Ryan Tannehill Leads Titans Past Chargers in OT

Kenneth Murray Jr. (9) of the Los Angeles Chargers attempts to tackle Ryan Tannehill (17) of the Tennessee Titans as Tannehill rushes for a touchdown during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sept. 17, 2023. Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Ryan Tannehill passed for 246 yards and a touchdown, Nick Folk made a 41-yard field goal in overtime and the Tennessee Titans pulled off a 27–24 victory Sunday, September 17, over the visiting Los Angeles Chargers to end an eight-game losing streak going back to last season.

Derek Henry gained 79 yards of the Titans’ 140 total yards on the ground as Tennessee (1–1) found some offense one week after a limited attack in a loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Tannehill pulled off a seven-play, 82-yard drive to give the Titans a 24–21 lead with 2:22 remaining in regulation after a 4-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The Chargers sent the game into overtime on Cameron Dicker’s 33-yard field goal as the clock expired.

The Tennessee defense held the Chargers to a three-and-out to open overtime then got into field-goal position by moving 37 yards in eight plays.

Justin Herbert was 27-of-41 passing and 305 yards for the Chargers, connecting on two touchdown passes to Keenan Allen, who had eight receptions for 111 yards. Mike Williams also had eight catches for the Chargers and 83 yards.

Justin Herbert (10) of the Los Angeles Chargers attempts a pass during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sept.17, 2023. Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

Playing without Austin Ekeler (ankle), the Chargers had just 61 yards rushing on 21 carries. The Los Angeles defense had five sacks, with two from Joey Bosa.

The Chargers appeared to be in control early, taking a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on Dicker’s 27-yard field goal.

Los Angeles went eight plays and 47 yards, scoring a second-quarter TD when Herbert connected with Allen on an 8-yard pass. Herbert then found eligible offensive tackle Trey Pipkins III on a pass for the 2-point conversion for an 11–0 lead.

The Titans answered quickly with Tannehill finding Treylon Burks on a 70-yard pass to the Chargers’ 5-yard line one play after the Los Angeles TD. Henry scored from 1 yard out to cut the deficit to 11–7.

Field goals by both teams gave the Chargers a 14–10 lead at halftime.

Stone Smartt (84) of the Los Angeles Chargers catches a pass during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sept. 17, 2023. Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

Tennessee took its first lead of the game at 17–14 on its opening drive of the second half, going 75 yards in nine plays and finding the end zone when Tannehill scored on a 12-yard run on an option play.

The Chargers moved back in front 21–17 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Herbert found Allen in the end zone for a second time, this one from 12 yards.