Chargers-Titans Quasi Live Blog, Fourth Quarter

The Titans stall after a near pick, and are then betrayed by Bironas from 38 yards, as I'm posting the third quarter notes. Why, NFL Players, do you cram in so much action when I'm posting at the quarter breaks?

LDT for nothing. Heaven forbid the Chargers need to burn clock in this game. Rivers is 9 for 10 for 137 in the second half, and LDT finally breaks one, getting 12 yards from an actual hole. They go back to him on the next play, and he gets 5 and makes a guy miss. He's looking LDTish again. On 2nd and 5, Rivers misses Chambers who was covered anyway, and also looked like he gave up on the ball. Careful, Chris, you'll make the big girl mad! The 3rd and 5 is a nice move by backup TE Brandon Manamaleuma (yes, that's probably the wrong spelling, like you could have done any better) for the first, and the Chargers are in Titan territory. On a subsequent 3rd and 10, Chambers is open for so long that the entire crowd and Nantz announces it before he throws. 39 yards and goal to go awaits. LDT saves the Chargers from a delay penalty, and it's commercial time.

The Titans should lose this game, and it should have been by a lot. The amount of space that the Chargers WRs have been open by has been, frankly, staggering. And once again, for the record, there is no way they are winning next week, especially if Gates isn't back by then. LDT shows why he's great on a 2 yard loss by making three guys miss. 2nd and goal from the 10 is thrown away, and Norv can't hear anything. LDT pinballs to the 1, and Norv dithers long enough that he has to challenge to avoid the delay of game penalty. That's good coaching!

The challenge is turned away, and Norv is going for it. Chargers no longer have a timeout or challenge, and it's 4th and goal from the 1, with Norv's Coaching Life on the Line. What will he call? LDT believes he can fly, and has the presence of mind to just reach out and score after he was met in the air. Wow. The Titans challenge the play, but fail under the well known rule of Great Players Make Great Plays, and with 8:45 left, it's 17-6 Chargers... and we have achieved a cover! Woo hoo! Norv, we always knew you had it in you!

Titans start at the 20, and the Chargers smell blood. A sack leads to 3rd and 14, and another sack. Now, these are the front-runners I was expecting to see!

Chargers start at their own 43. We're only 17 points from the over, you bastards! 7:43 left, and it's LDT for nothing, then a burst of 12 while staying in bounds. LDT cares nothing for my over bet. Bastard! Turner hits the hole for another first down, and the Titans look like they're packing for the bus. Under five minutes and counting, and Turner gets the corner and the first... but there's a flag on the play, and it's coming back. Jackson with a hold.

It's that special time in the game in which Nantz has to tell us how the Chargers helped after the fire. Maybe they are this year's Saints, but with rich white people instead of poor black people. That's a story everyone can get behind!

On 3rd and 16 with 4:13 left, Turner gets stopped in bounds, and we've got 4:03 left. Scifres does a great job of putting it out at the 5, and if Bironas had only hit the figgie, this would be a one possession game. Moulds makes a misstep that wipes out a first down catch, and then the Titans false start. Young now needs to go 98 yards. Reggie Bush or Mario Williams could do it! And so could guys with better Wunderlic numbers!

Young to Hartsock gets them some breathing room, and then gets picked by Drayton Florence to ice the point spread. Woo hoo! We're eating store brand cereal tonight!

The rest of the game finishes up and I want the last six hours of my life back.

I'm 3-5 for the week, 2-2 against the spread, and if you've actually read all of this, you have my sincere thanks and condolences. Congrats to the Chargers, Giants, Jaguars and Seahawks. I can't wait to bet against you all next week!