Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans WEST COAST UPSET of Los Angeles Chargers, Stopping the Run & Will Levis to Return?

Episode Date: November 6, 2024

The Tennessee Titans head to the west coast in Week 10 to take on the Los Angeles Chargers and the question is whether the Titans can pull off a big upset across the country. The Chargers are a physic...al team that runs the ball well and that plays into what the Titans do well on defense, but what is going on with the Chargers passing game? Finally, will Will Levis finally return this week after missing the last three games with a shoulder injury? Does his return give the Titans less of a chance to win? It's CROSSOVER THURSDAY!!!Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitansTicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=ascFollow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videosSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Pre-Alcohol by ZbioticsGo to zbiotics.com/LOCKEDONNFL to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use LOCKEDONNFL at checkout.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.RobinhoodRobinhood Gold provides the privileges of a high net worth for any net worth. These generous benefits are now available for only $5/month. The new gold standard is here with Robinhood Gold. Sign up at ROBINHOOD.com/GOLDLinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.Hillsdale CollegeAll of Hillsdale’s courses are self-paced so that you can start whenever, and tune in wherever. Plus, you can go deeper with readings, quizzes, discussions - or just enjoy the lectures. Go right now to hillsdale.edu/lockedon to enroll. There’s no cost, and it’s easy to get started.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelYou can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place a FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.Arena ClubRight now, you can get 10% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to Arenaclub.com/lockedonnflHimsVisit Hims.com/LOCKEDON to start your free online visit. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Can the Tennessee Titans get a West Coast upset, or will the Los Angeles Chargers continue their playoff push? All that and more on a Crossover Thursday edition of Locked On Podcast Network. You are Locked On NFL Crossover, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. Welcome in to another Crossover Thursday. Locked On Titans, Locked On Chargers. I am the host of Locked On Titans, Tyler Rowland, here with one of the hosts of Locked On Chargers, Dave Draganmeyer.
Starting point is 00:00:41 We are going to be breaking down this matchup for you guys, talking the biggest stories on both sides of the ball. Going to be talking about the keys to victory for both these teams. Before we dive in, do want to let you know that Crossover Thursday is brought to you by PrizePix. Download the PrizePix app. Use the code LOCKEDONNFL to win $50 instantly when you play. $5.
Starting point is 00:01:04 We're going to dive in here as we always do on the away side of things for my Tennessee Titans who are sitting at 2-6 on the year coming off their second victory of the year. Vibes are high, but going across the country, Dave, you may be surprised to hear this, but the Tennessee Titans have never beaten the Chargers on the road in the history of the Tennessee Titans have never beaten the Chargers on the road in the history of the Tennessee Titans. Like they have never won over there on the West coast of the
Starting point is 00:01:31 country against the Chargers. So if they do it this week, it'll be, uh, it'll be quite a surprise to everyone considering this year's team. And even some of the best teams in Titans history, haven't been able to pull this off, but you know, we talk about the big stories and all that. For me, it's clearly, is Will Levis going to be back out on the field? You know, he's missed the last three games, missed four out of the last five. Well, yeah, I guess, you know, he only played a couple of drives in the Miami game.
Starting point is 00:01:59 We'll call that. That hardly counts. Yeah. Right, right, right, right. So we've seen a ton of Mason Rudolph lately, other than that Indianapolis Colts game, right, right, right. So we've seen a ton of Mason Rudolph lately other than that Indianapolis Colts game, which looking back,
Starting point is 00:02:07 you know, Will Levis probably should not have played in that game because that has set him back and now he's missed, you know, a couple of games after.
Starting point is 00:02:15 There's no doubt about it. The Titans offense has played better with Mason Rudolph at quarterback, but the Titans offense as a whole has just played better
Starting point is 00:02:22 and you kind of expected that with the new system and young players and new faces. So Will Levis should, in theory, be back out on the field for the Titans based on AC joint timelines, but he was limited in practice on Wednesday. And, you know, like I was telling you
Starting point is 00:02:39 before we actually hit the record button, you got to wonder if this is one of those things where Brian Callahan's like, I want to win some games and see how the offense does. Yeah, well, let's let's wait one more week and and going on the road on the airplane. You know, some people worry about how that affects injuries. I don't know if that would matter. I'm not a doctor, as I always say. You know, you do wonder if maybe this is another week
Starting point is 00:03:05 where Brian Callahan says, eh, let's just go with Mason Rudolph again, give Will Levis one more week to heal, and then next week we come back home for another home game and we'll play him there. I mean, from your perspective, who would you rather see at quarterback from a Chargers view of things?
