SUCCESS IN HOME OPENER: The Titans launched their 15th season at LP Field with a win over the Chargers. The victory improved their record in regular-season home openers at LP Field to 9-6. The team's all-time record in the regular season at LP Field is 70-43.
BAD SPELL VERSUS CHARGERS FINALLY SNAPPED: The Titans defeated the Chargers for the first time in 21 years, breaking a nine-game losing streak (including one playoff game). The last time the then-Oilers won a game over the Chargers was at the Astrodome on Sept. 27, 1992.
NO TURNOVERS THROUGH THREE WEEKS EXTREMELY RARE: The Titans joined the 2013 Chiefs as the fourth and fifth teams in the Super Bowl era to not have a turnover through their first three games of the season. The Titans are plus-five in turnover ratio through three games. They were plus-one against the Chargers, recovering a fumble on the last play of the game.
LOCKER'S COMBINED TOTAL SECOND HIGHEST OF CAREER: Jake Locker completed 23 of 37 passes for 299 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions (96.6 passer rating), and he added five rushing attempts for 68 yards and a touchdown. His 367 combined rushing and passing yards were the second-highest total of his career behind only his 413 yards (378 passing, 35 rushing) against Detroit on Sept. 23, 2012. Locker eclipsed his previous career game high for rushing yards (51 at Indianapolis on Dec. 9, 2012). Late in the first quarter, he set a career long with a run of 39 yards.
LOCKER COMPLETES COMEBACK: On the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, which began with 2:05 on the clock, Jake Locker moved the offense 94 yards on 10 plays. He completed seven of 10 passes during the drive and found six different receivers for completions (two receptions by Kendall Wright), culminating with his 34-yard touchdown strike to Justin Hunter with 15 seconds remaining. It gave Locker his second career "comeback performance," defined as a game-winning drive when the team trailed or was tied in the fourth quarter or overtime. Locker's first-such occasion was against Detroit on Sept. 23, 2012.
LOCKER HITS 3,000: In the first quarter, Jake Locker went over the 3,000-yard passing mark for his career. In his 19th career game (14th start), he became the 16th passer in franchise history to reach the mark.
RARE FEAT BY HUNTER: Rookie Justin Hunter's first career catch was a 34-yard, game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The second-round pick from the University of Tennessee became the first NFL rookie since Jacksonville's Ernest Wilford on Sept. 12, 2004 to score a game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds or less remaining in the game on his first career reception.
WASHINGTON SETS CAREER HIGH: Wide receiver Nate Washington led the Titans against the Chargers and set a new career high with 131 receiving yards, topping his previous high of 130 yards against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 11, 2011. His eight receptions against the Chargers led the team and made up his highest total since he set his career high of nine receptions at Atlanta on Nov.20, 2011. With a 13-yard catch in the fourth quarter, he went over the 100-yard receiving mark for the sixth time in his career. It was his first game with at least 100 yards since Sept. 23, 2012 against Detroit. Washington extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 81, including all 67 games as a member of the Titans.
POLLARD'S BIG BLOCK: As time expired in the first half, safety Bernard Pollard blocked Nick Novak's 38-yard field goal attempt. It was Pollard's second career blocked field goal and his first since Sept. 19, 2010. Pollard also has two career blocked punts (both in 2006). For the Titans, the blocked field goal against the Chargers was the team's first since Michael Griffin recorded a block at Indianapolis on Oct. 28, 2012.
ANOTHER TIME OF POSSESSION VICTORY: The Titans completed their third consecutive game with a time of possession of more than 30 minutes. The last time they accomplished the feat was a four-game span in 2009, from Nov. 15 against Buffalo to Dec.6 at Indianapolis.
WRIGHT HAS SECOND-HIGHEST TOTAL: Kendall Wright recorded 71 yards on six receptions against the Chargers, finishing second on the team in both categories. It was the second-highest yardage total of his two-year career.
ANTONIO JOHNSON RECORDS SACK: With normal starting defensive tackle Sammie Hill inactive with an ankle injury, Antonio Johnson recorded his first start with the Titans (47th of his career). In the third quarter, Johnson sacked Philip Rivers for a four-yard loss, giving him 2.5 career sacks.
AYERS NOTCHES SACK: In the second quarter, linebacker Akeem Ayers recorded his first sack of the season and ninth of his career, dropping Philip Rivers for a five-yard loss.
JOHNSON SETS SEASON LONG: In the first quarter, running back Chris Johnson set a season long with a run of 23 yards. The play helped lead to a field goal. Johnson finished the game with a season-high 90 rushing yards on 19 attempts.
KERN BOOTS 63-YARD PUNT: In the first quarter, Brett Kern pinned the Chargers on their own 17-yard line with a 63-yard punt, his longest since a 70-yarder against the Houston Texans on Dec. 2, 2012. INACTIVES: The Titans' seven inactive players were running back Shonn Greene, linebacker Zaviar Gooden, cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, center Brian Schwenke, tackle Byron Stingily, defensive tackle Sammie Hill and defensive end Lavar Edwards.
