Justin Herbert’s three-touchdown performance lifts Chargers to win over Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Chargers won the battle but lost the warrior.

They held off the Tennessee Titans 27-20 but saw their outstanding left tackle, Joe Alt, go down with the same injured ankle that sidelined him earlier this season.

It was a troubling and ominous blow to a franchise that’s in a constant state of reshuffling its offensive line and unable to sufficiently protect quarterback Justin Herbert. Before losing Alt, the Chargers lost lineman Bobby Hart to an injured groin and lower leg.

The status of both Alt and Hart is unclear but neither returned to the game. It’s not a good sign for Herbert, who was hit 11 times and sacked six times by the Titans after entering Sunday as the most-hit and harassed quarterback in the NFL.

🏈 Chargers 27, Titans 20 — FINAL

Justin Herbert passed for 250 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards and another touchdown to lead the Chargers to victory Sunday.

A seven-yard run by Jaret Patterson and a six-yard run by Herbert for first downs allowed the Chargers to run down the clock. Herbert converted on a pair of tush-push plays in the final minutes to secure the win.

Herbert was sacked six times. Even more concerning, left tackle Joe Alt was carted off the field in the first half with an ankle injury.

🏈 Chargers 27, Titans 20 — 4:19 left in the fourth quarter

Joey Slye kicked a 37-yard field goal for the Titans to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter.

The field goal ended an eight-play, 40-yard drive that included a 15-yard reception by Gunnar Helm and a 12-yard pass to Tony Pollard.

On the Chargers’ previous possession, Justin Herbert was sacked twice — the Chargers have given up six sacks so far.

🏈 Chargers 27, Titans 17 — 12:58 left in the fourth quarter

Justin Herbert scored on a one-yard run after rolling out and sliding into the end zone as the Chargers extended their lead with an impressive 15-play, 99-yard drive.

Quentin Johnston made a spectacular 23-yard catch, overcoming tight coverage to make a spinning grab along the sideline for the biggest play of the drive.

Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II caught a 14-yard pass at the beginning of the possession — he has five receptions for 68 yards so far.

Herbert has completed 18 of 27 passes for 247 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He has rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown on five runs.

🏈 Chargers 20, Titans 17 — 7:01 left in the third quarter

The Chargers stuffed Titans running back Tony Pollard at the goal line on fourth down to prevent a touchdown on what was until then the most impressive-looking drive from the Titans today.

Elijah Molden appeared to make first contact with Pollard and Derwin James Jr. helped bring him down.

The Chargers stopped Pollard on back-to-back runs on third and fourth down to preserve their lead.

Elic Ayomanor caught a 29-yard pass in the middle of the field to move the ball into Chargers territory.

The Chargers went three-and-out on their first possession after halftime.

🏈 Chargers 20, Titans 17 — HALFTIME

Cameron Dicker kicked a 52-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the first half to push the Chargers back into the lead.

The field goal completed a six-play, 40-yard drive that included a 30-yard run by Justin Herbert. However, Dre’Mont Jones’ second sack of the game ultimately led to the Chargers possession stalling.

Herbert has completed 13 of 20 passes for 185 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. Ladd McConkey has four catches for 56 yards.

The Chargers held Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward to 53 yards on four-of-11 passing.

🏈 Chargers 17, Titans 17 — 4:40 left in the second quarter

Chargers left tackle Joe Alt was carted off the field to the locker room after sustaining a right ankle injury in the second quarter.

Alt was playing in only his second game since returning from an ankle injury that kept him out three games.

It’s a significant blow to a Chargers offensive line that has been plagued by injuries this season. On the first play after Alt’s injury, Justin Herbert was sacked, leading to a Chargers punt from the end zone.

Alt is questionable to return, the team said.

🏈 Chargers 17, Titans 17 — 5:02 left in the second quarter

A 26-yard catch-and-run by Tennessee’s Tyjae Spears helped set up a 49-yard field goal Joey Slye to tie the score late in the first half.

Spears also had a 10-yard run during the drive for a Titans team that is not making life easy for the Chargers defense.

🏈 Chargers 17, Titans 14 — 8:37 left in the second quarter

Quentin Johnston caught a beautiful 19-yard pass from Justin Herbert that went right over the hands of leaping Titans cornerback Jayln Armour-Davis to put the Chargers into the lead.

