Why Los Angeles Chargers will beat Titans, why they won’t, and a prediction

The Los Angeles Chargers hit the road for an early East Coast kickoff on Sunday when they visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 9.

For the Chargers, it’s a chance to move to 6-3 and winners of two in a row, keeping them in a race in an AFC West where they’ve slipped out of the top spot, yet still have a 3-0 start in the division.

But the Chargers have had past chances against beatable-looking teams outside the division this year and struggled, so the 1-7 Titans are certainly a trap game, especially in that early Sunday window after traveling.

Here’s a quick preview for the AFC encounter, plus why the Chargers can and can’t win the game.

Why Chargers will beat Titans

Final injury report for #Chargers and Titans pic.twitter.com/rI4Aw7fXq8
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) October 31, 2025

There’s a giant gulf between the quarterbacks here, at least right now. Justin Herbert was playing MVP-level ball before his offensive line blew up and holds a massive advantage over rookie Cam Ward. The No. 1 pick has completed 57.7 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and six interceptions, averaging just 5.9 yards per attempt. It’s a get-right chance for the defense, which should be able to get past an offensive line that has let up 34 sacks already.

Why Chargers won’t beat Titans

Everyone has picked the Chargers over Titans. Adam Rank has a shutout pic.twitter.com/bqB29JeSvV
— RunItBackHerbo (@RunItBackHerbo) October 29, 2025

Back at the end of September, the Chargers appeared to have a layup of a game on their hands against the now 2-6 New York Giants after winning three straight in the super-competitive AFC West and lost. Now, the Chargers appear back on track against a 1-7 team. But the early kickoff window can be tricky. And while Joe Alt is back for Herbert’s offensive line, Mekhi Becton is yet again a question mark, leaving the interior of the line exposed.

Chargers vs. Titans prediction

Interim head coach for the Titans Mike McCoy last coach for the Chargers in 2016 Keenan Allen and Denzel Perryman were on the team pic.twitter.com/owSvQ2VZls
— ChargersMuse (@ChargersMuse) October 31, 2025

Two franchises going in very different directions right now. The Titans have already fired a head coach and have suffered blowouts three weeks in a row. Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers had a mini-bye coming off a Thursday night game and should be composed enough to make sure this one isn’t much of a trap, but more of a launching pad to bigger things.

Prediction: Chargers 27, Titans 14

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