NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- The Tennessee Titans (1-1) play their first of three consecutive home games this week, welcoming the San Diego Chargers (1-1) to LP Field (capacity 69,143). Kickoff is scheduled for noon CDT on Sunday, Sept. 22.
THE BROADCAST
This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties while Dan Fouts provides analysis.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, analyst Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.
LAST WEEK AT HOUSTON
Following a Week 1 win at Pittsburgh, the Titans were on the road last week for the second straight game. In a dramatic, back-and-forth affair, the Houston Texans prevailed in overtime by a final margin of 30-24.
The Texans knotted the score late in the fourth quarter on a one-yard rushing touchdown and subsequent two-point conversion by Arian Foster, and on the first possession of overtime, Matt Schaub completed a three-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to seal the Titans' fate.
Titans quarterback Jake Locker led two long scoring drives in the game and capped each of them with a touchdown pass. His six-yard touchdown connection with Kendall Wright in the first quarter completed an 80-yard drive, and in the fourth quarter, he directed a 99-yard march that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Delanie Walker.
Cornerback Alterraun Verner scored Tennessee's third and final touchdown on a 23-yard interception return. The play highlighted a two-sack, two-takeaway performance by a defense that also limited the Texans to 35 percent on third down (six of 17).
Additionally against the Texans, running back Chris Johnson became the third player in franchise history to reach 7,000 career rushing yards. The sixth-year veteran joined Eddie George (10,009) and Earl Campbell (8,574) as the only Titans/Oilers to do so. Johnson finished the game at Houston with 96 yards on 25 carries, marking his second consecutive week with 25 rushing attempts.
THE CHARGERS
A new era is underway in San Diego with this year's hiring of Chargers general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Mike McCoy. Telesco spent the last 15 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, serving in a variety of capacities, including vice president of football operations in 2012. McCoy was hired to lead the Chargers after spending the last three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos.
The Chargers maintained their stability at quarterback, however, with Philip Rivers returning for his 10th NFL season. A native of Athens, Ala., Rivers has been named to four Pro Bowls and has a current streak of five seasons with at least 3,500 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes. He entered the 2013 season ranked sixth in NFL history in passer rating (94.5).
One of Rivers' primary targets, tight end Antonio Gates, is in 11th NFL season and is in search of his ninth Pro Bowl selection.
The Chargers also kept defensive coordinator John Pagano in place after he led the unit to a ninth-overall ranking in 2012 and a ranking against the run of sixth in the league. Then, during the 2013 offseason, they made one of the offseason's premier acquisitions when they signed seven-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Dwight Freeney from the Indianapolis Colts.
The Chargers lost to the Texans in Week 1, but last week they evened their record with a 33-30 road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Nick Novak's 46-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter provided the difference in a game in which Rivers completed three touchdown passes to Eddie Royal and the Chargers offense accumulated 539 total yards.
UNDERGARMENTS DRIVE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS
Fans attending the game are encouraged to participate in the charitable drive benefitting the YWCA Weaver Domestic Violence Shelter. The YWCA and the Titans are asking fans to provide much-needed new women's and children's undergarments for shelter residents, including all sizes of underwear, pajamas, bras and socks. Volunteers will be stationed at several drop sites outside of LP Field to collect donations from 10 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
