NFL Week 2 odds: Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers

Titans QB Jake Locker had his struggles and was injured in his NFL starting debut last week in a blowout loss to New England, but the 2011 first-round pick is ready to go Sunday at San Diego, which is playing on a short week after beating Oakland on Monday night.

Locker connected on 23-of-32 passes for 229 yards with one touchdown and one interception before leaving his first NFL start in the fourth quarter with a separated left shoulder. But Locker practiced Wednesday and then Thursday and said he plans on playing against the Chargers.

Locker should have Kenny Britt to throw to. The Titans’ No. 1 receiver is on the field once again, back both from a torn right ACL and three different knee surgeries and a one-game suspension by the NFL. On the field, every time Britt looks like he’s ready to blossom into one of the NFL’s top receivers, he has gotten hurt. He has 101 catches for 1,765 yards with 15 touchdowns in 31 games played in his career, and he ranks seventh in the NFL averaging 17.5-yards per catch.

In their Week 1 loss, Titans star RB Chris Johnson got just 11 carries for a total of four yards. That won’t get the job done, especially against a good team like San Diego. Look for offensive coordinator Chris Palmer to feed Johnson to take some of the pressure off of his young quarterback, control the clock and move the chains. If Johnson can get 20 or more carries, it bodes well for this ball-control offense.

San Diego beat the Raiders 22-14 as Philip Rivers threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Malcom Floyd and Nate Kaeding kicked five field goals. The Chargers did enough to win on a night they started undrafted rookie Mike Harris at left tackle and were missing starting running back Ryan Mathews and receiver Vincent Brown to injuries. San Diego protected Harris by throwing short often with 16 of Rivers’ 24 completions going to running backs and tight ends. Rivers threw for 231 yards, but was sacked just once and did not turn the ball over after having 20 interceptions a year ago. Mathews is unlikely to play again this week.

Starting cornerback Quentin Jammer had surgery on his right thumb Tuesday but coach Norv Turner said he’ll be able to play in Week 2. Jammer will wear a cast over the thumb in Sunday’s game. He was one of two Chargers cornerbacks injured vs. the Raiders and the status of the other defensive back, slot cornerback Shareece Wright, is far more uncertain. Jammer will wear a cast over the thumb in Sunday’s game. He was one of two Chargers cornerbacks injured in Monday’s victory over the Oakland Raiders and the status of the other defensive back, slot cornerback Shareece Wright, is far more uncertain.

The Chargers, who went 5-3 at Qualcomm Stadium in 2011, have won four straight at home over the Titans organization and are undefeated in this series since a 27-0 loss at Houston on Sept. 27, 1992.

WAGERWEB.COM ODDS: Chargers -6 (42.5)

TITANS NOTES: QB Jake Locker completed 23 of 32 passes (71.9 pct.) for 229 yards with 1 TD vs. 1 INT & 89.2 passer rating in 1st career start. Completed at least 1 pass to 9 different players last week … RB Chris Johnson (200) joined Eddie George (259) last week as only RBs to reach 200 career rec. in franchise history. Johnson (38) needs 2 rush TDs to join HOFer Earl Campbell (73) & George (64) as only players to reach 40 career in club annals. In 2 career meetings vs. SD, Johnson has rushed for 201 yards on 36 carries (5.6 avg.) with 2 rush TDs … WR Nate Washington had 4 catches for 117 yards (29.3 avg.), incl. 71-yard TD catch in last game against Chargers. Had 29-yard TD catch last week. For career, WR Kenny Britt averages 17.5 yards per catch (101 catches, 1,765 rec. yards) … Since ’11, TE Jared Cook ranks 3rd in AFC among TEs with 823 receiving yards (Rob Gronkowski, 1,387; Aaron Hernandez, 969) … DE Kamerion Wimbley had career-best 4 sacks vs. Chargers on 11/10/11 (w/ Raiders). Registered 1st career sack in Titans debut

CHARGERS NOTES: Seek 8th consecutive win vs. Titans … QB Philip Rivers has 37-11 (.771) career record at home as starter with 97.8 passer rating. For career, Rivers is 4-0 with 7 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 97.9 passer rating vs. Ten. Rivers is 38-8 (.826) as starter when posting 100 passer rating…Chargers are 7-1 when RB Ryan Mathews has 80 rush yards in game. RB Ronnie Brown had team-high 5 rec. in Chargers debut … TE Antonio Gates (597) has most career rec. in franchise history. Gates (76) trails only HOFer Lance Alworth (81) for most TD catches in franchise history. Had 5 rec. for 123 yards (24.6 avg.) with TD in last meeting vs. Ten …WR Malcom Floyd had 6-yard TD rec. last week. WR Robert Meachem had 46-yard reception in Chargers debut … LB Takeo Spikes made 200th career start last week … LB Shaun Phillips (62) posted 2 sacks last week & has 3rd-most sacks among Chargers (Leslie O’Neal, 105.5; Lee Williams, 65.5) since sacks became official stat in ’82 … S Eric Weddle is tied for NFL-best with 7 INTs since ’11 … TE Dante Rosario registered blocked punt in SD debut.

WAGERWEB.COM TRENDS: Titans are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss of more than 14 points. Titans are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. Titans are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 vs. AFC. Chargers are 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. Chargers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC. Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings. Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Titans are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 meetings. Titans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 meetings in San Diego.

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