NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Chargers are moving to Los Angeles.
After a 55-year stint in San Diego, the franchise officially announced the move on Thursday. The Titans traveled to San Diego six times in the "Titans era" and faced them nine times since 2004, including once in the playoffs.
Let's take a look back at five memorable moments between the Titans and Chargers over the years:
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A San Diego farewell**
When: November 6, 2016
Where: San Diego.
What happened: No one knew it at the time, but this would end up being Tennessee's last game against the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. It attracted perhaps the biggest turnout ever for Titans fans at a road contest. Marcus Mariota fans from his home state of Hawaii, the University of Oregon and beyond were in San Diego on a day when the quarterback threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns, and produced a 14-yard dive to the pylon as the Titans rallied from an early 16-0 deficit to take a 21-19 lead. But Mariota also turned the ball over three times on the day – two were returned for touchdowns -- as the Titans lost, 43-35.
Last second TD
When: September 22, 2013
Where: Nashville.
What happened: The Titans trailed the Chargers 17-13 when they took over at their own six-yard line with just 2:05 left in the contest. That's when quarterback Jake Locker delivered a game-winning drive that ended with a touchdown pass to receiver Justin Hunter. Locker completed five straight passes to start the drive, and drove the Titans to the San Diego 34-yard line with 28 seconds left before spiking the football into the turf. After an incompletion, Locker dropped back and lofted the ball up to Hunter, who came down with the football with just 15 seconds left, giving the Titans a 20-17 win at Nissan Stadium.
**
Playoff battle**
When: January 6, 2008
Where: San Diego
What happened: In the lone playoff contest between these teams, the Titans and Chargers staged a slugfest that featured a heartbreaking -- and controversial finish -- for the Titans. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson racked up 1,474 yards and 15 touchdowns during the regular season, but the Titans held him to just 42 yards in the game. With the Chargers ahead 10-6 midway through the fourth quarter, Tomlinson went airborne from the one-yard line on a fourth down play. Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch met him in flight before linebacker Colin Allred knocked the ball out of his hands. Tomlinson celebrated as Titans coach Jeff Fisher threw the challenge flag. After review, it was ruled the ball crossed the plane of the goal line. The Chargers won, 17-6. The Titans led 6-0 at the half and played without four offensive starters due to injuries.
Fights, fines and more
When: December 9, 2007
Where: Nashville
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The Tennessee Titans take on the San Diego Chargers in their 2013 home opener at LP Field. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
What happened:** Fights, fines, drama – and an overtime finish. This game had everything – except a decent replay of a controversial play. The Chargers rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to beat the Titans 23-17 in overtime, winning on a 16-yard touchdown run from Tomlinson in overtime. It was a tough, nasty game which produced $32,500 in fines for four players. The Titans didn't like San Diego's Shawne Merriman hitting quarterback Vince Young after he handed off the football, and offensive linemen David Stewart and Kevin Mawae were among those who got their message across later in the game. This one stung even more after the fact when replays surfaced later. Officials ruled a fourth-down throw to Chargers receiver Chris Chambers was a completed catch - and a first down - on San Diego's game-tying drive, but replays appeared to show the ball actually hit the ground.
First NFL game in Nashville
When: September 13, 1998
Where: Nashville
What happened: OK, so the team was technically the Tennessee "Oilers" at the time, but this was a significant game in franchise history. After playing a year at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, the NFL made its regular season debut on an 87-degree day at Vanderbilt Stadium when the Oilers faced the Chargers. Quarterback Steve McNair threw for 193 yards and a touchdown, but running back Eddie George managed just 11 yards on 15 carries. The Chargers left town with a 13-7 win as rookie quarterback Ryan Leaf completed 13-of-24 passes for 179 yards. It was part of an 8-8 season for the Oilers, who became the Titans the following year.
