Chargers vs. Jaguars: Full San Diego Game Preview
This season could not end sooner for the San Diego Chargers, who have lost six straight games. Despite the latest loss, coming to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11, the show must go on with six games left on the schedule. The Bolts visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, desperate to save face with some wins down the stretch.
San Diego (2-8) was blown out at home by the Chiefs 33-3 in what was easily the worst loss of the season for the Chargers. Try as he might, Philip Rivers could not figure out a weakness in the Kansas City defense. He was sacked three times and held in check for 178 passing yards.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville (4-6) has won consecutive games for the first time since 2013 after edging the Tennessee Titans 19-13 on Thursday. Rashad Greene's 63-yard punt return helped set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Jaguars in the fourth quarter, as Blake Bortles connected with Julius Thomas on a 5-yard scoring strike with 3:30 left in the game. Jason Meyers added a 36-yard field goal for good measure—he had four field goals in all.
San Diego and Jacksonville have met four times in the last five years, with the Chargers winning each time. Can the Bolts end the skid, or will the Jags keep rolling?
Time for this week's preview of Chargers-Jaguars from the San Diego perspective.
Location: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL
Time: 10 a.m. PT
TV: CBS
Week 11 Results and Recap
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AFC West Standings
1. Denver Broncos (8-2)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
3. Oakland Raiders (4-6)
4. San Diego Chargers (2-8)
Coming off a bye week, a lot more was expected of the Chargers than what they showed on Sunday. Said head coach Mike McCoy after the game, via the team's official site:
"Obviously, that was a bad day of Chargers football out there in all three phases. [We] didn’t make any plays overall, but very poor. ... [It’s] very disappointing. We had an outstanding week of preparation. Watching the way we played there, you’d never think that. I think the mindset of the players coming off the bye was outstanding. They worked extremely hard and we had a good plan going in. It was obviously very poor in all phases today is all I can say about it to be honest with you. Very disappointing.
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Very disappointing indeed. The Chargers went into the game averaging more than 400 yards of offense but only managed 201 yards against the Chiefs, as the pressure on Rivers was relentless. And when he did get the rare chance to step up and throw, he often misfired or the pass was dropped. Playing without Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd and with a less than 100 percent Antonio Gates has made life difficult for Rivers.
Though he still ranks second in passing yards with 3,211, it seems unlikely he'll be able to keep up the pace without a capable receiving corps.
Defensively, the Chargers were inept at stopping a middle-of-the-pack offense that was down to its third-string running back. After Charcandrick West left the game with a hamstring injury, second-year man Spencer Ware came in and rushed for a career-high 96 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries. Alex Smith, the so-called manager, passed for 253 yards and ran for another 33 yards.
Like McCoy said, it was a bad day of Chargers football, but what happened on Sunday was also just bad football in general.
News and Notes
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'Mike McCoy Must Go,' Says U-T Columnist Kevin Acee
Soon after the Chargers suffered their sixth straight loss, the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee was among those calling for the team to make a head-coaching change:
"McCoy can’t be the coach of the Chargers for more than three days in 2016. When the season ends in Denver on Jan. 3, he should be allowed to make the return flight and then be relieved of his duties. No further evaluation is required.
It doesn’t matter what John Spanos and Tom Telesco think they might know that we might not. The Chargers cannot take this guy into a campaign. The team is 2-8, presently possessing the No.1 pick in the 2016 draft, quite possibly on their way to 2-14.
McCoy has done nothing to inspire confidence things will get better and doesn’t have the resume to justify a reprieve nor the personality to ingratiate himself to fans.
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The way things are going, it doesn't look good for McCoy. He still has one year left on his contract, though, and the Chargers weren't so quick to dismiss the last head coach after a similar losing streak. San Diego dropped six straight games during the 2011 season under Norv Turner but waited until after the 2012 season to fire him.
D.J. Fluker Suffers 2nd Concussion in 5 Days
As Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, D.J. Fluker suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, just four days after he suffered one in practice. The Chargers' starting right guard is now at four concussions for his career. Coincidentally, three have come in a Wednesday practice. Fluker did not participate in the first practice of the week and is considered doubtful to play in Jacksonville on Sunday.
Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates Say Sideline Exchange No Big Deal
Quarterback Rivers and tight end Gates compared the heated exchange they had on the sideline last Sunday to brothers fighting. "What was said really doesn't matter," Rivers told reporters in his press conference after the game, relayed by the team's official site. "Brothers fuss and fight, for any of you that have brothers. I love Antonio, and I think he will tell you the same thing.”
Gates echoed what Rivers had to say in the locker room with reporters, via the official site. "It’s something we haven’t thought twice about since it happened. It was like something where you see your brothers fighting, and then the next thing we’re talking together in the locker room longer than anybody."
Sometimes the effects of a losing season can bring out frustration in the heat of battle, and that's probably what we saw with Rivers and Gates.
Latest Injury News
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All injury information courtesy of the team website.
