Today, the Los Angeles Chargers walk into Nissan Stadium to take on the Tennessee Titans, who may currently carry the title for worst team in the NFL. At first, people may have thought this could be a trap game — one the Chargers should win. Derwin James was expected to miss this game, Hassan Haskins is still out, and overall, maybe fans could convince themselves that this was a game the Bolts could somehow drop.

Now? If the Chargers lose this game, fans should all but declare their season over.

The Tennessee Titans are already bad to begin with. But on their final injury report, Tennessee confirmed they will be down not one, two, or even three — but a whopping four starters, three on defense and one on offense.

Titans PR (@TitansPR) on X This week’s final injury report.

For a defense that was already lacking, taking three of their best players off the board completely just throws a major wrench in things. Tennessee will be down Jeffery Simmons, Xavier Woods, Arden Key and Calvin Ridley. Beyond Ridley, there's not really anyone note in the Titans’ wide receiver room.

This Tennessee roster will have to rely on inferior talent if it expects to pull out a win today. If they somehow figure it out, the Chargers should have to walk back to Los Angeles from Nashville.

The Giants game was at least understandable from a matchup perspective — and even more so once tackle Joe Alt went down. The Chargers got caught off guard and immediately lost their most important player not named Justin Herbert, and the wheels fell off quickly. The Titans, however, just don’t have the talent New York does along the defensive line. They’ll have to throw a lot of different blitz packages in if they hope to get home, and this offense has to be capable of solving that and piecing them up.

If not? Fans are going to be — and this is the only word that does it justice — pissed, and rightfully so. A loss today would cement this season as just another waste. The same old Chargers come into a must-win game (as all of these are in such a tight divisional race) and lay an egg against the worst team in football. The script could not write itself any better for the Chargers to show the world they’re nothing but the same old Chargers.

They must make sure that doesn’t happen.

This game doesn’t need to be close. It shouldn’t be close. It doesn’t appear it will be close. Anything other than a dominant win will feel disappointing — while a loss will feel outright season-ending. Not only are the Tennessee Titans just a bad football team, they’re a hurt football team that’s shipping players off and playing under interim head coach Mike McCoy. They don’t want to win games! To be clear, all players and coaches are undoubtedly trying to win. But the front office and ownership certainly know that this team is fighting for draft position. 

That should be enough reason for the Chargers to dominate.

The stage is set for a big win. The ball is in your court, Los Angeles. Dominate, stay healthy and maybe bring back a couple of Titans on the ride home ahead of the trade deadline.