Jim Wyatt
NASHVILLEWith the Chargers in town, sparks flew early for the Tennessee Titans.
A quick defensive touchdown and the first punt return for a touchdown in 13 years electrified the crowd at Nissan Stadium.
But the Titans couldn't sustain the positive vibes in this one because the offense couldn't finish drives, and the defense had trouble slowing down the Chargers.
It all added up to a 27-20 loss, which dropped the team to 1-8 on the season.
The biggest turning point in the game happened in the third quarter, when the Titans were stuffed on a fourth-and-goal from the Chargers one-yard line. The Chargers proceeded to drive the ball 99 yards to take a double-digit lead, and it was too much of a deficit to overcome.
Titans quarterback Cam Ward completed 12-of-21 passes for 145 yards for the Titans.
Defensively, the Titans sacked Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert six times.
The Titans jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a pick-6 from linebacker Cody Barton, who stepped in front of Justin Herbert pass, intercepted it, and raced 24 yards for a touchdown.
The Chargers answered back quickly, however, on a three-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to fullback Scott Matlock to make it 7-7.
The Titans then turned in another big play later in the first quarter, compliments of returner Chimere Dike.
Dike returned a Chargers punt 67 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-7. Dike's punt return for a touchdown was the first for the Titans since Darius Reynaud had two during a December 2012 vs. the Jaguars.
A 27-yard field goal by Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made it 14-10 with 14:06 left in the second quarter.
The Chargers then took their first lead on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to Johnston with 8:37 left in the second quarter.
After the Titans tied it up on a 49-yard field goal from kicker Joey Slye with 5:02 left in the first half, the Chargers took a 20-17 lead into halftime after a 52-yard field goal by Dicker with 20 seconds left in the second quarter.
But here's where the game changed:
Midway through the third quarter, the Titans had a great chance to retake the lead. But running back Tony Pollard was stopped short of the goal line on back-to-back plays from the Chargers one-yard line, and the game remained 20-17 Los Angeles.
On their ensuring possession, the Chargers drove it 99 yards in 9:03, using 15 plays, and capped the drive off with a one-yard touchdown run by Herbert.
It was the biggest swing of the game, and costly sequence for the Titans, who managed to get a 37-yard field goal from Slye to make it 27-20 with 4:19 remaining.
But the Titans couldn't get the ball back.
The Titans have a bye next weekend before returning to action on November 16 at Nissan Stadium against the Houston Texans.
