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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Shaun Calderon

NFL experts make Week 2 picks for Titans vs. Chargers

The Tennessee Titans are set to host the Los Angeles Chargers in their home opener on Sunday in a crucial game where they will try to avoid an 0-2 start for the second consecutive year.

Tennessee is currently listed as home underdogs after last week’s dismal performance on offense where they failed to score a single touchdown.

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As for the Chargers,  they’re coming off a gut-wrenching loss to the Miami Dolphins in which they scored 34 points in defeat.

The good news is, the Titans’ defense should be able to limit the Chargers’ offense much better than the Dolphins’ did in order to keep this game within reach.

However, if this contest turns into a shoot-out, there’s no telling whether or not Tennessee will be able to keep up with quarterback Justin Herbert and Co.

As you can probably expect, the consensus narrative around the league going into this game is that the Titans should lose this one, and you’ll see that opinion reflected in the majority of expert picks.

USA TODAY

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY’s Week 2 picks

Jarrett Bell: Titans, 24-22

Chris Bumbaca: Chargers, 21-17

Nate Davis: Titans, 23-20

Safid Deen: Chargers, 24-20

Tyler Dragon: Chargers, 28-25

Victoria Hernandez: Chargers, 24-10

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Chargers, 30-21

Lorenzo Reyes: Chargers, 31-23

NFL.com

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

NFL.com’s Week 2 picks

Ali Bhanpuri: Chargers, 23-21

Brooke Cersosimo: Titans, 24-23

Dan Parr: Chargers, 25-21

Gennaro Filice: Chargers, 24-20

Tom Blair: Chargers, 34-20

CBS Sports

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

CBS Sports’ Week 2 picks

Pete Prisco: Chargers 25, Titans 17 – “The Chargers are coming off a horrible defensive showing, while the Titans are coming off a terrible offensive showing. Something has to give. I think the Chargers defense will play better against a bad offensive line. That will lead to turnovers again for the Titans and short fields, which Justin Herbert will take advantage of with his arm. Chargers take it.”

Will Brinson: Titans

Jared Dubin: Chargers

Ryan Wilson: Chargers

John Breech: Chargers

Tyler Sullivan: Chargers

Dave Richard: Titans

Jamey Eisenberg: Titans

Bleacher Report

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Bleacher Report’s Week 2 picks

Gary Davenport: Chargers

Brad Gagnon: Chargers

Ian Hanford: Titans

Kristopher Knox: Chargers

Maurice Moton: Chargers

Wes O’Donnell: Chargers

Brent Sobleski: Chargers

Score prediction: Chargers 27, Titans 21

ESPN

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Week 2 picks

Stephania Bell: Chargers

Matt Bowen: Chargers

Mike Clay: Chargers

Jeremy Fowler: Chargers

Dan Graziano: Chargers

Kimberly A. Martin: Chargers

Eric Moody: Chargers

Jason Reid: Chargers

Lindsey Thiry: Chargers

Sam Wickersham: Titans

MMQB

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

MMQB’s Week 2 picks

Albert Breer: Chargers

Mitch Goldich: Chargers

Claire Kuwana: Chargers

Gilberto Manzano: Chargers

Conor Orr: Chargers

John Pluym: Chargers

Matt Verderame: Titans

Pro Football Talk

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Pro Football Talk’s Week 2 picks

Chris Simms: Chargers 28, Titans 24

Mike Florio: Chargers 27, Titans 20

Sporting News

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Sporting News’ Week 2 picks

Vinnie Iyer: Chargers 27, Titans 20 – “Derrick Henry should rumble to a big rushing game with some help from rookie Tyjae Spears behind him, but eventually, the Titans will run out of having the necessary firepower with struggling Ryan Tannehill. Justin Herbert can pick apart the Titans’ secondary with multiple receivers and Austin Ekeler can also elude a stout interior run defense by getting into the open field.”

Bill Bender: Chargers 22, Titans 19 – “The Titans are trying to avoid a 0-2 start for the second consecutive season under coach Mike Vrabel. The Chargers allowed 536 yards in Week 1, but they allowed just 70 rushing yards. Los Angeles gutted out a 17-14 victory against Tennessee last season. It’s a similar tight game to the finish this time. Los Angeles is 9-9 in road games under Brandon Staley, so this is a coin flip.”

The 33rd Team

Syndication: The Tennessean

The 33rd Team’s Week 2 pick

Ryan Reynolds: Chargers 27, Titans 20 – “Both teams lost close games in Week 1. The Los Angeles Chargers have two “plus” matchups against the Tennessee Titans: The Chargers’ offensive line can mitigate Tennessee’s strong front, while Justin Herbert can shred the Titans’ beatable secondary. Herbert’s passing attack has an enormous ceiling in this contest. If Los Angeles can play with a lead, its edge duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack has a trench advantage against Tennessee. The Chargers’ run defense has been a liability for the past two seasons for the Titans. That’s a major problem when facing Derrick Henry. Ultimately, the Chargers have the better roster and the better quarterback, but the Titans have the better head coach.”

Overall expert tally

Harry How/Getty Images

Number of experts picking Chargers: 41

Number of experts picking Titans: 9

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