Chargers 33 Titans 25: Same Song Different Verse

Well the Titans should have just forfeited that game.  Think about it- We know now that there is obviously no way the Titans can ever win a game in San Diego.  It matters not that they are starting wide receivers #3, 4, and 5, or that Antonio Gates only has one good leg, or that the Titans blocked a punt for a safety on the first possession.  At the end of the day it was the same thing it always is out there, a loss.  Plus, if we would have forfeited the game Vince Young wouldn't have tweaked  his ankle, and Kenny Britt wouldn't have messed up his hamstring.  Win, win, win.

Gramsey has already made fun of my prediction from Friday where I said:

"I know San Diego has been a nightmare for the Titans, but this isn't the same Charger team they faced all of those times.  They are missing their top three receivers (if you count Vincent Jackson) and Antonio Gates is banged up.  LaDainian Tomlinson, who just abused the Titans, is no longer on the roster.  Sure Philip Rivers is still there and playing really well, but he doesn't have the weapons around him that he has in the past.  They have been really good on offense so far, but they also haven't faced a pass rush like the Titans."

If the offense can take care of the ball this could be a pretty easy win.        Titans 27-17

Obviously I had too much faith in the Titans defense, and man do I hate Antonio Gates.  I haven't looked up his numbers against the Titans, but he has to average over 125 yards and 2 TDs in his career against them.

We have been over this a million times, but the Titans have got to get the offensive line fixed.  If you take out the 29- yard TD run that Chris Johnson created himself he went for 10 carries and 28 yards yesterday.  They are not going to win many more games if they can't get him going, especially with Britt out of the line-up for what is being called an "extended period of time."  That probably means at least a month.

The offense was able to make some big plays even with Britt out.  They had pass plays of 71, 36, 28, 26 and 24.  There is no doubt  that this is the most talented and deepest group of receivers that the Titans have ever put on the field.  Nate Washington has done what they signed him to do this year.  Damian Williams looks like a guy that will turn into a really good NFL receiver, and Lavelle Hawkins made plays.  I still can't figure out why they refuse to get him more involved in the offense. 

Jared Cook showed us why they traded up to draft him and why he never gets to play in the span of about 8 minutes.  I have been hesitant to call him Ben Troupe, but his performance yesterday was like a Troupe flashback. 

Something that has gotten a little play this morning is that in the nickel package Alterraun Verner slid inside to play nickel, instead of Vincent Fuller, and Jason McCourty came in and played outside.  This might be a good time to give Fuller a look at Chris Hope's spot.  I know they like what Hope brings from an experience standpoint on the field, but his physical skills have diminished quite a bit. 

This loss is a little tough to stomach because it looked like a good match-up with all of the Chargers injury, but it is by no means a reason to jump off the ledge.  They didn't go out there and get smoked like they have in the past against what is still a talented team even with all of the injuries.  They are 5-3 headed into the bye, and while the wins and losses have come at different places than I thought the would, this is pretty much where I expected them to be.  There are two winnable games coming out of the bye before a stretch of 4 divisional games in a row.  Wins against Miami and Washington and 3 wins in the 4 division games, which isn't an outlandish scenario, would put them at 10-4, and probably a top of the AFC South. 

The bye couldn't come at a better time.  It gives them some time to heal up and evaluate some things.  It might also be a good time to check in with Kevin Mawae, just sayin'...