Starting point is 00:03:21 Yeah, to be quite honest with you, and I mean no disrespect to Mason Rudolph or will Levis. I'm really not too intimidated to go up against either one of those quarterbacks there. Just with the way that the chargers defense has been playing, like they they've been absolutely lights out. I mean, they are the number one scoring defense in the entire NFL giving up less
Starting point is 00:03:41 than 13 points per game. And they, you know, they've really, really done a great job limiting whoever has points per game. And they, you know, they've really, really done a great job limiting whoever's been out there. And yeah, I mean, you look at who the Chargers have played and I think, you know, you can say, well, they've only played the Chiefs and the Steelers and they lost both those games, but they didn't give up any more than 20 points in either of those two contests. They haven't given up more than 20 points all season long so uh and one one thing
Starting point is 00:04:06 they have done is they've played a lot of you know not you know say top flight quarterbacks right i mean if i'm if i'm going to be respectful in that form um and they've really kind of made them look bad i mean they they controlled jamis winston uh to the point to where they didn't score a touchdown until one minute left in the game and and at that time, the Chargers took the starters out. They had their backups on the field, and that was a fantastic play, too. I mean, you've got to give credit to Cedric Tillman for making that catch, but the Chargers were plastering the Browns receivers all game long, and Jameis Winston just didn't have anywhere to throw the ball.
Starting point is 00:04:42 And so when I look at these two quarterbacks, I say probably Will Levis is probably a little more athletic maybe I mean that's probably something an aspect of his game that you have to pay attention to and respect so I guess if you force me to give you an answer I probably would rather go against Mason Rudolph than Will Levis but neither one particularly moves the needle too much yeah I think that's fair to say one thing is, you know, the Chargers play a lot of too high shells. They're one of the highest in the league. And having that accuracy and that timing underneath might be what the Titans have to execute very well because there's not going to be opportunities down the field. Now, I'm always curious because, you know, teams play the way that they play.
Starting point is 00:05:21 But then when they play the Titans, they play the way that beats the Titans. So they play a little bit different. So I am curious the Titans, they play the way that beats the Titans. So they play a little bit different. So I am curious to see schematically what the Chargers want to do. But you mentioned the Chargers being a great defense, and we'll talk more about that Chargers defense, obviously, here in a moment. I want to point out how the Chargers are number one in scoring defense, but you look at the Titans,
Starting point is 00:05:41 they're like number one in all the yardage stuff. Like the Titans have a ton of yards and Jeffrey Simmons has really come alive here in the last few weeks. He's a monster. Yeah, he always has been. A little bit of a slow start to the season if I'm honest, but the last two games he had seven pressures and then
Starting point is 00:05:57 eight pressures and he's starting to work. And I know that the interior offensive line of the Chargers may not be the greatest, although they have some excellent offensive tackles. The interior is maybe an area. So if I'm looking at the Titans, I think the big story is can Jeffrey Simmons
Starting point is 00:06:13 continue to play the way that his contract says he should play and continue on the role that he's on right now? Because if he does that and you can pressure Justin Herbert from the interior, you might be able to create some turnover situations. Although Justin Herbert is obviously a fantastic quarterback that limits those sort of things. And then, of course, the run game from the Chargers, incredibly multiple. They're going to, you know, run a lot of power.
Starting point is 00:06:36 They're going to run a lot of gap stuff. They're going to have tight ends and try to beat you up. So the Titans typically view themselves as the more physical football team and they're going up against another team that wants to be as physical as possible. So I think that is really something where I'm interested to see, you know, really to clap a clash or two teams that want to have a similar mindset. Right. What is this car crash going to look like? How exhilarating is this thing going to be like, you know, how difficult is is it going to be to to get yards and be able to score points because you're absolutely right i mean i don't think all the
Starting point is 00:07:10 numbers when you look at the tennessee titans and the points that they've given up is truly indicative of the defense special teams yeah special teams yeah and that's we're going to talk about the special teams believe me yeah that's that's an obvious achilles heel that you know has to be exploited when going up against the titans but their defense is great i mean they they really they they really are and that's something that the chargers have to respect but you're right the chargers are going to try to run the ball um and the interior pressure definitely scares me i'm not going to lie to you joe alt and rashaun slater at the tackle positions have been fantastic. They've been great all year, but the interior has been a huge issue.
