Game Preview
Mike Krueger
Predicted Score: Chargers 24, Titans 20
San Diego: Here's another AFC contest matching two teams that just recently met. The Chargers beat the Titans back in Week fourteen, 23-17 in Tennessee and now face a Titans team that may be missing a cylinder on Sunday. The Chargers, however are hitting on all cylinders, riding a six-game winning streak thanks in large part to LaDainian Tomlinson and a defense that led the league with 30 interceptions while only allowing 17.8 points per game. They did a number on Vince Young last month holding the QB to 121 yds passing and 2 yds rushing. With a 7-1 record at home it would somewhat of a shock to see San Diego let this opportunity slip away as they are clearly the better and healthier team at this point in season.
- Start: RB LaDainian Tomlinson, TE Antonio Gates
- Consider: QB Philip Rivers, WR Chris Chambers
- Sit: WR Vincent Jackson, Chargers D/ST
Tennessee: The Titans beat the Colts last week to make the playoffs although would have forfeited the game if they league would have let them. With nothing to play for, the Colts' backups were in before halftime and surprisingly kept the game close until the final gun. Why? Because Tennessee is just not that good especially when Vince Young is out of the game. Young left last week's game in the third quarter after re-injuring his quadriceps. Kerry Collins replaced him and would start if Young can't go. Head coach Jeff Fisher characterized Young's injury as "day to day" and wouldn't say if Young would play Sunday night. It may not matter… the Titans are banged up in all the wrong spots with their starting quarterback, their best defensive player (Albert Haynesworth) and tight end Bo Scaife all nursing injuries. Scaife will not play this week as the result of a lacerated liver.
- Start: RB LenDale White, WR Roydell Williams
- Consider: QB Vince Young (inj), Titans D/ST
- Sit: TE Bo Scaife, RB Chris Brown, WR Brandon Jones, TE Ben Troupe, WR Eric Moulds