NFL - Titans v Chargers

25 December 2009

Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)

I hope you have all had a Great Christmas day whether celebrating it today or yesterday as was the case here, a Great match to watch here as The Surging Chargers visit the Young and Johnson led Titans tonight in a special Match up of two sides playing for something, Two years ago, the Chargers won in OT at Tennessee in a tough game. Several players were hurt, and four players were fined, Merriman was hurt and he and his OLB Phillips are still pissed off about it, sounds like it could be a fun game.

The Titans are almost gone from the Playoff picture but can still see some sort of light at the end of the tunnel if they continue to win, and so far they are doing just that with a two headed attack, RB Johnson is still going strong for the Titans and had his ninth straight 100-yard game last week in a 27-24 OT win against the Dolphins . While QB Vince Young has led the Titans to seven wins in eight games. The Titans do have issues though, having stated earlier this week that they have lost two starting defenders to season-ending injuries with top tackler Keith Bulluck and linebacker David Thornton having surgery to repair his shoulder. Meanwhile The AFC West champion Chargers are looking to win their 10th straight game and lock up the No. 2 playoff seed tonight The Chargers clinched another division title with Sunday's 27-24 win against Bengals. and would love to get the No. 2 seed so they can take advantage of a first-round bye. They also get some good news on the defence front with Jammer and Cesaire able to play.

I’m not going to in depth with Stats and the like although I will say that the Titans have really improved on their rushing defence and haven’t allowed over 100 rushing yards in their previous 4 matches, That shouldn’t matter, the Chargers haven’t rushed for over 100 Yards in none of their last 4 matches anyway.

The Titans have scored 17 or more in their last 5 matches as well as coring 20 or more in 4 of those most recent 5 matches, but have allowed 17 or more in 4 of their last 5 games with 2 of their last 3 them allowing over 20 points against the Dolphins and Colts On the other side the Chargers have scored 30 or more in 3 of their last 5 and have scored over 20 points in their last 2 wins against Good sides in the Bengals and Cowboys,the Chargers have giving away 20 or more in 2 of their last 3 matches but have still won either game.

The Chargers have played the Titans 5 times since 1998 with the Chargers winning all 5 meetings, Two of those matches were in Titan Country where the Chargers won 23-17 and back in 1998 13-7.

ON THE TOTAL, I’m going to have a shot on the Unders in this match, the last two games these sides have played I can still remember and they were both hard hitting affairs with chances coming at a premium, The Chargers won them both 17-6 and 23 – 17 on the Road, Both games were brutal and with that in mind and also that many of the players who played in those games still here to match up today I am expecting almost “Match of the Year” Like Status for this game with certain players for each side standing up and being counted.

Christmas was over for me Yesterday but I am looking for good old Santa to give us one last Present for 2009 and this game looks like the one to get it with, The start on the Chargers is at 3 and I think that’s fair and of you want have a shot with that, but I’m giving this a 10 not so much based on the perceived view of a bet but more for the spectacle of the game itself, I have seen so much sport and will continue to do so that it is seldom I get a chance to look forward to a game in any code bar Rugby League, but this is such a time, the Chargers are in a huge race right now for position heading into the play offs while the Titans have a glimmer of hope if they continue winning, anything else doesn’t matter unless the Titans can do just that. the same can be said of the Chargers, Both sides come in here in great form, both are winning and looking strong, the difference between the two sides is that the Chargers have not only gone well with the ball, but they haven’t been that bad with out it either, at times they look weak and they will give up yards to Johnson in this game for sure and Young will connect on a few passes, but Rivers is the key in this game and the way he has been playing, well it’s hard to doubt him, LT is still going shit and is not consistent, Rivers has been absolutely devastating over the Chargers winning run and if he can get the Chargers a foothold in this match and I reckon he can then the Chargers are neck and neck with the Titans for the full 60 mins of the game, Fantastic game to have played today as were last weekends Colts and Saints matches that were given special treatment with exposure, You have to give the Americans their credit man, they know how to make something, Market it and promote it and they have achieved all 3 in almost all of their sports that matters to them, The Production of the event is great and you have to give them credit for that….This game will be Hard hitting and intense and I’m saying it could quite well if both sides play accordingly the Match of the Season for sure….I like the Chargers but don’t be surprised if a few injuries come out of this game tonight and maybe derails them anyway…Chargers WIN for me….Good Luck hope you had a great Christmas day, Lets hope that Santa gives us one more big present to finish the day off…Good Luck.