Starting point is 00:07:47 It's week, what, 11? We're sitting here, and they still have not been able to figure out how to communicate better to handle those twists and stunts on the inside. That has been their biggest issue so far this season, and why Justin Herbert's been pressured, I think almost at a 45% clip. It's just been a lot higher than any, you know, any other time. And yeah, Justin Herbert's dealt with the ankle injury and that has slowed him down at least in the beginning part of the season, but he's fully healthy.
Starting point is 00:08:17 And if you look at the numbers, the last few weeks, Justin Herbert's been on fire. You know, he's been fantastic. You know, his highest yards, you know, of the season, the last four games, you know, they've really been able to figure out like, hey, if I can't run the ball as consistently, let's not forget we have a quarterback that has one of the best arms in the league.
Starting point is 00:08:35 And, you know, the offense has had to kind of be driven through his arm, but they do want to run the ball. They want to bring that physicality. We'll see if they're going to be able to do it against a defense that has been pretty salty all year. Yeah, as Jeffrey Simmons likes to say, you do not run on the Tennessee Titans. So it's kind of, you know, an immovable object
Starting point is 00:08:53 and an unstoppable force going against each other. But we're going to look at things more on the Chargers side of it here. Get kind of the top storylines over there. It's Locked On Podcast Network. It's Crossover Thursday. Top storylines over there. It's Locked On Podcast Network. It's Crossover Thursday.
Starting point is 00:09:14 Today's episode is brought to you by the pre-alcohol drink from Z-Biotics. Pre-alcohol probiotic drink by Z-Biotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's how it works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in your gut. It's this byproduct, not dehydration, that's to blame for your rough next day. Pre-alcohol produces an enzyme to break this byproduct down. Just remember to make Z-Biotics your first drink of the night. Drink responsibly, and you'll feel your best tomorrow. I've actually used the pre-alcohol drink by Z-Biotics, your first drink of the night. Drink responsibly and you'll feel your best tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:09:45 I've actually used the pre-alcohol drink by Z Biotics. A long day of golf on Saturday. Took it before I started anything. And then the next morning on Sunday, I woke up ready to go to cover a whole day of NFL action. Here's how you use it. Step one, you drink the pre-alcohol drink. Step two, you drink responsibly. Step three, enjoy tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:10:06 Go to zbiotics.com slash locked on NFL to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use locked on NFL at checkout. Zbiotics is backed with 100% money back guarantee so if you're unsatisfied for any reason don't refund your money. No
Starting point is 00:10:21 questions asked. Remember, head to zbiotics.com slash locked on NFL. Use the code locked on NFL at checkout for 15% off. All right, it's crossover Thursday here. Locked on Titans. I'm Tyler Rowland here with David Droegemeyer from Locked on Chargers. Going to have a physical battle ahead of us. Talk about some of the things from a Titans point of view.
Starting point is 00:10:47 Now we'll flip over kind of the Chargers point of view. I do want to start with this defense. So obviously just based on some of the data that I've seen from the Chargers, a lot of two high shells, a lot of zone coverage for the Chargers. I think I saw they're one of the most zone heavy teams in the NFL,
Starting point is 00:11:04 but they're also a team that likes to get pressure, that Jesse Minter defense coming from Michigan. He's got Baltimore Raven style. And honestly, like Brian Callahan, Titans head coach, said, these defenses schematically kind of try to play a similar way. We know the names, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Derwin James, but I know there's a lot of unsung heroes on the Chargers. I love Deion Henley at linebacker,
Starting point is 00:11:30 but also Junior Colson was placed on IR. So what about this Chargers defense do you think most people don't know? I think that they don't know that they're starting two rookie cornerbacks that were drafted in the fifth round, and they have for the last three games in Tarheib Still and Cam Hart. They don't know that they're starting two rookie cornerbacks that were drafted in the fifth round. And they have the last three games in Tarheib still and camp heart. And they played out of their absolute minds, but way better than anybody ever expected. And I think you have to give a ton of credit to the Chargers DB coach and Steve Klinkskill and their their safety coach, Mr. O'Leary, they have been phenomenal being able to bring these guys in
Starting point is 00:12:08 and not skip a beat, not be able to see a noticeable drop-off from who they've had out there. And, hey, a guy that you know well, Christian Fulton, he has been unbelievably good this year. I mean, he has one interception. He's only allowed nine receptions the entire season. He has one interception. He's only allowed nine receptions the entire season.
