San Diego Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Full Jacksonville Game Preview
The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) host the San Diego Chargers (2-8) in an important Week 12 matchup that could be a leveling win in the AFC South. Should the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans fall while the Jaguars win, it would create a three-way tie at the top of the division.
The Jaguars have now put together two consecutive wins and are starting to perform better late in games than ever before. There's still plenty of issues, but the Jaguars are certainly making progress as a young team.
The Chargers should be a good test for the Jaguars defense, which has struggled at times against the pass. Chargers QB Philip Rivers has been one of the most productive QBs of the 2015 season, and stopping him will be a proper challenge.
The offense will face a relatively average San Diego defense, which could mean big days for wide receivers Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson. A lot of the offense's success will depend on how well QB Blake Bortles plays.
The Jaguars are finally playing in important games late in the season, and this Sunday will be a gauge of if they're ready for the next step to the playoffs.
Location: Everbank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS (Local)
Week 11 Results and Recap
1 of 6
The Jaguars took on the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football in a game that bored for nearly four quarters, but it ended in spectacular fashion, culminating into a 19-13 for the Jaguars.
A 63-yard punt return from WR Rashad Greene put the Jaguars five yards away from a touchdown—something that had escaped them for all four quarters. Bortles completed a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Julius Thomas to help take a 16-13 lead.
On the ensuing Titans drive, corner Davon House forced a fumble and recovered deep in Titans territory, but an offensive stall forced kicker Jason Meyers to attempt a fourth field goal. Finally, the Jaguars stopped the Titans within their own territory and earned a second straight victory.
The Jaguars' overall performance was mediocre-at-best, but a fourth-quarter explosion earned them the win. It wasn't perfect, but the Jaguars' strong finish was something highly positive to take away.
The Jaguars have yet to put together a full performance, but the strong finishing over the past two weeks is a huge step up from the first six weeks. They'll need to continue that trend this Sunday.
News and Notes
2 of 6
Jaguars to Host the Indianapolis Colts for 2016 London Game
According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, the Jaguars will host the Indianapolis Colts for their annual game in London in 2016. It'll be the first divisional matchup the Jaguars will play in London.
While some may prefer to play non-divisional opponents in London, losing the home game to the Colts, especially one that will be played in Week 4, doesn't seem nearly as bad as a loss.
The atmosphere of Wembley Stadium and London ought to elevate the rivalry to new heights, and it is already becoming a 2016 game to look forward to.
Gus Bradley Undefeated on Thursday Night Football
Head coach Gus Bradley has faced a lot of heat this season, mostly thanks to his poor record of 11-31. However, three of those 11 wins have come from games played on Thursday nights.
Bradley is undefeated in that prime-time slot, something that is both surprising and interesting. The Jaguars have only played the Titans and Houston Texans over the past three years, so earning divisional wins on those occasions is somewhat impressive.
However, the quality of those divisional opponents have been less than great. All the same, Bradley continued his streak and will look to make it four straight next season.
Latest Injury News
3 of 6
WR Allen Hurns
Hurns continued to practice in limited fashion, per the Jaguars' official injury report. He's been dealing with ankle and thigh injuries as of late, and it's to be expected that he'll practice in a limited fashion for the remainder of this season.
Hurns has been dealing with injuries for the majority of the season, and the fact he's continued to play as much as possible and be a major part of this team is a testament to his toughness.
DT Roy Miller
Defensive tackle Roy Miller missed practice on Wednesday, and although the linked injury report above says that Miller was absent with a knee, Jaguars.com writer John Oehser confirmed that it was a veteran's day off for Miller.
Miller has been a vital member of the Jaguars defense this season. Getting an extra day off should have him ready to go for this Sunday. If Miller's at 100 percent, then the Jaguars should continue to have stout interior play against the run.
LB Dan Skuta
As reported in the article above, linebacker Dan Skuta missed practice on Wednesday and expects to be absent for Sunday's game against the Chargers. Skuta has been a valued starter this season, and his absence will definitely hinder the Jaguars.
Skuta apparently left Thursday's game in the second quarter, and his groin injury will end up coming back to haunt him this Sunday. Sitting out may be for the best, though, and it will give him a chance to recover in time for the following games.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Key Matchups
4 of 6
Jaguars Secondary vs. Chargers Receiving Group
Chargers WRs Stevie Johnson and Malcom Floyd will try and slice through the Jaguars secondary this Sunday and match Rivers' high-quality play. It'll be up to House, CB Aaron Colvin and CB Demetrius McCray to stop them.
They aren't the NFL's most explosive receiving group, but they don't need to be with Rivers. The Chargers, as they've done all season, will heavily depend on the air attack against the Jaguars.
Rivers will likely get his yards, but it'll be on the corners to step up to try and make big plays. A turnover or two or some big third-down stops will be crucial to stunting the Chargers offense.
Jaguars Front Seven vs. Chargers Running Game
The Chargers have struggled to find consistency in the running game this season, and the Jaguars need to ensure they don't start to on Sunday. Allowing the Chargers to find balance with their running backs could make for a long day in Jacksonville.
Chargers RB Melvin Gordon has struggled in his rookie season, but he's certainly got talent. Despite his troubles, they have to show him respect, and the same goes for backup RB Danny Woodhead.
It shouldn't be the most difficult day for the front seven, but the unit still have a job to do. Botching that makes it all the more easier for the Chargers to get the ball rolling offensively.
X-Factor: Blake Bortles
5 of 6
Bortles is obviously one of the, if not the most important player on the Jaguars. Each week, the X-factor portion of the preview could go to him, but this week, his play is especially important.
On paper, the Chargers defense never varies far from mediocre, and it will be far from the toughest defense he and the Jaguars offense have seen all season. However, if he struggles with turnovers and accuracy, the Jaguars could be in serious trouble.
The defense has more to handle with Rivers, but the offense can allow for error with some offensive execution. They should be able to find success, but that will rely on which Bortles shows up.
If he performs closer to what we saw on Thursday, the offense should click for the most part. A debatable fumble and a poor throw were the only major mistakes he made against the Titans, and completing 70 percent of his passes should be another target for the sophomore QB.
The Jaguars can beat the Chargers, but it'll come down to Bortles' turnovers and consistency.
Prediction: Jaguars 31, Chargers 24
6 of 6
The Jaguars are playing in another winnable game, and considering the Chargers' recent struggles, it should be less about being "winnable" and be more of a "should-win."
Stringing together a third win in a row and reaching 5-6 on the season would do a lot for the Jaguars' postseason hopes. It sets up the road battle against Tennessee in the coming week, and a win will continue that momentum.
It'll rest on the aforementioned play of Bortles, but it'll also be on the defense delivering where it should and possibly elevating their play to contain Rivers and his receivers.
Both sides of the ball will have to come together on Sunday, and the poor execution that was seen in a majority of the Titans game will not fly against the Chargers. They may be 2-8, but they still have plenty of experience and talent.
This game is just the next step in the process of proving legitimacy. If they lose, the playoffs will grow further away from the Jaguars. A win is another statement, and the rest of the AFC will have to start respecting the Jaguars' claim for the division.
All stats provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.
Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter @evanreier.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
