Chargers vs. Jaguars: Predicting Stat Lines for Philip Rivers and More

Poor, poor ESPN. Since they can't flex any games to Monday night, the Worldwide Leader is again stuck with another poor matchup on MNF. It's the 4-7 Chargers vs. the 3-8 Jaguars tonight from Jacksonville.

While that matchup is far from ideal, let's run down some stat projections for the game's most important players:

Philip Rivers: Let's face some facts. First off, Rivers is having the worst season of his professional career, and I'd bank on something being wrong from an injury standpoint. It's the only viable explanation at this point. Secondly, the Jaguars pass defense has given up the sixth least fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. They haven't given up more than 200 yards passing in over a month. The odds say Rivers will fall well below regular expectations again.

Projection: 17-of-28, 201 yards, TD, 2 INTs     

Ryan Mathews: Mathews was the Chargers workhorse last Sunday against the Broncos, and you'd have to think that San Diego will again lean on him heavily. If San Diego wants to win on the road tonight, he needs to play well. 

Projection: 21 carries, 88 yards, TD

Vincent Jackson: Very few receivers have been as up-and-down as Jackson has this season. In the past four weeks, Jackson has gone from 141 yards to 22 to 165 to 25. The trend says that Jackson will rebound tonight.

Projection: 8 catches, 101 yards, TD 

Antonio Gates: Since returning from injury, Gates has caught four or more passes in all six games. The foot seems to be close to 100 percent again. His touchdown streak will end at two games, but the four-catch streak does not. 

Projection: 2 catches, 56 yards

Blaine Gabbert: Remember last offseason when the debate shifted for just a second to whether the Panthers should take Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert? That's no longer a question, especially with some of Gabbert's struggles in 2011. He's in for another long night.

Projection: 11-of-23, 134 yards, 2 INTs  

Maurice Jones-Drew: It's pretty amazing to consider that MJD has had just one game all season with under 80 yards rushing. That's called consistency from the running back position. As the Jaguars' only real weapon on offense, he's relied on as much as any running back in the game. That'll again be the case tonight, and he needs to be well over 80 yards for the Jags to have a chance. 

Projection: 24 carries, 127 yards, TD 

Marcedes Lewis: Which receiver or tight end on the Jaguars roster scares you besides Lewis? Even Lewis has had a forgettable season after a Pro Bowl year in 2010. He has caught 11 passes over his last two games, however, so there's some hope here. 

Projection: 5 catches, 47 yards