INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Titans headed West looking to find a spark against the Chargers.
Their hopes flamed out in heart-breaking fashion in the final moments of a 17-14 loss here at SoFi Stadium.
"There's nothing I could tell them to make them not be disappointed, upset," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said after the game. "They spilled their guts out there."
With the loss, the Titans dropped to 7-7.
It was the team's fourth straight loss, and now things are getting really serious with just three weeks left in the regular season – the Jaguars (6-8) are now just one game back in the race for the AFC South.
"They all hurt," Titans safety Kevin Byard said. "It is definitely frustrating, and it has been a frustrating last four weeks for sure."
The Titans rallied to tie it late.
Trailing 14-7 in the closing minutes, the Titans put together an 11-play, 74-yard drive to tie the game, as quarterback Ryan Tannehill scored on a one-yard touchdown run to make it 14-14 with 48 seconds left.
But the Chargers quickly drove down the field, and then kicker Cameron Dicker kicked a 43-yard field goal with four seconds left to win it.
"It's crushing," Tannehill said. "We found a way to battle back, and we made the plays we needed to tie the game, and we were thinking we were going to overtime at that point.
"Guys were ready to go win the game in overtime, and obviously they made some plays at the end and got themselves in a position to win the game."
Titans running back Derrick Henry ran for 104 yards and a touchdown in the contest, and he totaled 163 scrimmage yards.
On defense, the Titans came up with three sacks, and two interceptions.
Tannehill, who completed 15-of-22 passes for 165 yards in the game, left the game after suffering an ankle injury on Tennessee's first possession, and he was carted off.
But Tannehill later returned to the game, in the second quarter, and he guided the team to a six-play, 63-yard touchdown drive immediately after returning to tie the game at 7-7 after the Chargers took a 7-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by running back Joshua Kelley in the first quarter.
Henry scored on a four-yard run in the second quarter on Tannehill's first possession since the injury, which tied the game at 7-7 with 10:09 left before halftime.
Right before the end of the half, the Titans turned in one arguably their best defensive play of the year, thanks to defensive backs Roger McCreary and Joshua Kalu.
With Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert trying to connect with receiver Mike Williams in the end zone, a quick-thinking McCreary caught the ball as his momentum was carrying him out of bounds, and he then alertly relayed the ball to Kalu, who managed to get both feet inbounds for an interception, and a touchback.
It was the team's first turnover on defense since the team's November 13 game against the Broncos, and as a result the game headed to halftime with a 7-7 score.
"That play, I always wanted to do something like that," McCreary said. "I knew I wasn't going to catch it inbounds, but I saw my partner Kalu over there. I passed it to him, and it worked out good."
Chargers defensive back Nasir Adderley intercepted Tannehill midway through the third quarter, and it put Los Angeles in business near midfield.
But Byard stepped in front of a Herbert pass to get the ball back, and give Tennessee's its second interception of the game.
The Titans had a chance to take the lead early in the first quarter, but a 51-yard field goal by kicker Randy Bullock sailed wide right and the game remained tied at 7-7 with 13:34 left in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers then surged ahead, scoring on a three-yard touchdown run by Austin Ekeler to take a 14-7 lead with 10:28 left in the contest.
The Titans then put together a gut-check drive to tie it late, only to see it slip away.
The Titans return to action on Saturday against the Texans at Nissan Stadium.
"We have to find a way to win one," Henry said. "We fought to the end, but we came up short. We have to have urgency. We don't want to keep letting this happen. It's getting close, and we have to find a way to win a game."
The Tennessee Titans take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 at SoFi Stadium.
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Emily Starkey/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Emily Starkey/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Emily Starkey/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Emily Starkey/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Emily Starkey/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By \6010281/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Mark Brown/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Emily Starkey/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Emily Starkey/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Cameron Faulkner/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers compete at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
