This season has been rough for the Tennessee Titans, and it’s not getting any easier in Week 9 when they host the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium.

There are a lot of things happening within the Titans’ organization, and it stems from the administration. Right now, under interim head coach Mike McCoy, the play-calling looks very conservative, which makes no sense since the Titans have nothing to lose. This is the perfect time to bust out the trick plays and go for it on fourth down rather than punt.

But all of that is a subject for another day, as the Titans gear up for their game with the Chargers on Sunday, let’s take a look at the top five storylines in this Week 9 matchup.

Cam Ward’s Growth vs. Herbert’s Ascendancy

Through no fault of his own, Cam Ward’s growth and development have not gone as planned. He is showing signs of progress, specifically with pocket awareness and decision-making. He’s developing chemistry with his fellow rookies, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Gunnar Helm, which bodes well for the Titans’ future. But it’s a slow process right now, and the Titans’ coaching instability is a problem.

On the flip side, Justin Herbert is thriving under Greg Roman’s pass-heavy system. He has a 122.8 passer rating over the last two games, and he continues to show dominance by exploiting gaps in opponents’ defenses each week. He is on the rise, and he’s not slowing down. The pace of the game will be a strong indicator of which way the score will go.

Trade Deadline Fallout

The trade deadline is November 4 at 3:00 p.m. CDT. The Titans are in sell mode, having already traded Roger McCreary to the Los Angeles Rams and earlier traded Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to the New York Jets. Both trades resulted in additional draft picks for the Titans in 2026.

They may not be done yet, either. Running back Tony Pollard could be one to watch. Tyjae Spears is taking the ground game to the next level as a more dynamic running back than Pollard. But there could be even more players traded away before the deadline next week.

By contrast, the Chargers are buyers. They are getting key players like Khalil Mack and Joe Alt from injury, and they are more likely to acquire fresh talent than to get rid of players. This speaks to the difference in organizational balance and success between the two teams.

2024 Draft Tackle Showdown: Alt vs. Latham

Joe Alt and J.C. Latham obviously won’t be on the field at the same time, but Alt was someone the Titans wanted in 2024. Instead, the Chargers snagged him and flipped him to left tackle. With that change, Alt looks like an All-Pro, whereas Latham has struggled. Latham has even struggled this season. After returning to his natural right-sided position, he hasn’t shown much improvement. This game is a referendum on both teams’ draft choices.

Ladd McConkey’s Emergence

Wide receiver Ladd McConkey has become Justin Herbert’s go-to target. He’s pulled in 22 catches for 255 yards and two touchdowns over the last three weeks. With McCreary gone and Sneed on injured reserve, it will be up to Darrell Baker Jr. and Jalyn Armour-Davis to stop the emerging star.

McConkey is currently questionable for this game due to a calf injury that limited him in practice on Wednesday, but if he plays, he’s projected to record over 100 receiving yards.

Chargers’ Playoff Push vs. Titans’ Collapse

Let’s be real, the Titans collapsed a mere three weeks into the season. At 1-7, they no longer have playoff aspirations. They rank last in the NFL in scoring, and they’ve been outscored 89-37 over the last three games. That’s a 52-point difference! It’s not just that the defense is struggling to stop opposing teams; it’s also the offense’s inability to put points on the board.

The Chargers are surging with a 5-3 record. Joe Alt returned from injury last week to help the Chargers to a 37-10 blowout of the Minnesota Vikings, and there’s potential for this game to be a blowout too.