The Chargers lead the Titans, 20-17, at halftime.
Here are a few things to take away from the first half.
Offensive line injury luck
The Chargers seem unable to keep an offensive lineman, other than Zion Johnson or Bradley Bozeman, healthy for more than a few weeks. Right tackle Bobby Hart, starting over a nominally healthy Trey Pipkins III, left the game in the first quarter after being rolled up on near the Chargers’ own end zone. Left tackle Joe Alt got rolled up on in the second quarter and had to be carted off the field. Jamaree Salyer, another nominally healthy player who did not start at his normal right guard spot, came in to replace him at left tackle. It’s been a brutal season for the Chargers up front, with backups now playing at left tackle, right guard, and right tackle.
Running struggles
Perhaps it’s not surprising, given the injuries up front, that the Chargers have struggled to run the ball, but the Titans entered Sunday as the 27th-best rushing defense by EPA per rush. Nevertheless, they’ve held Kimani Vidal to 8 carries for 17 yards and Jaret Patterson to 2 rushes for 7 yards. Los Angeles has primarily tried to run the ball up the middle to make use of their healthy starters at left guard and center against a Titans front missing Jeffery Simmons, but they’ve found more success this season when running to the perimeter. Defensively, the Chargers have allowed a struggling Titans unit to post 57 yards on just 8 carries.
Losing on the margins
Tennessee’s offense has only scored 3 of their 17 points in this game. The Titans returned a Justin Herbert interception for a touchdown to open the scoring and have also gotten a punt return touchdown from rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike to stay within striking distance against the Chargers. LA’s defense has dropped at least one interception from Cameron Ward and nearly had another at the end of the second quarter, but they’ve been unable to generate a turnover. Tennessee has also fumbled twice but recovered both of them, the first and second time this season that the Titans have recovered their own fumbles.
Defensive performance
Overall, the Chargers have held on defense very well despite the score. Ward is only 4-for-11 passing and has been sacked twice, including a strip sack to end the half by Tuli Tuipulotu. Outside of two completions for a combined 47 yards, Ward has 6 passing yards. Tennessee has struggled with offensive penalties as well, which has led to the Titans punting the ball 4 times.
Stepping up
This is not a game where the Chargers can play down to the level of their opponent. Tennessee is 1-7 and has already fired their head coach, is missing their best player (Simmons) and three other starters due to injury, and has arguably the worst roster in the league even when healthy. To be taken seriously as a contender in the AFC, the Chargers have to win games like this handily. They’ll need to step up in the second half to erase any doubt and prove they belong in that tier.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers vs. Titans: First-half takeaways from Week 9 game
Reporting by Alex Katson, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
