Youth will be served on Saturday as the Jacksonville Jaguars welcome the Los Angeles Chargers to TIAA Bank Field in the Wild Card Round.
For the Jags, it will be their first playoff appearance since the 2017 campaign and the first time they face the Chargers in the postseason, who are at this stage for the first time since 2018.
Match preview
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After eight games, it looked as though the Jaguars were heading towards another losing season, boasting a record of 2-6.
However, Doug Pederson's team got hot at the right time, winning their last five games of the regular season and clinching the AFC South thanks to a 20-16 come-from-behind victory at home a week ago versus the Tennessee Titans.
These players have learned quickly under the former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl-winning coach, particularly on offence, scoring 20 or more points in their last four games played in Duval County, all of which were victories.
At the beginning of 2022-23, many worried that their generational talent at quarterback might endure another brutal campaign with such an inexperienced offensive line. However, their blocking has been textbook most of the season, with the Jags taking a mere 28 sacks, the second-fewest in the NFL.
They spent big money over the off-season to bring in an experienced receiving corps, and it is looking like money well spent, with the Jags ranked 10th in the passing game this season, as three of their free agent signings had 70+ catches, while they complimented that with their first 1,000-yard running back since 2020.
Jacksonville were a lot more productive in the takeaway department as well, but overall their secondary had a difficult time keeping up with many speedy pass-catchers, allowing the fifth-most passing yards in 2022-23 and they had trouble getting to opposing quarterbacks, coming in as the 26th-best team regarding sacks (35).
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Like the Jaguars, LA got hot in the nick of time, winning four of their final five contests after losing three of the previous four.
Brandon Staley took his share of heat when this team missed the postseason in 2021-22, and his Chargers were among the most potent passing units in the NFL this year, registering the third-most yards through the air (269.6).
There are dependable receivers up and down this roster, as at least seven players have caught a pass in nine successive outings.
It was a different story for them on the ground, however, as LA averaged 89.6 yards rushing per game, the third-lowest total in the NFL.
The most remarkable part about the Chargers this season is that they made the playoffs despite being dismal against the run all season, allowing the sixth-most average rushing yards-per-carry in the league since 1933 (5.6), conceding 151 to Jacksonville in a Week 3 loss.
Their secondary will be tested in this encounter, and during the regular season, the Chargers held wide receivers to an 88.4 rating with a 14/10 touchdown to interception ratio.
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Team News
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Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence grew by leaps and bounds in his sophomore season, with 25 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions, Christian Kirk had his first career 1,000-yard receiving campaign, Evan Engram made 73 catches and Zay Jones had over 800 yards through the air.
Lawrence's college teammate at Clemson, Travis Etienne, had an outstanding rookie campaign, averaging 5.1 yards-per-carry while running for 1,125 yards, Foyesade Oluokun led the league in tackles (184), while former Chargers safety Rayshawn Jenkins was instrumental in them making the postseason, as his sack/fumble was recovered by linebacker Josh Allen, who ran it in for the game-winning score.
Kendric Pryor was limited at practice this week because of a shoulder issue, Ross Matiscik is questionable with back spasms, Brandon Scherff has a problem in his abdomen and Jamal Agnew is expected to play despite a shoulder injury.
Justin Herbert had another great season behind centre, with the Chargers pivot tossing 25 touchdowns and only 10 picks for a 93.2 rating, Keenan Allen has made over six catches in his last 10 games, while Gerald Everett had over 500 yards receiving.
Their big off-season signing Khalil Mack posted eight sacks and 33 solo tackles in 2022-23, Michael Davis has allowed a low 71.4 rating against, including defending 15 passes defended, Derwin James defended six passes and made 64 solo tackles, while Austin Ekeler averaged 4.5 yards on the ground and posted 13 rushing scores.
Raheem Layne is dealing with a sore thumb, Mike Williams left their last game because of a back problem, while Bryce Callahan and Joey Bosa are question marks due to groin injuries.
Head To Head
LA has a 9-4 edge overall against Jacksonville, though it was the Jags who came away with a 38-10 triumph earlier this season, as Zay Jones and Marvin Jones each had a TD grab, while their former running back James Robinson ran for a 50-yard score.
The Chargers had won the previous two contests versus the Jaguars, including a 45-10 victory at TIAA Bank Field in Week 14 of the 2019 campaign.
Philip Rivers threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry, Ekeler and Virgil Green on that occasion, while Derek Watt and Melvin Gordon each ran for one.
Jacksonville last beat the Chargers at home in 2017 when Corey Grant returned a blocked punt for a score, Blake Bortles hit Marquise Lee with a six-yard TD throw and former LA kicker Josh Lambo booted the game-winning field goal in overtime to give his new team a 20-17 win.
We say: Jacksonville Jaguars 34-31 Los Angeles Chargers
Honestly, this could go either way, as the Chargers should be able to move the ball through the air, but the Jags can counter that by exposing a weak run defence.
The X-factor in this one could be Doug Pederson, who always seems to fool the opposition with a trick play or two, something we believe could turn the tide in the Jaguars' favour.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
