NFL Week 8 Free Picks: Tennessee Titans vs. San Diego Chargers

This is a fantastic chance for the Titans to give themselves some real breathing room in the chase for the AFC playoffs. They’ll be 1.5 games up on the loser of the game between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, and will have some cushion on a potential Wild Card berth as well. QB Vince Young is most likely going to be back in the lineup after missing the last game and the majority of the MNF duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars with a knee injury. QB Kerry Collins is still nursing a finger injury as we speak as well, and if both couldn’t find a way to go, it would be up to QB Rusty Smith, the rookie out of Florida Atlantic to take snaps. Either way, we expect to see plenty of RB Chris Johnson. There has been much to be made out of the East Carolina Pirates star, as he has strung together eight straight 100 yard games on the road, the second longest streak in NFL history. If he can keep that going this weekend, he’ll inch within one of the record and give his team a great chance of beating the NFL betting lines. The Titans also have the most sacks in the league this year, which should give them a great leg up on the other side of the ball as well.

To make matters worse for the Chargers, they have the second most sacks allowed in the conference. This could be a devastating game for a much maligned offensive line, though Marcus McNeill has to be getting more and more used to game action again after finally reporting to camp a few weeks ago. QB Philip Rivers isn’t just running for his life, but he is trying to find the best targets to throw the ball to as well. WR Malcom Floyd, who was having a great season with 513 yards and an average of 21.4 yards per reception, is going to probably miss his second straight game, while TE Antonio Gates is back in the fold after suffering a toe injury. WR Patrick Crayton has played well, but will only be making the second start of the season, while WR Craig Davis is also like to join him as a starter. Will RB Ryan Mathews finally be able to bust out of his shell? The rook only has 297 yards this year in spite of the fact that he has played in six games, while the man that was supposed to be his backup, RB Darren Sproles, only has 87 yards and has yet to score. All of that being said, it’s a miracle that Rivers has thrown for 2,344 yards and 13 TDs this season.

Somehow, some way, we tend to believe that Rivers is going to find a way to get this one done on Sunday. The Chargers played their best stretch of ball on the season last week against the New England Patriots and came up just short. McNeill and the offensive line will be challenged, but should survive in the trenches, and if that’s the case, Rivers could be in for a huge day.