After three straight wins, the Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) took a stumble last week. They’ll have a tough time getting back on track when they travel to EverBank Field to take on the surprising Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3).
The game will be on CBS and its network of local stations at 1 p.m. EST.
The Game: Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3.5)
O/U: 41.0
The History
The Chargers and Jaguars have played just nine times since 2003 with Los Angeles holding a 7-2 advantage in the all time series.
Both Jacksonville victories happened early on in the match up. The Jags won the first ever meeting 27-21 on October 5, 2003 at Alltel Stadium and the third meeting 24-17 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on November 18, 2007.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (3-5)
I made the mistake in thinking the Chargers could take advantage of the New England Patriots’ porous defense with Philip Rivers and his crew of receivers last week. I was an idiot. You see, if the Chargers had gone into Gillette Stadium and won it would have been head coach Anthony Lynn’s fourth victory in a row. That’s just tempting fate on my part. Frankly, considering that fact alone, I’m surprised it was within eight points.
Los Angeles was able to put up some stats against the Patriots. Melvin Gordon had 13 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown. It was Rivers who wasn’t sharp. He finished 17 of 30 for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Chargers converted just three third downs in the entire game and picked up a total of 16 first downs. This was against one of the worst defenses in the league.
Rivers spread the ball around to eight different receivers. Travis Benjamin and Keenan Allen did most of the work. Benjamin had five catches for 64 yards and a score. Allen caught four passes for 61 yards.
On defense, L.A. sacked Tom Brady three times and got seven stops in the backfield. They forced zero turnovers. Hayes Pullard and Joe Barksdale are both questionable, but I expect them to play.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-3)
After years of being the team everyone circled for a win on their schedule, the Jaguars have flipped the script. They’ve spent the year beating most the shitty teams in their headlights and even put a solid curb stomp on a squad, the Pittsburgh Steelers, as a serious underdog.
Since that win, the Jags have been a favorite on the sportsbooks. They’ve dropped one game, a 27-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but have cruised the last two weeks with a 27-0 shutout over the Indianapolis Colts and a 23-7 flying elbow delivered to the Cincinnati Bengals. Jacksonville is for real, especially on defense.
Last week they held the Bengals to just one third down conversion in the game and eight total first downs. Cincy managed just 19:46 in time of possession. Total yards for the Bengals? 148. That is pure domination so don’t be fooled by a pedestrian looking two sacks and six stops in the backfield. The Bengals could do nothing and spent most of the game watching from the sidelines.
While the Jags’ defense has carried them this far, the offense is starting to come to life. Blake Bortles was 24 of 38 for 259 yards and a touchdown with NO PICKS against Cincinnati. Leonard Fournette was benched for violating team rules, but Jacksonville still put a productive running game on the field. Chris Ivory led the way with 20 carries for 70 yards.
The Jags come in healthy. Nobody is listed as out and the questionable players all practiced.
The Pick
It’s time for the Chargers to slowly slide into that Top Five pick. Lynn was the wrong man for the job and it’s a shame L.A. is saddled with him for at least another season before they can hit the ejector button. Jacksonville is benefiting from their own coaching change and should be able to notch their sixth win Sunday. Jaguars 23, Chargers 16
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 1-0
Last week
Straight up: 9-4
Against the spread: 11-2
Season
Straight up: 78-54
Against the spread: 69-62
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