Tennessee Titans vs Los Angeles Chargers Box Score on Nov 06, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 6, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- Melvin Gordon collected 261 total yards and a touchdown as the San Diego Chargers beat the Tennessee Titans 43-35 Sunday.

Gordon, who paces the NFL with 11 touchdowns, rushed for a career-high 196 yards on 32 carries and added 65 on four catches as the Chargers (4-5) won for the third time in four games.

Tennessee's DeMarco Murray scored from 1 yard out late in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game.

Philip Rivers clicked with Antonio Gates and Tyrell Williams for touchdowns as the Chargers defeated the Titans (4-5) for the seventh straight time in San Diego, including the postseason. Rivers completed 24 of 33 passes for 275 yards.

Josh Lambo kicked four field goals for the Chargers, his last one from 36 yards in the fourth quarter. That was before Brandon Flowers had a 33-yard pick-six off a Marcus Mariota interception.

Gordon's yardage was the 15th-most in franchise history. His 196 rushing yards were the ninth-highest ever by a Charger.

Mariota, who threw for three touchdowns, was 27 of 43 for 313 yards, but he had two turnovers that were returned for touchdowns.

The Chargers shined in turning back Tennessee on the ground. The Titans, ranked second in the AFC with 152 yards per game, were restricted to 80 yards rushing.

Tight end Delaine Walker's 8-yard scoring reception with about 10 minutes to play let Tennessee creep to within 33-28.

Dwight Lowery's 43-yard return off a Mariota fumble turned the tide late in the third quarter, pushing the Chargers in front 33-21. Mariota, trying to reach the right edge on a running play, was stripped of the ball by Melvin Ingram and it was momentarily recovered by Korey Toomer. He lost control and the ball bounced to Lowery, who raced in untouched for his fourth career touchdown.

San Diego regained control with six minutes left in third quarter, going ahead 26-21. Gordon rushed in from 1 yard out, but the Chargers were the benefactors of two critical third-down penalties. The Titans were called for holding twice on third down, the second one after Rivers was sacked in the red zone. Instead of the Chargers attempting a field goal, the fresh series was converted into Gordon's 11th touchdown.

The Titans took their first lead of the game at 21-19 on the second half's first possession as Mariota scampered in from 14 yards out. Using a no-huddle out of the halftime break, Tennessee produced a nine-play, 75-yard drive which had the Chargers one their heels.

Mariota connected with Rishard Matthews for their second touchdown of the first half with 14 seconds remaining. Matthews' 7-yard catch sliced the Titans' deficit to 19-14 at the break.

Lambo's second field goal, coming in the half's final two minutes, was from 23 yards and good for a 19-7 cushion.

The Titans pulled within 16-7 on a well-placed 16-yard pass from Mariota to Matthews. Tennessee kept the scoring drive alive by converting on fourth-and-1 on Murray's run at the San Diego 16-yard line before Mariota found Matthews.

The Chargers struck first for a 6-0 edge, and it came from a familiar tandem clicking: Rivers to Gates.

Gates corralled a 13-yard, first-quarter pass from Rivers for the touchdown -- an NFL-high 81st between a quarterback and tight end. It was the 108th of Gates' career, just three shy of Tony Gonzalez's NFL standard at the position. Gates leads the Chargers with four scoring receptions.

Lambo, after missing the extra-point attempt on Gates' TD, nailed a 32-yard field goal to give San Diego a 9-0 lead. The Chargers declined to risk a fourth-and-1 at the Titans 10-yard line in settling for the field goal.

Rivers heaved his second scoring strike, this one to Williams, in the second quarter to increase San Diego's advantage to 16-0. Williams sliced over the middle for the 6-yard catch after Gordon's 45-yard run put the Chargers in the red zone.

NOTES: San Diego was missing ILBs Denzel Perryman and Jatavis Brown with injuries. Korey Toomer and Kyle Emanuel got their first starts of the season. ... LB Deon King and WR Isaiah Burse were elevated from the Chargers practice squad. ... Titans OLB Brian Orakpo left the game with a neck injury but returned. ... TE Delanie Walker was able to go after battling a groin injury this week.