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Jacksonville Jaguars' run game pounds Chargers, meaning there are more big games to come
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- Jacksonville Jaguars' run game pounds Chargers, meaning there are more big games to come
Four questions and answers from the Jacksonville Jaguars ' 35-6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Nov. 16:
First Down
Question:Was it really a tale of two halves for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence ?
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Answer:Yes.
The first half was really off. Lawrence was 6 of 11 for 67 yards and one interception and he had three significant misses.
Miss No. 1: On the Jaguars' opening drive, they had a fourth-and-3 from the Chargers' 41. Lawrence had receiver Parker Washington open for the short gain in the right flat, but opted to throw downfield and incomplete. The Chargers took advantage of the field position to kick a field goal.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) passes to Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt (86) in the second quarter in an NFL football game at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, November 16, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Miss No. 2: On first down from his 33, Lawrence was intercepted by cornerback Donte Jackson . Receiver Tim Patrick ran an out route, but Lawrence's throw was to Patrick's inside, allowing Jackson to make the pick. Quarterbacking 101 is throw the football to Patrick's outside shoulder where only he can catch it. The Chargers took advantage with a field goal.
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Miss No. 3: On third-and-1 from the Chargers' 36, Lawrence semi-scrambled but didn't put enough air on the pass to wide open tight end Quintin Morris 20-plus yards downfield. Lawrence has to get more on that pass. It didn't cost the Jaguars (running back Travis Etienne touchdown).
But leading 14-6 to start the second half, Lawrence turned his game around. He converted a third-and-12 with a 21-yard dart to receiver Jakobi Meyers over the middle (receivers going over the middle!), threw a sharp in-breaking route to Patrick for 10 yards and his back-corner-of-the-end-zone throw to Patrick was incomplete, but drew a penalty. Lawrence capped that drive with a 1-yard touchdown keeper.
Lawrence was more decisive in the second half.
Second Down
Question:Why did Jaguars pass rusher B.J. Green get penalized for sacking Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert late in the second quarter?
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Answer:Pure overreaction by the referee Craig Wrolstad, that's why.
On fourth-and-7 from the Jaguars' 42 with 34 seconds remaining before halftime, Green dusted his opponent and delivered a hard hit on Herbert. It was a high-impact collision that sent Herbert to the medical tent (he returned).
Instead of the Jaguars taking over at their 49 and nearing position to get a Cam Little field goal to end the half, Green was penalized for roughing the passer.
The guess is the league will defend the call by saying Green put his "body weight," on Herbert and should have let it up. No way. Green was moving at top speed and Herbert got in his way. There was no chance for Green to slow down.
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It was similar to the play Travon Walker was fined for last week at Houston ("body weight"). Also a bad call.
Third Down
Question:How dominant was the Jaguars' running game?
Answer:With 10:22 left in the game, the Jaguars had more rushing yards (149) than the Chargers had total yards (104).
I liked how Jaguars coach Liam Coen committed to a true two-platoon tailback setup with Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten . At one point, Etienne had 16 carries and Tuten 15 carries.
One other cool statistic: After the Jaguars' second drive of the second half, they had run 28 offensive plays compared to three for the Chargers.
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Fourth Down
Question:What does this win mean for the Jaguars going forward?
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) scores a touchdown in the second quarter in an NFL football game at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, November 16, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Answer:Potentially everything.
Had the Chargers traveled cross country and beat the Jaguars, it would have dropped Jacksonville to 1-4 in its last five games and back to .500 for the first time since Week 2.
Instead, blowing the 19-point lead at Houston last week was answered with a dominating win over the Chargers.
The Jaguars will now play meaningful football into December and now the schedule becomes their friend. They play at Arizona , at Tennessee , Tennessee and the New York Jets among their last seven games. Win those four games and they should make the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars defeat LA Chargers with Trevor Lawrence, run game
