NFL Wembley preview: Prediction & tips for Tennessee Titans v LA Chargers in London
The NFL returns to Wembley on Sunday where the flying LA Chargers look too hot to handle for the puzzling Tennessee Titans.
Recommended bet
2pts LA Chargers score over 26.5 pts at Evens
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Tennessee Titans @ LA Chargers (1430 BST, BBC Two)
The Chargers really are charging in the NFL as they make the trip to London looking for a fourth win in a row to continue their emergence from the pack of dark horses to show they're genuine contenders.
LA sit on 4-2 with those only pair of losses coming against unbeaten city rivals the LA Rams and the 5-1 divisional foes Kansas City Chiefs – so no disgrace in that and both of those were hard-fought encounters.
Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers leads the only NFL offence to have scored three touchdowns in every game so far as they average just under 30 points per game – with Rivera having thrown 15 TD passes and just three interceptions.
The ground game is none too shabby either in the hands of Melvin Gordon, who ran in three TDs last week in the hammering of Cleveland and 132 of the mammoth 246-yard rushing total they tallied when bossing the Browns up front.
Throw in a defence that sacked browns QB Baker Mayfield I’ve times last week and it all adds up to a herculean task for the Tennessee Titans to try and stop them – especially given their last two woeful outings.
The Titans moved to 3-1 when beating the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in overtime, but they’ve not even managed to score a touchdown since in subsequent losses to Baltimore and Buffalo.
Going eight quarters without a touchdown is bad enough but Tennessee even suffered a 21-0 shutout, their first at home in almost 20 years, against the Ravens last week and with only two attacks ranked worse than league than the Titans they really need to find a one to move the chains to stand any chance on Sunday.
The Titans defence has been stout enough, but without scoring points that’ll only get you so far and it’s hard to keep a lid on both Rivers’ passing and Gordon’s rushing to try and limit the Chargers to a manageable total.
LA also took the decision to remain in Cleveland after Sunday’s win to make the trip to London shorter and with talk of team spirit being raised even further by the road trip atmosphere this game looks there for the taking for the Bolts.
Prediction: LA Chargers win (-8pts) at 5/4
Points: LA Chargers score over 26.5 pts at Evens
Touchdowns: Keenan Allen & Austin Eckler both tot score at 4/1