In desperate need of a home win after a bewildering 2-5 start, the San Diego Chargers made several mistakes, but found a way to hang on to a 33-25 victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans.
NFL Week 8 Scores And Results: Chargers Get Critical Win Over Titans, 33-25
Despite one interception, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had an MVP-type performance in this game. Playing with a severely depleted offensive arsenal, Rivers completed 27 of 36 passes for 305 yards, with two second-half touchdown passes - one to Antonio Gates (5-123-1), the other to Darren Sproles - providing the decisive points in San Diego’s third victory of the season.
San Diego, however, left the door open for a late Titans rally despite strong second-half play. Tennessee opened up a 19-7 lead in the first half, but 20 consecutive Chargers points put the Titans behind the eight ball. Then a blown coverage allowed Nate Washington to score on a 71-yard pass from Vince Young, though a missed two-point conversion preserved a 27-25 Chargers lead. Then a muffed extra point snap kept the Titans within one score after the Sproles touchdown, furthering San Diego’s well-documented special teams woes. (A blocked punt also resulted in a Titans safety early in the first quarter.)
Young was knocked out of the game late in the fourth quarter, and backup Kerry Collins - despite a key fourth-down conversion that kept them alive - could not finish off a last-gasp drive that took the Titans down to San Diego’s 15-yard line. The loss drops Tennessee to 5-3, while the Chargers have new life in improving to 3-5.
For more on this game, visit Bolts From The Blue and Music City Miracles.
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