Chargers-Titans Quasi Live Blog, Third Quarter

Research tells me that the mystery Titans WR is Biren Ealy, and he's from Houston, which means either him or Kevin Kolb rode the other to the NFL. I'm hoping on the latter.

Sproles gets the kickoff back, but it's brought back a bit. LDT for 4 and could have been more, then nothing. 3rd and 6 and a big play for field position and everything else... and Rivers steps up and accurately shot puts it to Chambers for the first. LDT for 1.

You know, if I were Norv, and I still had consciousness from the lack of oxygen due to the presence of my own arms around my throat for the last two hours, I'd try to get him in space on the flat. On 2nd and 9. Rivers is hit as he throws, and the ball goes nearly as well as when he's untouched. 3rd and 9 and another big play here... and the CB buys a pump fake and Rivers hits Padilla-Jackson for 34 yards. Also, the Titans have lost two players in this drive. It's Game Changing Time, Baby!

LDT on a toss sweep for nothing; he now has 11 for 11 on the day. A 19-yard ball to Chambers puts them in business at the 11, and is followed up with a toss and catch to the 4. Who knew Chris Chambers saved his A game for the playoffs? Second down, LDT for nothing. Very, very big play here... and with LDT wide open in the flat, Rivers goes to Jackson, who gets to the 2. Norv sends in the field goal kicker, and needs to be killed.

Seriously, from the 2, he gets a yard, it's a first down. He get two, he gets a touchdown. His defense isn't so good that field goals are going to decide this. His team now thinks he doubts them, big time. He might still win this game, of course, but that move would get me my second Descended Testicle pic of the day, if we only all had the stomach for it.

Titans start at the 24. 4 to Davis, 4 to White, and it's 3rd and 2. Can the San Diego crowd give them an edge here? Nope. Short pass to the TE, Hartsock, for a first. Norv is now thinking that the smoke from the wild fires may have caused him a permanent problem. Henry gets stuffed, and on 3rd and 6, Young tries the curious tactic of throwing the ball away in the field of play. It's punt time.

Chargers start with an easy 20 yarder to Jackson, who was so open, he was signaling for a fair catch. It's followed by LDT in space! Wow, what a concept! He catches a ball in the flat for 5. They then give him a carry which gets a long yard, and is another moment in this game where he *almost* broke it. Finally, he makes a play in this game, with a catch in the flat where he makes a man miss and gets the first. It's like Norv's a Real Live Coach!

Turner in for a three yard burst. Haynesworth, unabated, takes a free hit on Rivers, who gets the 5 and 15 as Rivers reacts with only slightly less histrionics than women at a bridal shower. Big play, and Rivers might be calmed down with a little chai tea. He can get it from Norv... and maybe a little aromatherapy, which will work in nicely with his post-TD celebration, as Jackson settles under a crossing route and dances in. It's 10-6 Chargers, and we're about to see Vince Young work from behind.

After the kickoff, Young finds Troupe on a nice deep ball, and the Titans are already in Chargers territory. Henry takes an end around and gets nailed, but not tackled, by Quentin Jammer. On a 3rd and 1 and the last play of the quarter, Hall fights through three terrible tackles and gets an 11 yard gain. They'll start the fourth in the red zone, as Jim Nantz says, and that play, in microcosm, is why the Chargers are no threat to survive past next week. 10-6 Chargers at the end of the third.