NFL Playoffs Chargers vs Jaguars: Where the battle will be won and lost
The Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Los Angeles Chargers tonight at 8:15 PM ET. It will be the second of two games played today as the San Francisco 49ers will host the Seattle Seahawks at 4:35 PM ET.
Both the Jaguars and Chargers ended the season strong. Jacksonville won five games straight and went from 2-6 to 9-8, winning the AFC South title. The Chargers finished the season 10-7 after starting the season 6-6 and earned the fifth seed in the playoffs.
Behold! The NFL Playoff Schedule, via @nfl: https://t.co/h4XsBC5Zvz
The two met each other in a non-divisional game in Week 3 of the season. Los Angeles hosted Jacksonville and got beaten 38-10.
In that game, Trevor Lawrence threw for three touchdowns while the Jaguars rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown, and didn't turn the ball over.
The Chargers ran for only 26 yards, put up one touchdown, and Herbert turned the ball over twice.
While the dominant victory came early in the season, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson knows both teams are much different heading into tonight's game.
"They're different. We're different. That was a long time ago. There's some new faces on their side. There's some new faces on our side. Schematically, probably both the same with us and with them. Again, we've talked about it a lot. You're not going to trick anybody. It just comes down to execution, both sides, them and us."
(ICYMI) Doug Pederson on Jaguars' rematch with Chargers: "They're different. We're different"
nfl.com/news/doug-pede… https://t.co/gEipl0KClD
Key for Jaguars: Run the ball down the Chargers' throat and have a clean offense
The Jaguars manhandled the Chargers when the two met. They carried the rock 36 times for 151 yards and a touchdown in the game. Running back James Robinson was responsible for 100 yards. Since he's no longer on the team, it will be Travis Etienne who will get more opportunities to run all over the Chargers' defense.
LA ranks in the bottom five of rush defense and has the worst run defense of all remaining AFC teams. If the Jags can develop a run game early, it will create more opportunities in the passing game like it did in Week 3 where Trevor Lawrence threw for three touchdowns, 262 yards, and no interceptions.
Travis Etienne has had 5 100-yard rushing games since Week 6 (tied for 2nd-most in NFL). The #Chargers rank in the bottom five in run defense.
Khalil Mack telling me they need to "do everything we can to stop the run." https://t.co/fGBMq9BzEB
Key for Chargers: Feed Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen
If the Chargers want a different result than the first time these two teams met, then they will need their two biggest playmakers heavily involved.
Austin Ekeler carried the ball four times for five yards in the first meeting. That's horrible. He did record 48 receiving yards on eight catches but he was non-impactful in their matchup.
On the season, he's recorded 1,637 total yards and 18 touchdowns. They will need him to produce to win today.
Austin Ekeler📈
#BoltUp
Drafted as an RB 1 & performed as an RB 1
311 touches
1637 Total Yds
18 Total TD
21.9 fpts/gm
Analytics support stats:
-3.9 Yards Created/Touch (4th)
-36.1% Dominator Rating (2nd)
-82 Evaded Tackles (7th)
SELL (peak value & age)
https://t.co/IiyHdcoUSr
The Chargers will be without star receiver Mike Williams who played and recorded a touchdown in the first game. Keenan Allen will be active and will need to have a big game and step up in lieu of Williams being out. Allen didn't play in the earlier game.
Tonight's game should be much closer than the first. The two teams are evenly matched, which means it would come down to who can handle the pressure and deliver on the big stage.