The Los Angeles Chargers are getting settled in for a run of home games through Thanksgiving as they prepare to face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Inglewood, Calif.
While the Chargers are playing the first of three consecutive home games that will complete their November commitments, the Titans will be playing their only game this season west of the Central time zone.
Tennessee will mark the occasion with quarterback Will Levis’ return from a three-game absence to start Sunday’s game.
Levis initially sustained a right (throwing) shoulder injury in the Titans’ 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 30. He returned to action on Oct. 13, after a Tennessee bye, and threw for just 95 yards in Tennessee’s 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph has started the past three games for the Titans (2-6).
“Will had a really good week of practice,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said Friday. “He felt really good. It’s the best he’s looked in a couple of weeks, so we’re excited to see him go forward.”
The Chargers (5-3) are 2-1 at home, including a 26-8 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 27 that started their current two-game winning streak.
Last Sunday, the Chargers earned a 27-10 road victory against the Cleveland Browns as quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 250 of his 282 yards in the first half, with two touchdowns. The Los Angeles defense did not allow a TD until the final minute of the game.
That Chargers defense has not allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points this season under new head coach Jim Harbaugh and leads the NFL with 12.6 points allowed per game. The unit is eighth in rushing yards allowed per game (107.9) and total yards allowed (303.8).
Elijah Molden, Alohi Gilman and Tarheeb Still all had interceptions for the Chargers on Sunday, while Tuli Tuipulotu and Morgan Fox each had multiple sacks.
“(The defense) is complicated for the (opposing) offense to understand, but not for us,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said, according to The Orange County Register. “That means there’s always two people around the check-down tackles. There’s always somebody tipping the ball. There’s never anybody one-on-one. There’s a lot of people around the ball.”
The Titans ended a three-game losing skid with a 20-17 overtime victory at home over the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Like the Chargers’ defense, the Tennessee defense is one of the best in the NFL. The Titans will provide a challenge for Herbert with an NFL-best 155.8 passing yards allowed per game and 269.1 yards allowed. Still, Tennessee’s 26.6 average points allowed is better than just five teams.
And that has put pressure on the offense, which is averaging 17.5 points per game, again better than just five teams. The Titans are second to last in the NFL with 170.8 passing yards per game.
Levis passed for just 139.8 yards per game in five starts to open the season, with five TDs and seven interceptions. He had a 1-4 record. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been much improved since Levis went out, with 18 of his 27 receptions over the past three games for 258 yards.
“There was a rapport that Mason and Calvin built that was really positive,” Callahan said. “But more of it was Calvin understanding where he was supposed to be, when he was supposed to be there. Now Will has to do his part to get back on that page.”
Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (quad) did not participate in practice all week and was ruled out for the game. Running back Julius Chestnut (foot) and offensive lineman Dillon Radunz (toe) are questionable.
For the Chargers, they listed cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring) as doubtful and linebackers Joey Bosa (hip), Khalil Mack (groin) and Denzel Perryman (toe), running back Gus Edwards (ankle), offensive tackle Trey Pipkins (ankle) and tight end Stone Smartt (ankle) as questionable.
