Quick Preview of Chargers/Titans

First of all, I would like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and that all of you are finding peace and happiness in your lives. With that being said, there will be no peace or happiness on the football field tonight when the San Diego Chargers meet the Tennessee Titans. These two teams are playing the best football in the NFL right now. After starting out 0-6 to begin the season, the Titans have stomped their way to a 7-1 record, their sole loss coming against the undefeated Indianapolis Colts. Vince Young and Chris Johnson have proved to be a very dangerous combination against all opposing defenses. The Titans defense has stepped up in big situations during the second half of the season, providing their offense with many opportunities to make plays down the field. Jeff Fisher should seriously be considered as the NFL Coach of the Year for what he has done with this team. He is on the verge of taking this team to the playoffs, which would be a truly remarkable thing considering how horrible they were at the beginning of the season. Forget about the Saints and the wonderful season they're having down in the Big Easy. The Titans look to be a team of destiny and are more than willing to take on the challenges of all comers on the football field. But wait, maybe I spoke too soon. Perhaps that eggnog laced with rum I had last night is having an adverse effect on my brain. The Titans are a team of destiny? That can't be true. And the reason it can't be true is because they are running into an offensive juggernaut tonight against the San Diego Chargers. The lightning bolts of southern California have struck mercilessly on opponents for the past nine weeks now. The Chargers are on a unprecedented 9-game winning streak and are looking to clinch the #2 seed in the AFC. Why are they so successful? Two words: Philip Rivers. Rivers has been an unstoppable force for the Chargers this season. He is going to throw for over 4,000 yards and has 25 touchdown passes this season, both of which will come close and/or surpass career highs. Rivers is not just a statistical machine for the Chargers, but is also the ideal definition of a big-game quarterback. He is one of the most clutch players in the NFL and can get the job done when the game is on the line. He led a successful two-minute drill down the field to set up Nate Kaeding's 52-yard game-winning field goal against the Bengals last weekend. This spells bad news for the Titans, who will certainly have their hands full trying to contain Rivers and the Chargers passing attack. Look for Rivers to find Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates with consistency throughout the course of the game. But also look for LaDainian Tomlinson to take a pounding up the middle against that stout Titans run defense. The Chargers are a team that can grind out the tough yards against any opponent in the NFL. But they are also a team that can burn their opponents with the deep threat. And that is exactly what will happen tonight. The Chargers will use screen passes to Tomlinson and Darren Sproles out of the backfield, occasionally feeding Tomlinson the ball up the middle. The Titans will have to prepare themselves for dig routes over the middle and try to prevent those short 6 or 7 yard gains. The Chargers will look to progressively move the ball down the field and take time off the clock. They do not want to give Chris Johnson the opportunity to kill them with long runs of 50 or 60 yards. They want to pressure Vince Young but want to ensure that he remains trapped in the pocket. I have a feeling that both teams will have problems containing the offensive production tonight. There is no doubt that Chris Johnson will have a spectacular game at home. But in the end, look for Vince Young to force a critical turnover, giving the ball back to Rivers and leading to another Chargers game-winning drive. Chargers win 34-27.

And that's it for today...stay tuned this weekend for Part II of my College Bowl Preview and my NFL Week 16 Preview. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!