Starting point is 00:12:30 He's just been, and I believe it's under 75 yards total that he's allowed the entire year. He did that in one game for the Titans in recent years. Like, it's crazy. Both Molden and Fulton had some bad moments with the Titans, mostly Christian Fulton, who just was unplayable at times last year, and then he goes to a different team and now he's incredible. It's just classic Titan story. I know, man.
Starting point is 00:12:49 I've seen it before. Trust me. I've seen it before. But with Christian Fulton, unfortunately, right now, he's dealing with the hamstring injury. And so that's the only thing right now that's been holding him back is his inability to stay on the field. But when he has been playing, he's been great.
Starting point is 00:13:06 And then you mentioned Elijah Molden. Elijah Molden has three interceptions already this season and honestly could have had at least five. He's really been around the ball. This Chargers defense has a huge contrast from the last several years. They're flying to the ball. They're swarming. They're really technically sound. i think you know it's
Starting point is 00:13:26 a lot of the same players for the most part given a couple of differences you know like the the corners i mentioned and then the defensive lines got a couple guys and puna ford and tierre tart who have come in and another titan i think honestly the the big theme here is the chargers have given a lot of guys opportunities to bounce back and right now up to this point they have rewarded that in confidence with their play up to this point they have really really been good and I think for me the biggest storyline on defense is are they going to be able to handle Tony Pollard who I think has has been fantastic up to this point, over 600 yards rushing.
Starting point is 00:14:07 And he's one of the big kind of catalysts of that Titans offense for sure. And are they going to continue? And I mentioned this earlier to play well against some of the lower tiered quarterbacks in the NFL. Mason Rudolph, four interceptions in his last three games. And the Chargers turned Jameis over three times. They picked him off three times and it could have been a lot more. So
Starting point is 00:14:29 that's definitely what I'm going to be looking for when these two teams strap it up on defense. Yeah, the turnover battle has been an issue for the Titans all year long. I think I saw recently somewhere that the Titans had lost 80 points on drives after turnovers
Starting point is 00:14:47 and special teams like it is it has been an issue and you know you mentioned those young cornerbacks those rookie corners I also saw that both of them are top 20 right now and separation prevented so it's like they are absolutely getting the job done I do want to ask on the offensive side of the ball I think we know that the Chargers want to be a physical team. They want to run the football with J.K. Dobbins. But I think the big question about the Chargers coming into the year that most people knew is they don't have a lot of weapons on the offensive side of the ball.
Starting point is 00:15:16 They add Ladd McConkie, who I was a big fan of Ladd, coming out of the draft. But outside of that, Quentin Johnston has been viewed as a bust by most people. And, you know, Josh Palmer is kind of just a veteran guy. He was maybe in some trade conversation. Whether that was real or not, we heard his name. What have the Chargers been able to do on offense with that perceived lack of weapons to make this offense start humming recently?
Starting point is 00:15:43 Well, Ladd McConkie has been fantastic. I mean, he really truly has. He's been the number one wide receiver for the Chargers as a rookie. This is a guy that the Chargers traded up to make sure to secure his services. You know, early in the second round, after drafting Joe Ault with the first overall pick, you know, their first overall pick, fifth overall. Two guys I really wanted, David.
Starting point is 00:16:03 Two guys I really wanted. That was like a great when I did my draft pairings. That was like an excellent pairing I wanted. And they have been. They truly have been an excellent pairing. Lab McConkie's ability to run routes and create separation, like, immediately has been really, really impactful. And he has really solid hands.
Starting point is 00:16:23 He's a little bit of a smaller receiver from a weight perspective but you know he's been able to handle it and he does a good job of avoiding the major you know collisions and and that's what you kind of have to do as a smaller guy you don't want to take those blows because you know you're not going to be able to make it through a season if you don't so um definitely you know lab mcconkey's been a big part of it but they've been able to find a way to utilize Quentin Johnston more effectively this year. And he has four touchdowns already, which doubles his, you know, a touchdown total from his rookie season.
Starting point is 00:16:56 And so better coaching, better schematics for putting him in positions to succeed, which he's a yak threat, you know, almost right. I think over half his yards have come yards after catch. So the Chargers are putting him in positions to use slants, to be able to do drag routes, to be able to create a runway to get him in space.
