CHARGERS 38, TITANS 17; Brees passes for three touchdowns
By wire services
Published October 4, 2004
SAN DIEGO - While LaDainian Tomlinson was as shifty as ever, Drew Brees played as if he had something to prove.
Brees, who has had a tenuous grip on his job since last season, passed for three touchdowns, including a 58-yarder to Reche Caldwell midway through the fourth quarter, and Tomlinson rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown.
The Titans played without Steve McNair, who was reduced to being the emergency third quarterback after bruising his sternum in a loss to Jacksonville last week. Billy Volek threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to keep the Titans from losing their third straight.
Brees' big game came six days after rookie Philip Rivers was promoted from third string to backup quarterback.
The Chargers didn't need to call on Rivers, especially after Brees and Caldwell, the former Jefferson High and UF standout, helped snap a two-game losing streak.
After the Titans cut a 17 point deficit to 24-17 in the fourth quarter, Brees threw a short pass to Caldwell. Cornerback Samari Rolle went for the interception but missed, Caldwell caught the ball and raced to the left corner of the end zone for a 14-point lead with 6:42 to play.
