What We Saw: Week 15

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Titans @ Chargers

Final Score: Chargers 17, Titans 14

Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)

Well, that was certainly an entertaining ending to an otherwise low-scoring affair! Justin Herbert struggled for the majority of the game as the Titans defense was smothering, to say the least. Herbert battled through it with some help from the running game and hung in there until the end, coming up clutch when it mattered most. The Titans saw their starting quarterback get carted off before returning to the field which definitely had an inspiring effect on their sideline. As great as the defense was, they couldn’t find enough support from their offense to seal the victory when the fat lady finally sang. The defense did, however, produce this absolute highlight reel of an interception as the first half came to a close. Behold:

YOOOOOOOOOO 🤯

📺: Watch #TENvsLAC on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/zsL0JXnI5R

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 18, 2022

Tennessee Titans

Quarterback

Ryan Tannehill: 15/22, 165 Yards, INT, 4 Sacks | 3 Carries, -1 Yard, TD

Malik Willis: 3/4, 20 Yards | 1 Carry, 8 Yards

The longer this season progresses, the more obvious it becomes that sending away AJ Brown was a very bad idea. Their best weapon in the passing game is a rookie fourth-round pick tight end, and it shows in their passing stats as they have become a bottom-five passing team in 2022. With the starting quarterback in the locker room, Malik Willis stepped in for a drive, using his legs as well as his arm to keep the sticks moving until a holding call derailed the drive and made the Titans punt. Ryan Tannehill was carted off of the field with an ankle injury early in the first quarter, but ultimately only missed that single drive after putting what I assume was an entire roll of tape on his ankle. Tannehill’s interception was a multitude of failures – he probably shouldn’t have thrown it but his receiver did him zero favors. The Titans leaned on the run game to help their injured signal-caller, but he still took a beating with four sacks. Tannehill did his best to keep his team in the game without a true receiving threat, but you can tell he was feeling that injury when you see him try to throw. Look at his feet:

We have life! @ryantannehill1 toughing it out! 💪

📺: Watch #TENvsLAC on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/iUPBiBbAaB

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 18, 2022

Running Back

Derrick Henry: 21 Carries, 104 Yards, TD, Fumble (Recovered) | 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 59 Yards

Hassan Haskins: 1 Carry, 8 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards

Hassan Haskins saw the field to give the lead back a breath or two on the sideline, and did his job well. 15 yards on three combined touches is phenomenal efficiency, especially when the defense knows a run is likely coming. Although he did fumble, Derrick Henry looked like his vintage self against a stacked box. He didn’t stiff-arm anyone into the shadow realm like we’ve seen in the past, but he ran hard and made the defense earn it. Henry got a few more looks in the passing game catching dump-offs out of the backfield when Tannehill needed to get rid of the ball early to avoid taking more hits, resulting in four receptions for 59 yards which inflated his fantasy ceiling in PPR formats. Playcalling didn’t go Henry’s way in the second half as the team decided to throw instead of run in several questionable situations. He had a huge drive in the second quarter, which he capped off with this direct snap for a score from four yards out:

KING CAT! @KingHenry_2

📺: Watch #TENvsLAC on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/1nNK3tKudi

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 18, 2022

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Chigoziem Okonkwo: 1 Carry, 6 Yards | 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 54 Yards

Austin Hooper: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 33 Yards

Chris Conley: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 19 Yards

Robert Woods: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards

Racey McMath: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 1 Yard

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 2 Targets

As mentioned previously, this group is desperately feeling the void left by AJ Brown. This was amplified even more by the early injury to Tannehill which left him unable to truly set his feet and throw downfield with accuracy. Chigoziem Okonkwo continues to blossom as the primary pass-catcher in the offense in the absence of Treylon Burks, as he was the target leader at five, bringing in four of those for 54 yards as well as a carry for another six yards. The offense definitely draws up plays just for him. Austin Hooper was caught half of his four targets for 33 yards, but both of them were for nice gains. Chris Conley and Robert Woods both chipped in with a handful of receptions on seven targets but only managed 31 yards combined. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine failed to bring in either of his targets that came in the first half. Racey McMath managed to bring in one of his two targets for a single yard. His other target resulted in Tannehill’s interception where he also drew an offensive pass interference call, which was declined. Rough outing for this passing game.

Los Angeles Chargers

Quarterback

Justin Herbert: 28/42, 313 Yards, 2 INT, 3 Sacks | 1 Carry, 2 Yards

The first approximately 82% of this game was very ugly for Justin Herbert. One of the interceptions wasn’t very game-relevant as it occurred as the first half was coming to a close, but it still damages his fantasy upside. Sacks are always bad, but the three that Herbert took came at drive-killing times. Every time it looked like he was about to get rolling, something would happen to derail the momentum. Thankfully the running game was there to back up Herbert. As the game came to a close, Herbert activated his clutch gene to power his team into field goal range and the eventual game-winner, while also putting him over 300 yards passing for the third straight game, somewhat salvaging an otherwise poor fantasy outing. Without a score on the stat sheet, it was tough seeing throws like this when near the red zone:

DO YOUR THING, KB! @KevinByard

📺: Watch #TENvsLAC on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/MJFYGEagBO

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 18, 2022

Running Back

Austin Ekeler: 12 Carries, 58 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards

Joshua Kelley: 10 Carries, 24 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 Yards

Joshua Kelley filled in as the next man up due to injury and managed to vulture a one-yard touchdown during that time on the field. He was incredibly inefficient on the ground and looked like he was slamming into the back of the pile on all 10 of his rushing attempts. He was also targeted twice, bringing in one for seven yards. It was not part of the game plan to give him 12 touches, but with Austin Ekeler injuring his arm in the first quarter, Kelley did his job as the backup. Ekeler was rather quiet in the first half, possibly attributed to the injury, but figured it out in the second half. Ultimately Ekeler ended the game with 14 total touches for 70 yards and a score which is excellent considering the early injury. In the end he still managed to find the endzone in the fourth quarter after this nifty little run to the outside:

if u voted for ek, this is for u @AustinEkeler | @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/4YKEu6XW2u

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 18, 2022

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Keenan Allen: 9 Targets, 8 Receptions, 86 Yards

Mike Williams: 8 Targets, 4 Receptions, 67 Yards

Joshua Palmer: 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 49 Yards

Gerald Everett: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 42 Yards

Donald Parham Jr.: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 35 Yards

DeAndre Carter: 1 Carry, -10 Yards | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 15 Yards

The flipside of the Titans receiving room would be this Chargers group. Keenan Allen is back to doing Keenan Allen things as the top receiving option in this passing attack. Herbert looked his way nine times, with Allen bringing in eight of them for 86 yards. Joshua Palmer continues to develop this year and looked great today, bringing in all five of his targets for 49 yards, although he is still the 4th option at best in this offense when everyone is healthy. Gerald Everett falls into that same tier in this offense, catching four of six targets for 42 yards. Donald Parham Jr and DeAndre Carter combined for four receptions and 50 total yards, with Carter also getting a carry that resulted in a 10 yard loss on a busted trick play. Mike Williams was the other half of the heroic duo that put the Chargers into field goal range as time expired. He only managed to bring in half of his eight targets for 67 yards, but they were some big catches. A few jump balls simply didn’t go his way, but Herbert and Williams connected when it mattered most: