to the titans, and may the best team win, and hopefully we both come away with no injuries

by $#%@ eli and his daddy on Dec 25, 2009 3:58 PM CST reply actions

Id really love to see the rest of this strange twist play out in our favor of course.

i’d really love to see a well played game with few penalties. I’m just hoping playing so many playoff games in row (for us that is0 doesnt take its toll tonight. all the best and merry christmas to you all.

"hey, quit reading these ridiculous words of wisdom and get back to work!"

by stetix01 on Dec 25, 2009 4:32 PM CST up reply actions