The Tennessee Titans (7-6) are looking to get back on track after dropping three in a row. They still lead the AFC South, but things are getting tight after losses to Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Jacksonville. Those last two losses came by a combined 39 points as teams seem to have figured out how to stop Derrick Henry and how to shred the Titans’ defense. Next up is a trip west to face the Chargers (7-6) who beat Miami in their last game, 23-17, despite entering as three-point underdogs. The Chargers finally have both Mike Wiliams and Keenan Allen healthy, and their offense is cooking as a result. Check out our NFL betting preview of this AFC showdown.
NFL Preview: Tennessee Titans at L.A. Chargers (Sunday, December 18)
When: Sunday, December 18, 2022, 4:25 pm ET
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
TV: CBS
Radio: WXYT 97.1 FM Detroit / ESPN 98.7 FM New York City
Live Stream: Sling TV
NFL Odds: Los Angeles -3 / O/U 46.5 // Tennessee +135 / Los Angeles -160
Why should you bet on the Titans?
The Titans’ offense has been bare-bones all year long, averaging just 18.5 points per game. They only gain 296.9 yards per game, and while Ryan Tannehill has a 66% pass completion rate, he doesn’t throw the ball down the field much. He did throw for a pair of touchdowns against Jacksonville, but he also had an interception. Derrick Henry ran the ball 17 times for 121 yards and a touchdown, and that is about as well as the offense has done.
The problems are coming on defense. The loss to the Bengals was just 20-16, but they have given up 71 points the last two games, driving up their average of points permitted to 21.2 points per game. The Chargers have a potent pass rush, and Tannehill is less mobile than usual with a couple of sprained ankles. If you like the Titans, you see Derrick Henry taking over the game and the Titans controlling the rhythm, but that formula hasn’t worked in a month.
Why should you put your money on the Chargers?
The Chargers recovered from that surprising loss to the Raiders two weeks ago with a solid win over Miami. Justin Herbert threw for 367 yards and a score, completing 76% of his passes, against the Dolphins. Mike Wiliams had a breakout game, catching six balls for 116 yards and that score, and Austin Ekeler carried the ball 15 times for 45 yards and a score.
On defense, the Chargers have given up 25.1 points per game, but they put the hammer down on Miami, only permitting 17 points, and one of the Dolphins’ touchdowns came on a freak play where Tyreek Hill picked up a loose fumble and tore toward the end zone. If the Chargers can keep the clamps on the Titans, then they should win this as well, which would propel them even closer to a wild card out of the AFC. If you like the Chargers, you see the combination of a pass rush, a confident Herbert with both of his All-Pro wide receivers, and a running game that does just enough creating a win.
Final Score and Prediction
I’m not sure that Titans coach Mike Vrabel has enough magic in that bag to fix the problems on the field. The defense has a lot of injuries, and the offense just doesn’t have that speed threat at wide receiver after the departure of A.J. Brown in the offseason. Without that element, teams can load the box and dare Tannehill to beat them – and it’s working. I predict a final score of Los Angeles 34, Tennessee 23.
NFL Betting Odds
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