Chargers can thank former Titans (and Kenneth Murray) for Week 10 beatdown
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers and Tennessee Titans are in completely different situations with their new head coaches after Week 10. With a win, the Chargers moved to 6-3 and are firmly in position to make the playoffs in the AFC. Meanwhile, with a loss, Tennessee's playoff hopes are dead as the team turns to finding its franchise quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft.
While the teams are in much different boats there is connective tissue that attaches the two. There are several former Titans who are currently on the Chargers, and several former Chargers who are now on the Titans.
And with a dominant 27-17 win, the Chargers proved they are not only the better team but are the true winner of the player swap that happened this past offseason.
Chargers' front office proves to be more savvy than the Titans.
Former Titans running back Hassan Haskins fittingly delivered the dagger into the heart of his former team on Sunday. The former Michigan Wolverine was claimed by the Chargers after he failed to make the Titans' 53-man roster at the beginning of the season.
Haskins, who had only eight carries for 18 yards in a special teams-exclusive role heading into this matchup, lunged across the endzone for a one-yard touchdown to make it 27-10 Chargers in the fourth quarter. It was his first-career touchdown.
Former Titan Elijah Molden, who was traded to the Chargers at the start of the season, has been a fundamental member of this Chargers defense. While Molden did not have a signature moment against his former team like Haskins, he is still a key member of a Chargers defense that thoroughly outmatched the Titans.
Cornerback Kristian Fulton didn't get his revenge against his former team as he was inactive with an injury. However, Fulton has had the best year of his career after looking like a draft bust in Tennessee.
Meanwhile, Chargers draft bust Kenneth Murray continued hurting the Titans' defense. Justin Herbert juked Murray to a new area code in the first quarter before completing a touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston with Murray in coverage in the second half.
Sebastian Joseph-Day didn't have any lowlights like Murray but he and the Titans' defensive line weren't able to do much against Herbert or the Chargers' running game. Gus Edwards returned to action with a bang while Herbert recorded over 30 rushing yards in the win.
And while Haskins scored his first-career touchdown against his former team, former Chargers running back Joshua Kelley was inactive for the Titans. None of the former Chargers ended up burning their former team on Sunday.