Dolphins vs. Commanders in Spain, Bills host Bucs | NFL preview video
The Dolphins play the Commanders in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Spain; the Buccaneers travel to Buffalo to play the Bills.
The last time the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers met, it was in the playoffs on Jan. 14, 2023.
The Chargers had a commanding 27-0 lead only to collapse and lose 31-30 in Jacksonville.
It was the largest comeback in Jaguars franchise history.
Last week, against the Houston Texans, the Jaguars suffered their largest collapse in franchise history, giving up a 29-10 fourth-quarter lead to lose 36-29.
Both the Chargers and Jaguars currently hold wild card spots in the playoff rankings.
However, both are seemingly going in different directions.
The Jaguars have lost 3 of 4, their only win coming in overtime against a dreadful Raiders team.
Meanwhile, the Chargers are, well, charging, having won three games in a row and four of their last five.
If the Jaguars have any hope of keeping a positive season going, they’re going to have to find some way to defeat the Chargers.
Do any of our experts think they can? Here’s what they have to say…
DEMETRIUS HARVEY
Jaguars beat writer
Chargers 28, Jaguars 3
There’s no easy way to say this other than Jacksonville has proven itself to be far too deficient in areas the Chargers thrive in.
Season: 7-2 (Lost last week)
MIKE DiROCCO
ESPN
Chargers 27, Jaguars 7
The Jaguars are banged up, can’t get to the quarterback, have trouble protecting, and are coming off the biggest blown lead in franchise history. We’ve seen this movie before and this one ends the same way.
Season: 4-5 (Lost last week)
RYAN O’HALLORAN
Times-Union Sports columnist
Chargers 31, Jaguars 21
The Chargers can’t block anybody, but that’s fine because the Jaguars can’t rush the passer.
Entering Week 11, the Chargers have allowed 34 sacks, tied with Arizona for third-most in the NFL behind Tennessee (38) and New England (35).
But the Chargers should be looking at their game against the Jaguars as a get-right opportunity. The Jaguars’ 12 sacks are tied with San Francisco and Baltimore for last in the league.
Allowing quarterback Justin Herbert time to throw will allow him to dice a Jaguars’ secondary without safety Eric Murray (neck), cornerback Travis Hunter (knee) and possibly cornerback Jourdan Lewis (neck).
The Jaguars drop to 1-4 in their last five games and fall to .500 for the first time since Week 2.
Season: 6-3 (Lost last week)
GARRY SMITS
Times-Union Sports reporter
Chargers 26, Jaguars 17
The Jags aren’t going to be able to clean up all their issues in one week, especially not against a playoff-caliber team — which they’re not, yet. And don’t think the Chargers players who were around in 2022, especially quarterback Justin Herbert, won’t be motivated by the memories of their playoff collapse the last time they played at the Vault. But if the Jags drop to 5-5, remember this about their last two playoff teams: the 2022 team was 3-7 in mid-November and the 2017 team was 3-3 in mid-October. There’s still time to right the ship and the schedule begins breaking in the Jaguars’ favor after this.
Season: 5-4 (Won last week)
JUSTON LEWIS
Times-Union Sports reporter
Chargers 24, Jaguars 17
Luckily for the Jaguars, the schedule has a bit of a lull after this game with the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans in consecutive weeks.
Season: 4-5 (Lost last week)
CLAYTON FREEMAN
Times-Union Sports reporter
Chargers 23, Jaguars 16
Losses to Jake Browning and Davis Mills, a win over Patrick Mahomes? Even by Jaguars standards, it’s been a weird season, but it’s hard to envision an injury-hit Jacksonville squad following last week’s meltdown by upsetting Justin Herbert and the Chargers.
Season: 4-5 (Lost last week)
TIM WALTERS
Times-Union Sports Editor
Chargers 27, Jaguars 14
If I can say one positive thing about the Jaguars this season, it’s that they’re always in the game. Aside from a blowout win against Carolina and a blowout loss to the Rams, the Jaguars have been in all one-score games. However, with the penalties, dropped passes and injuries they’ve been dealing with, playing the Chargers this week seems like a game that can get away from them. All the positive momentum of a 4-1 start is gone. I believe they’ll lose this one to fall to .500, but the good news is, they have two bad teams after the Chargers: the Cardinals and Titans.
Season: 5-4 (Lost last week)