Starting point is 00:17:15 And when he is in space with the ball, he turns into a running back and he's very difficult to bring down. So the Chargers run game has been, I mean, iffy, I would say at best best they've had some good games they've had some games where they've absolutely literally disappeared and so are the chargers going to be able to run the ball against the titans and if not are they going to be able to you know move the ball down the field the way they have been against a truly good defense the
Starting point is 00:17:41 last few defenses you know they have not been good like Like let's be honest, the Browns, uh, not great. And you know, the, the saints before that even worse. So I don't really look at those games. This to me is a true test for, for the offense because Justin Herbert's been playing well, but now we have to see if it's real. And so this game has the ability to be a blowout, but it also has the ability to be extremely close all the way down to the end. So we'll see if the Chargers are able to move the ball on this one. Yeah, the Titans defense is going to have to keep them in this game, certainly. And we mentioned the special teams.
Starting point is 00:18:15 That could also be a big area where, you know, the Titans could lose ground in this game as well. But we'll talk about kind of the game plan for both teams, the keys to victory for both these teams in our final segment. It's a crossover Thursday here, Locked on Titans, Locked on Chargers, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Get ready to tackle the second half of the NFL action this season
Starting point is 00:18:44 with FanDuel America's number one sportsbook because right now new customers can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if you win. The FanDuel Sportsbook app gives you everything you need to place live bets on the NFL all in one place. And boy, do I love placing live bets on the Titans to punt. I mean, it is just a lucrative, lucrative method. When you get a hunch in the middle of the game, like I do sometimes, you can check out the latest stats, view live play-by-play,
Starting point is 00:19:12 and so much more on the same exact page where you place your bets. Make sure that you visit fanduel.com to join today. Remember, you'll get started with $150 in bonus bets if you win your first $5 bet. That's FanDuel.com. Never waste a hunch and make every moment more with FanDuel, an official sportsbook partner of the NFL. Today's episode is also brought to you by PrizePix.
Starting point is 00:19:37 Look, PrizePix makes daily fantasy sports as simple and as fun as possible. That's why they have over 10 million members and billions of dollars in awarded winnings. PrizePix makes Daily Fantasy Sports accessible to all because all you got to do is pick more or less on at least two players for a shot to win up to 100 times your cash. You can run your game all season long on PrizePix. Here's how simple it is.
Starting point is 00:20:02 Again, you pick a lineup of two to six players and just say whether they're going to do more or less. Jamar chase, 79 and a half receiving yards, Patrick Mahomes, one and a half passing touchdowns, Travis Kelsey, 59 and a half receiving yards,
Starting point is 00:20:16 Saquon Barkley, 79 and a half rushing yards, just more or less. Download the prize picks app today. Use the code locked on NFL to get $50 instantly. After you play your first $5 lineup, that's the PrizePix app. Download today and use the code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 instantly.
Starting point is 00:20:32 After you play your first $5 lineup, it's PrizePix. Run your game. All right, David. We're going to cap off today's edition of Locked on Titans, Locked on Chargers. It's crossover Thursday. We've done the biggest storylines for both teams.
Starting point is 00:20:49 Now we're going to get into some keys to victory. Again, thank you for making Locked on Chargers and Locked on Titans your first listen. For your second listen, make sure that you check out Locked on NFL. I am one of the lead hosts of Locked on NFL. They call me the madman for a reason. You're going to get all of your Chargers or Titans news here Monday through Friday in under 30 minutes.
Starting point is 00:21:08 Make sure that you get all your NFL news with Locked On NFL, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And even if you don't like me, Tony Wiggins in the afternoon breaking it down in the barbershop, you're going to enjoy that as well. But looking at keys to victory in this game, I'll kick us off here as the away team. For the Titans, they have to stop the run for the Los Angeles Chargers. If the Chargers are able to have success in the run game,
Starting point is 00:21:32 they're just going to be unstoppable. You want to get Justin Herbert in the third and long, and you want to get that interior pressure from Jeffrey Simmons, Sebastian Joseph Day, revenge game. There's a lot of revenge on this field in this matchup with the Chargers side and the Titans side. Kenneth Murray as well, blitzing up the middle. That'll be big for the Titans, but they got to stop the run to get in those third and long so they can get that pressure going. On the
Starting point is 00:21:54 offensive side of the ball, I talked about the two high safeties that the Chargers like to play, one of the most in the NFL. They're really going to have to hit those short, quick timing routes. I usually say run the ball for the Titans is the key to victory on offense. But in this one, I really think the Titans need to focus on the short, quick timing passing game. Try to take advantage of, you know, the numbers game there with having two high safeties. Now, if the Chargers come out and do something different than what they normally do, then the Titans will have to adjust there.
