Chargers vs. Jaguars: What's the Game Plan for San Diego?

The San Diego Chargers are in danger of losing seven straight games for the first time since 2001 when they visit Jacksonville on Sunday. 

The Chargers (2-8) were blown out at home in Week 11, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 33-3. The Jaguars (4-6), meanwhile, have won three of the last four games and two straight after edging the Tennessee Titans 19-13 on Thursday Night Football. 

San Diego has won four straight games in the series with Jacksonville, including two wins at EverBank Field, where the Chargers hope to turn their luck around around with a win on Sunday.

Here's how the Bolts get it done.

Offensive Game Plan

Jacksonville's pass defense isn't doing so hot at 263 yards allowed per game; therefore, Philip Rivers should be utilized as much as possible.

However, San Diego's receivers haven't been up to the task of helping him out lately. With Keenan Allen done for the season, the Chargers have had to play less experienced wideouts such as Dontrelle Inman and Javontee Herndon, who struggled with drops last week against the Chiefs.

Fortunately for Rivers, it appears Malcom Floyd, the most experienced receiver on the roster, will play on Sunday after missing the last game with a shoulder injury. That should help, but it'll take more than Floyd for the passing game to thrive on Sunday.

Matt Hazlett/Getty Images

San Diego needs more production from its tight ends than it got last week. Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green finished with one catch apiece against the Chiefs. Granted, they both played through injuries. Gates is dealing with a knee and Green an ankle.

More is needed from Stevie Johnson as well, even though he led the Chargers in receiving against the Chiefs with seven catches for 54 yards. Having Floyd back should take some of the pressure off Johnson and allow him to get open.

As for the running game, offensive coordinator Frank Reich tried to mix it up last week. The Chargers ran out of multiple formations, even utilizing a fullback at times, and they still only managed 52 yards on 25 attempts.

One adjustment San Diego might try is implementing more runs to the outside. According to Pro Football Focus, the Chargers averaged 4.25 yards outside the tackles compared to 1.5 yards between in their last game. Melvin Gordon's longest run, a 10-yard gain, was had outside to the left of the tight end.

The Jaguars have a top-10 run defense at 94.7 yards allowed per game, but that won't stop Reich from trying to get his running game going.

Defensive Game Plan

Jacksonville may have the top receiving tandem in football this season, with Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns both ranking in the top 20 of receiving yards. They also rank top 10 in receiving touchdowns with seven apiece.

The Allens will be the responsibility of Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers in the secondary. Verrett has gotten the better of his matchups in the last few games while Flowers has struggled.

Throwing the ball for Jacksonville is second-year man Blake Bortles, who has more touchdown passes (20) than Rivers (19), believe it or not. His leap in year two has been fueled by the emergence of Robinson and Hurns.

However, Bortles has not been the best-protected quarterback at 32 sacks on the season. San Diego's pass rush is in a good position to get after the quarterback on Sunday, hopefully preventing Bortles and his receivers from having a big day.

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The Jaguars' running game is paced by second-round pick T.J. Yeldon, who ranks second among rookies with 585 rushing yards. He averages four yards per carry and has had two 100-yard rushing games, two more than Gordon or any other Chargers running back in 2015.

So while Yeldon isn't consistently hitting the century mark every week, he's at least proven he can be a dominant runner on a couple of occasions. The Chargers don't defend the run particularly well at 4.9 yards allowed per carry, so Yeldon may be in for one of his better performances.

Rank	Player	Carries	Yards	Avg.
1	Todd Gurley - STL	155	772	5.0
2	Thomas Rawls - SEA	101	604	6.0
3	T.J. Yeldon - JAX	147	585	4.0
4	Melvin Gordon - SD	129	450	3.5

Key Matchup and Player to Watch

Jason Verrett vs. Allen Robinson: This should be an entertaining matchup, as members of the 2014 draft class face off in the secondary. Robinson has totaled at least 113 receiving yards or a touchdown in six straight games, so which more is Verrett likely to give up should the streak continue?

Date	Opponent	Receptions	Yards	TDs
10/11	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	7	72	2
10/18	Houston Texans	6	86	1
10/25	Buffalo Bills	6	98	1
11/8	New York Jets	6	121	0
11/15	Baltimore Ravens	5	51	1
11/19	Tennessee Titans	5	113	0

Right Guard for the Chargers: D.J. Fluker has been ruled out for Sunday's game, meaning either Chris Hairston or Kenny Wiggins will start at right guard against a Jacksonville defense with 23 sacks, four in the last game against Tennessee. The offensive line needs to play well if Rivers is to have a good day throwing the ball.

Prediction

The Chargers are 4.5-point underdogs for Sunday's game, according to OddsShark.com, and that seems about right based on how each team has performed coming in.

The Jaguars may be young, but they have a good nucleus forming with Bortles, Robinson, Hurns and Yeldon.

Meanwhile, the Chargers are struggling to find someone other than Rivers to lean on. Their most recent defeat makes it impossible to believe that the coaching staff knows how to put together a winning game plan; therefore, Jacksonville should be able to keep rolling. 

Predicted Score: Jaguars 27, Chargers 17

All injury information courtesy of Chargers.com.