Two teams with playoff hopes and ultimately uninspiring starts to the season meet up in the NFL week 7 Chargers at Titans free pick. Tennessee has made a QB change in hopes of turning around their 2-4 start and LA probably wishes they could too. The Titans are -2.5 favorites at home on Sunday afternoon, does the change at signal caller help – or hurt – their chances?
Chargers’ Season Slipping Away
If you take away a 30-10 win over hapless Miami in week 4, LA has lost four straight games. Even their sole win of the season was an OT win over the Colts that Indianapolis very easily could have won. This is the first week that oddsmakers are writing Los Angeles off though as the NFL week 7 Chargers at Titans free pick is the first time all year Anthony Lynn’s team has been an underdog. You know what that means.
It’s still hard to wager on LA on the road in this one considering their offense has looked dreadful in being held to 15 ppg in losses the last two weeks – both at home. Philip Rivers threw the ball 48 times, but for just 211 yards and 2 INT in a loss to Denver. LA was down 24-0 heading into the 4th quarter last week vs. Pittsburgh before some garbage points made it a respectable 24-17 game. Melvin Gordon III has just 49 yards total in the two games since he’s ended his holdout. Gordon’s return has also hampered the production of Austin Ekeler who has just 21 total rushing yards the last two weeks.
What gives Chargers backers hope in this one is the fact that their defense is very underrated and Tennessee’s offense is turning to a backup QB. LA is actually 7th defensively and 5th vs. the pass. Then again, last week at home vs. Pittsburgh the backup to a backup Duck Hodges was 15/20 (granted for only 132 yards) vs. the Chargers D.
Is Tannehill the Answer in Tennessee?
Something had to be done to the Titans offense and coach Mike Vrabel made the decision this week to bench former #2 overall pick Marcus Mariota in favor of Ryan Tannehill. The Titans are 2-4 and have lost both of their home games thus far so why not make the change? Oddsmakers (and bettors) like the move as the line has moved from TEN -1 to TEN -2.5.
The most frustrating thing for Titans fans about the team’s poor start is that the defense has been playing arguably good enough to be atop the division. The Titans have lost two games in a row and their offense has put up a whopping 7 points total while the defense held Denver to 16 and Buffalo to 14 points. The Titans have a 17-19 loss to the Colts on the year and their high water mark for points allowed is 20 in week 3 at Jacksonville. Tennessee gives up just 217.3 ypg through the air.
Of course the big question ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game is how the offense will look after the QB switch? Tennessee ranked 29th in the league through the air with Mariota under center throwing for just 187.7 yards per game. Having no passing game helps opposing defenses focus on stopping Derrick Henry as he had 15 carries for only 28 yards last week vs. Denver.
NFL Week 7 Chargers at Titans Free Pick
It’s the first time that LA hasn’t been favored all year so that means they’ll automatically probably get the outright win (ML +130). The Titans secondary is just so good though and Tennessee is said to have had a spark during practice this week with Tannehill leading the huddle. A QB with a pulse is a big advantage to a team:
Pick: Tennessee Titans -2.5