WR Malcom Floyd (shoulder)
Malcolm Floyd returned to practice for the first time since suffering a torn labrum in Week 9 against the Chicago Bears. As he told Annie Heilbrunn of the Mighty 1090 AM, "I did pretty much everything at practice today. Hopefully I can do more tomorrow, but coach is easing me back in and being smart about the whole situation."
The Chargers are seriously thin at receiver with Keenan Allen done for the year, and Floyd's injury only made matters worse. But if the 34-year-old can resume play in Week 12, he'll definitely boost the passing game.
OG D.J. Fluker (concussion)
As previously mentioned, Fluker is dealing with the fourth concussion of his career and the second in five days, so it's highly unlikely the team will rush him back. Options at right guard include Chris Hairston and Kenny Wiggins.
DT Sean Lissemore (concussion)
Sean Lissemore also suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. He'll need to pass through the league protocol before getting clearance to resume play, which could mean more of second-year man Ryan Carrethers at defensive tackle against the Jaguars.
DE Corey Liuget (foot)
Corey Liuget, who has been dealing with a foot injury since Week 8, did not practice on Wednesday, though the team may be taking extra precaution by resting him an extra day to ensure he plays on Sunday.
FS Eric Weddle (groin)
Eric Weddle is in a similar boat to Liuget, still feeling the effects of a groin injury that caused him to miss two games in the first half of the season. He managed to play against the Chiefs on Sunday and should be good for the game against Jacksonville.
TE Ladarius Green (ankle)
Ladarius Green returned to action in Week 11 after a one-game absence because of an ankle injury but was limited in his contributions, totaling just one catch against Kansas City. He'll try to go again in Week 12, bearing in mind he didn't practice on Wednesday.
OT King Dunlap (ankle)
King Dunlap exited Sunday's game with an ankle injury he suffered trying to block Tamba Hali. Unfortunately for Dunlap, Hali beat him twice for sacks on the same series. If Dunlap is forced to miss, Hairston is the most likely candidate to take over at left tackle.
TE Antonio Gates (hip)
Per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, "Gates has said he’ll use this week to decide whether continuing to play through injury is a help or hindrance to the team." The 35-year-old tight end is battling a hip injury as well as a knee problem he suffered earlier this season. He finished with just one catch against the Chiefs, which is the same as Green was able to muster while somewhat handicapped.
ILB Manti Te'o (ankle)
Manti Te'o looked good playing in his first game since Week 5 but may have been limited in practice because of soreness. Unless he suffers a setback of some sort, the starting inside linebacker for the Chargers should be in the lineup on Sunday.
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Key Matchups
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Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers vs. Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns
Rather than be concerned with one main receiver, the Jaguars have two very capable young pass-catchers in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. Robinson has pulled in 50 receptions, and Hurns has snagged 44. They have each caught seven touchdowns.
On top of being very skilled, Jacksonville's receivers also stand at 6'3", giving them a sizable advantage over San Diego's much smaller corners. However, Jason Verrett has been holding his own against No. 1 receivers in the last couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Brandon Flowers has been among the 10 worst corners in football this season, per Pro Football Focus.
Chargers Front 7 vs. Blake Bortles
Bortles, while still improving in Year 2, has had issues with interceptions (17) and sacks (32) through the first 10 games. In fact, he's only gone two games without an interception, and only Alex Smith of the Chiefs and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks have been sacked more times than Bortles.
But like Smith, Bortles poses problems with his legs, and we saw in Week 11 how Smith was able to use his mobility to avoid sacks and pick up first downs. Surprisingly enough, Bortles has almost as many rushing first downs (16) as lead rusher T.J. Yeldon (19).
Getting pressure on Bortles is a given for the Chargers, but they have to be smart about it by not overpursuing and keeping him from slipping through the cracks up front.
Matchup X-Factor
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Chargers' X-Factor of the Week: Dontrelle Inman
The Chargers tried to pound the ball on the ground last time out but quickly went back to the passing game when running it didn't appear to wear down the opponent. With Malcom Floyd out, Inman was targeted five times by Rivers, three of which he caught for 51 yards, including a long of 27 yards.
San Diego may want to run the ball more, but that game plan tends to go out of the window when the Chargers start to fall behind.
If the Bolts are forced to play catch-up again this time around, they'll keep the ball in Rivers' hands and let him sling it to his receivers, Inman being one of them. His workload will vary depending on whether San Diego can call upon Floyd.
Prediction
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Who would have predicted that 10 games into the 2015 season we'd be questioning whether the Chargers had enough to beat the Jaguars, but that's exactly where things stand.
Jacksonville has won back-to-back games and is legitimately in the race for the top spot in the AFC South, so you can bet the Jags are going to bring it on Sunday. Meanwhile, San Diego still hasn't won on the road, and the Chargers are coming off one of their worst losses to date under McCoy.
Jacksonville's young nucleus at the skill positions and under center should do well against the Bolts, who have struggled immensely on defense. For that reason, the Jaguars will beat the Chargers.
Predicted Score: Jaguars 21, Chargers 17
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