The San Diego Chargers beat the Tennessee Titans, 43-35. The Chargers made it 6-0, scoring on their opening possession, with a 13-yard touchdown from Philip Rivers to Antonio Gates; however, the extra point was missed. The Chargers tacked on three more to their lead in the first quarter after Josh Lambo made a 32-yard field goal. The Chargers made it 17-0 seconds into the second quarter after Melvin Gordon's 43-yard run set up a six-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Tyrell Williams. The Titans got on the board one play after a key fourth down conversion. Marcus Mariota and Rishard Matthews connected for a 16-yard touchdown to make it 16-7, San Diego. Casey Hayward made a huge defensive play, picking off Mariota with just over two minutes left in the first half and the pick turned into points for the Bolts six plays later after a field goal made it 19-7, Chargers. The Titans didn't end the half without more points, though. They went 75 yards in 1:18 to bring the score to 19-14 still in favor of the home team.
The Titans kept their momentum rolling, scoring on their opening possession of the second half. Their nine-play, 75-yard drive was capped off by a 14-yard rushing touchdown from Mariota to make it 21-19, Tennessee. The Chargers didn't waste any time regaining the lead though. The team drove down the field and a one-yard touchdown by Gordon made it 26-21. The Bolts quickly added seven more to their lead after Korey Toomer stripped Mariota on a designed run. Dwight Lowery picked up the fumble and ran it back 35 yards into the end zone to bring the score to 33-21, Chargers. After forcing the Chargers to punt, the Titans scored on their ensuing possession to make it a one-score game. The Bolts strengthened their lead by three after Lambo kicked a field goal with just over six minutes left in the game. They then scored their second defensive touchdown of the day after Brandon Flowers cut in front of the Titans receiver for the pick and ran it back 34 yards into the end zone. The Titans continued to fight as Mariota took the team downfield and DeMarco Murray ran the ball in the end zone to bring the score to 43-35, Chargers. Once the Chargers got the ball back, they never let it go. On 3rd-and-1, Gordon picked up two yards to move the chains and end the game with a victory for the Chargers.
IMPACT PLAYS
FIRST QUARTER
13:42 – On 3rd-and-4, Antonio Gates took a short pass from Philip Rivers to gain 17.
11:49 – Dontrelle Inman took a pass up the right sideline for a gain of 24.
10:07 – Rivers and Gates connected for their 108th touchdown for the first points of the day. A missed extra point made it 6-0, Chargers.
4:15 – Josh Lambo made a 32-yard field goal to add three to his team's lead.
2:54 – Corey Liuget stuffed DeMarco Murray in the backfield for a loss of two on third down.
SECOND QUARTER
15:00 – On the first play of the quarter, Melvin Gordon took a handoff and rushed up the left sideline for 43 yards.
14:22 – On the next play, Rivers made it look easy tossing a six-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Williams.
14:18 – Delanie Walker took in a Marcus Mariota pass good for 20.
11:21 – One play after getting enough yardage on fourth down, Mariota tossed a pass to Rishard Matthews, who took the ball into the end zone for the touchdown.
7:26 – On third down, Rivers was sacked by Wesley Woodyard to bring up a San Diego punt.
2:35 – Casey Hayward picked off Mariota's pass and returned it 25 yards to the Titans' 15.
1:35 – Lambo made a 23-yard field goal.
:24 – On 3rd-and-1, Tajae Sharpe gained 29 yards off a Mariota pass to make it 1st-and-goal, Titans.
:19 – Matthews caught his second touchdown pass of the day to make it a five-point game.
THIRD QUARTER
12:57 – Harry Douglas ran out of bounds at the San Diego 14 after a 21-yard gain on first down.
12:19 – Mariota rushed right and dove into the end zone for the touchdown, and his team's first lead of the day.
7:39 – Rivers found Gates who muscled his way to the Titans' one.
5:35 – After a defensive holding penalty on third down negated a sack and gave the Bolts a new set of downs, Gordon took the ball up the middle and in the end zone for the score.
3:53 – Murray rushed off right end for a gain of 13.
2:44 – On a designed keeper, Mariota rushed right but was stripped by Korey Toomer. After the ball rolled around, Dwight Lowery picked the fumble up and ran it into the end zone.
FOURTH QUARTER
12:00 – On 3rd-and-1, Mariota tossed a pass to Kendall Wright, who took it upfield for a gain of 48.
9:55 – After gaining 10 when they only needed five on third down, Mariota found Walker in the end zone for the touchdown.
9:51 – Gordon rushed off right end for a gain of 15. Two plays later, he caught a pass from Rivers and followed his blockers for a gain of 35.
6:08 – Lambo's 36-yard field goal made it 36-28, Chargers.
5:01 – Needing six on third down, Mariota tossed a pass intended for Wright, however Brandon Flowers cut in front of the receiver to pick off the ball and took the pick to the house.
4:32 – Douglas took the Mariota pass upfield for a gain of 27.
2:53 – Murray took the ball into the end zone to make it 43-35.
2:37 – On 3rd-and-7, Gordon took the handoff and powered through defenders for 47 yards.
2:00 – Gordon gained two yards on 3rd-and-1 to put the game away for the Bolts.
