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Jaguars report card: Just an AAAA-wesome day all-around in routing L.A. Chargers

gene frenette, florida times-union
·4 min read
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Sports columnist Gene Frenette grades the Jacksonville Jaguars’ performance against the Los Angeles Chargers based on execution, effort and game circumstances.

Offense: A 

Despite cashing in on only 1 of 4 red-zone opportunities in the first half, this was by far the most complete game from a Trevor Lawrence-led offense in his 20-game NFL career.

It goes beyond completing 19 of his last 22 attempts, three touchdown passes without an interception or posting his third game above a 110.0 rating in his last four starts (finished at 115.5). It was the way Lawrence kept the Chargers’ defense off balance by a wide assortment of short pass attempts — crossing routes, bubble screens, swing passes to guys in motion — to move the chains (10 of 18 on third/fourth down) and dominate the game.

More from the Jags' victory:

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) congratulates teammate linebacker Devin Lloyd (33) after his late fourth quarter interception of a Colts pass. The Jaguars went into the first half with a 17 to 0 lead over the Colts and went on to win the game 24 to 0. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank field in Jacksonville, FL Sunday, September 18, 2022. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

The offensive line provided great protection, only allowing Lawrence to be hit twice. RB James Robinson had the game’s biggest play, converting a fourth-and-1 from midfield and running 50 yards untouched to the end zone for a 23-10 lead. Zay Jones caught 10 passes on 11 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown. On an ideal pass-run balance (39-36) day, the Jaguars choked the life out of the Chargers.

Defense: A-plus

Mike Caldwell’s ball-hawking unit continues to give the offense plenty of great field position.

It came up with two more early turnovers on an interception by linebacker Devin Lloyd — which went out of RB Sony Michel’s hands and was tipped up by Tyson Campbell — and a strip-sack by Dawuane Smoot that Foye Oluokun recovered at the L.A. 28.

The defense was so stifling that at one point in the second quarter, the Chargers had more penalty yards (24) than total yards (22).

Quarterback Justin Herbert (25 of 45, 297 yards, 1 TD, 74.0 rating) had a couple of nice throws, especially the only TD pass to Mike Williams, but often struggled to find open receivers.

During one first-and-goal situation to start the second half, Herbert was forced to throw away three consecutive passes as the Chargers settledfor a field goal.

Rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd was a force, with one pick and breaking up three passes, two in relatively deep coverage. Lloyd has vastly improved the linebacker corps, a big reason this defense could be special.

Special teams: A-minus

It was a room-service day for kicker Riley Patterson, who made short attempts from 22, 23 and 23 yards in the first half for a 16-7 lead at intermission.

Though it only went for 13 yards, Jamal Agnew had one of the best punt returns of the season as he spun away from two defenders to give the Jaguars nice field position at their own 40.

That led to a 14-play, 60-yard TD drive that put the game away late in the third quarter, eating up 8:27 of the clock.

Logan Cooke’s lone punt went for 56 yards and only a 6-yard return. Patterson had six touchbacks on eight kickoffs. One of the returns, the kickoff coverage unit allowed a 34-yard return by DeAndre Carter, though it was nullified by a holding call.

Coaching: A-plus

It’s becoming more evident that hiring a Super Bowl-winning coach in Doug Pederson, along with the staff he put together, is paying huge dividends. This was a masterful coaching clinic.

When you consider the Jaguars were 0-5 against the Chargers on the road (four in San Diego, one in L.A.), and carried an 18-game road losing streak into the contest, routing them in such decisive fashion was one of the most impressive franchise wins in a long time.

Pederson made two smart decisions in field goal vs. going-for-it-on-fourth-down situations, passing up fourth-and-3 to take a field goal for an early 3-0 lead. His biggest call came at midfield early in the third quarter, going on fourth-and-1 with a 16-10 lead.

Robinson made it look ingenuous by rambling 50 yards through a huge hole on the left side for a touchdown. Between a stifling, fast defense and some creative short-pass play calls that wore down the Chargers, the Jaguars had the home crowd booing their team before the fourth quarter.

Gene Frenette Sports columnist at Florida Times-Union, follow him on Twitter @genefrenette

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars report card: Team soars to head of the class in routing Chargers