The touchdown came at the end of an efficient six-play, 70-yard drive that included receptions of 21 and 16 yards by Ladd McConkey.

🏈 Titans 14, Chargers 10 — 14:06 left in the second quarter

Cameron Dicker kicked a 27-yard field goal as the Chargers couldn’t find the end zone after a nine-play, 56-yard drive.

After getting to the Tennessee nine-yard line, Justin Herbert failed to connect on passes intended for Kimani Vidal and Quentin Johnston.

Herbert did complete a 31-yard pass to Keenan Allen and a 12-yard pass to Tucker Fisk to fuel the drive.

🏈 Titans 14, Chargers 7 — 2:55 left in the first quarter

Titans rookie Chimere Dike scored on a spectacular 67-yard punt return, capitalizing on a key block after the catch, to put Tennessee back into the lead.

The Chargers’ third possession of the game ended with Justin Herbert being sacked by linebacker Dre’Mont Jones one play after right tackle Bobby Hart had to be helped off the field after sustaining a groin injury (questionable to return).

It has been a sloppy start for the Chargers, who’ve given up defensive and special team touchdowns to the 1-7 Titans.

🏈 Chargers 7, Titans 7 — 7:24 left in the first quarter

The Chargers wasted no time after Tennessee’s early defensive touchdown, with Justin Herbert completing a two-yard touchdown pass to fullback Scott Matlock to tie the score

The play capped a speedy, seven-play, 76-yard drive that was mostly fueled by a 34-yard reception by rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II. Herbert also completed a 15-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Tre’ Harris.

🏈 Titans 7, Chargers 0 — 11:19 left in the first quarter

Tennessee linebacker Cody Barton intercepted Justin Herbert’s second pass of the game on a throw intended for Keenan Allen, returning it 24 yards for a touchdown.

Barton read the play perfectly and got underneath Allen to pick off the pass and run unscathed into the end zone.

The Titans managed to move to midfield on the game’s first possession after Tony Pollard broke free for runs of 12 and 16 yards on consecutive plays. A fumble in the backfield by Cam Ward led to a five-yard loss that ultimately hampered the drive.

Tre’ Harris watched as Oronde Gadsden II burst by him, the 6-foot-5 tight end chugging over the turf at Golden West College’s football field.

Months before Harris and Gadsden suited up as Chargers rookies, the duo were catching passes from Jaxson Dart — now the starting quarterback for the New York Giants — during pre-NFL Scouting Combine training sessions at the Huntington Beach community college as the trio took advantage of sunny weather in Southern California.

“I saw his talents immediately,” Dart said of Gadsden. “Skill set-wise, I thought he was a very unique athlete, being, you know, the stature that he is. I thought his footwork was some of the best that I’ve seen.”

When the Chargers are successful — and they have won four of six games this season — you can most often trace the results back to two elite components: the arm of Justin Herbert and the leg of Cameron Dicker.

The football world celebrates the former. Herbert has pinpoint precision, even when draped in defenders. But the latter, Dicker’s record-breaking reliability, has almost become an afterthought. He’s going to make his kicks.

Nearly 80% of NFL games were decided by one possession last season, underscoring the value of a kicker who can deliver three points time after time. For instance, Dicker tied a career high by kicking five field goals in the 29-27 win at the Dolphins, including the 33-yard clincher — and in his five seasons he has never missed a field goal of 40 yards or fewer.

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 9 of the NFL season.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 7-6 (.538) record. Through the first eight weeks of the season, he is 78-43 (.645).

Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, his record against the spread in Week 8 would have been 5-8 (.385). For the season, his record against the spread is 61-60 (.504).

The offense topped 30 points for the first time all season.

The defense went from rattled to relentless.

And the special teams? The Chargers kicked three field goals in their 37-10 rout of Minnesota on Thursday night, but it’s what they didn’t do that was most resounding.

For the first time in four years, the Chargers didn’t punt.

Good teams win the games they should win — and the Chargers are out to prove they’re a good team.

They travel to Tennessee on Sunday to face rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick, who has shown flashes of promise but isn’t yet where he wants to be in his career.

The Chargers are riding high after an Oct. 23 win over Minnesota that marked the return of outstanding left tackle Joe Alt. That makes a big difference both in the protection of Justin Herbert and paving the way for the running game.