Titans 19 Chargers 20: Los Angeles hang on after late drama at Wembley

The Los Angeles Chargers extended their win streak to four straight games with a single point victory over the Tennessee Titans, after thrilling finale at Wembley.

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers threw two huge touchdown passes in a 306 yard masterclass as the Chargers took the win in the second of this season’s NFL International Series games.

However, the game will be remembered for an epic conclusion which saw the Titans almost steal it. Trailing by seven with a minute remaining, quarterback Marcus Mariota scored a rushing touchdown to move within one point, but Tennessee opted to try and win the game with a two-point conversion, rather than the kick which would have forced over time.

The Chargers began without star running back Melvin Gordon, the man with the third-most rushing yards in the league through six games, because of a hamstring injury, while the Titans defense was handed a further boost with the return of Wesley Woodyard.

Having been shut-out by the Baltimore Ravens last weekend, the Titans struck first with a Ryan Succop field goal off the opening drive.

However, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers responded with his very first play of the afternoon, launching a bomb downfield for a 75-yard touchdown to Tyrell Williams.

Rookie kicker Michael Badgley and Succop then traded field goals, before the Titans blew a great chance to take the lead just before half-time as Marcus Mariota was intercepted in the redzone by Denzel Perryman.

Despite the error, it was an improved first-half showing from Mariota, receiving better protection up ahead, having been sacked a franchise-record 11 times last week.

Immediately after the break though, Rivers connected with a wide-open Mike Williams for his second touchdown pass of the day, this one a 55-yard throw.

London NFL fans have been praying for a close game after a series of blowout wins in recent fixtures on this side of the Atlantic, and Derrick Henry kept the Titans in touch with a one-yard touchdown run.

Another Badgley field goal at the start of the fourth quarter put the Chargers seven points clear, before Succop missed a 51-yarder that would have reduced the deficit.

Mariota thought he had scored a potentially game-levelling touchdown with less than a minute to go, only for a review to show he’d been brought down before crossing the goal line.

The Titans did score on the very next play, Mariota finding Luke Stocker, but they could not find the game winning conversion, despite a holding penalty giving them two attempts, as the Chargers clung on.

The defeat leaves the Titans struggling on 3-4 after a run of three successive losses going into the bye week, while the Chargers move to 5-2 in pursuit of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.