Starting point is 00:22:21 But that would be something that I'm looking for. And then finally, special teams. We talked about it. The Titans have been awful on special teams. I would venture to say that they're the worst team in the NFL in special teams right now. They've had multiple blocked punts. They give up big returns every single week. The Chargers offense has been up and down. If you give them short fields and you make it easy on them to get points, I really think another thing, you know, to give a bonus one is red zone efficiency. I don't think that because of how good the defenses are in this game, I don't think there's going to be a ton of opportunities to get into the red zone. So when you do, you need to
Starting point is 00:23:01 take advantage. And the Titans, if they don't play well on special teams, they're going to give the Chargers more red zone opportunities than they are going to get, and that's going to skew things. So I'm going to say stop the run. The quick, short passing game for the Titans has to be accurate and precise, and they need to play well on special teams to help their red zone efficiency on offense and defense. So that's kind of my keys to victory for the Titans in this one.
Starting point is 00:23:26 Yeah, I think all those make a lot of sense. Definitely when you're going up against this Chargers team. For me, it's going to sound a little bit similar. When the special teams battle is the first one. Play a clean game is the second one. And when in the red zone is my third. The Chargers have an all-pro punt returner. His name is Darius Davis, and he just returned
Starting point is 00:23:45 from injury last week, and he kicked things off in style with a 53-yard punt return. That set up the Chargers' touchdown to Joshua Palmer, and so those special teams' plays can change the trajectory of a football game. They really, truly can. And hey, for the Titans, just against the Lions, the Titans allowed three returns of 60 yards, including a 90-yard punt return touchdown. And per PFF, the Titans rank 30th in special teams grade. So that's an area where the Chargers definitely have an advantage, and they need to push that advantage in this game.
Starting point is 00:24:20 Play a clean game. When you're trying to avoid an upset, which I think these two teams are going in opposite directions, you have to play a clean game when you're trying to avoid an upset which you know i think you know these two teams are going in opposite directions like you have to play a clean game you can't have the bone headed mistakes honestly the chargers should be on a four game winning streak um but they fumbled the ball inside the five yard line against the cardinals and you know you just can't do that and you know and for the chargers they've done a pretty good job of that you know they've only turned it over four times all season long. So that includes the penalties as well. You got to have a clean game from that perspective because that can put you behind the eight ball,
Starting point is 00:24:51 put you in those third and 15, third and 20 situations that the Titans want to put you in. So you have to avoid that. And the Chargers are only averaging 4.7 penalties over the last three games. So they've gotten a lot better from that perspective. And like you mentioned, when in the red zone, like if you hold the Tennessee Titans out of the end zone, you're going to win the football game. The Titans ranked 26th and red zone touchdown scoring percentage over the last three games. The Chargers have been 22nd and red zone touchdown scoring percentage.
Starting point is 00:25:19 So not great. I mean, both of these teams, they don't get there often. And when they do get there, they're not scoring enough. But on the flip side of that, the Chargers rank second at red zone percentage on defense. So they are not allowing a lot of people there and they're not letting you score when you get there. So when you get those opportunities, like you mentioned, they're probably going to be few, far between and precious. You have to make them count. You can't be trading field goals, which it might come down to that, but when you get those opportunities in the gold zone, you got to cash in.
Starting point is 00:25:51 Yeah, 100%. That's going to make a big difference in this game because I don't think that it's going to be some high scoring affair here. I would agree. You know, it might be a race to 20 points. If you get to 20 points, you're probably winning this game. But with that being said, that is going to do it for today's crossover Thursday.
Starting point is 00:26:06 Again, I am your host for Locked on Titans, Tyler Rowland, here with David Draganmeyer, the host, one of the hosts of Locked on Chargers. Got to make sure I give the credit where it's due there, but make sure that you tune back
Starting point is 00:26:17 into Friday's episode. Again, it's your team every day here on the Locked on Podcast Network. We're going to have a full game preview for you, and then both of our shows will be up on Sunday to break down all the action. This're going to have a full game preview for you, and then both of our shows will be up on Sunday to break down all the action. This is a 4 o'clock game for us here on the East Coast,
Starting point is 00:26:31 a 3 o'clock game for Central time, so it will be a little bit later than most Titans fans are used to, but pretty standard procedure for Chargers fans, I would imagine. But with that being said, thank you guys so much for tuning in. Hope you enjoyed today's episode. Get subscribed. Stay subscribed. If you are watching on YouTube, throw a comment down below. Throw a thumbs up on the video.
Starting point is 00:26:50 That's going to do it for us today. Thanks for tuning in to Crossover Thursday. Again, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.