Stamp it: Jaguars show they are no longer pushovers with 38-10 victory over L.A. Chargers

INGLEWOOD, Ca. — There's no question the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) entered the season with plenty of confidence, but after three games, the team has exceeded all outside expectations, proving to both themselves and teams around the league: they aren't a pushover, the Jaguars of old.

It was perhaps best said after the game by Jaguars defensive lineman Arden Key.

"I was on the other side [before signing with Jacksonville], and every time we had Jacksonville on the schedule, it was a fun game. You know what I'm saying? And we wouldn't even take it that serious," Key told the Times-Union after the game on Sunday.

Key said that the team's 38-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers (1-2) put a "stamp" on the team, to wake people up, "that Jacksonville is back in the building."

It's true. The team's victory over the Chargers on Sunday is something few would have ever predicted, especially after it was made known that Chargers starting quarterback Justin Herbert would be playing after heading into the game questionable with a rib injury.

"This was a great win against a really good football team," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after the game Sunday.

"This was a playoff-caliber football team. Again, we just trust our process and do the little things right. We're still young and we're still learning how to win and how to do all that stuff. I think this was just a great step in that direction."

More Jaguars coverage:

• Game recap: A look back at Jaguars vs. Chargers

• Takeaways: Jaguars dominate Los Angeles Chargers

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

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars offense find efficiency throughout contest

There's no question the Jaguars started the game out on a high note offensively. The offense was able to quickly take advantage of the two turnovers the defense forced, giving the team excellent field position and an ability to jump out to an early 13-0 lead.

After turning the ball over on downs on their first possession, and punting on their second possession, the Jaguars were able to finally strike, scoring a field goal to go ahead early, before starting on the Chargers five-yard-line and 28-yard-line to score a total of 13 unanswered to start the game.

That was thanks mostly to the defense and the team's ability to take the ball away from Los Angeles. After the game, Jaguars right tackle Jawaan Taylor said that was exactly what he had just finished talking to Jaguars defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi about.

Rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd recorded an interception early during Sunday's contest, while Dawaune Smoot recorded a strip-sack against Herbert. Foye Oluokun fell on the ball to recover the Herbert fumble.

"Being able to go out and have that field position the whole first quarter it's a tremendous feeling," Taylor said in the locker room on Sunday. "I feel like it helps the offense in a lot of ways and I feel like it increases your winning percentage when you got great field position like that starting the game."

On Sunday, Lawrence completed 28 out of 39 of his passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. He currently is sixth in the NFL in Total QBR (72.9) and seventh in completion percentage (69.4 percent), according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco.

"Two weeks in a row. I think that's the closest thing, a big win last week, and to see that same focus and intensity, and preparation this week, I think that's the sign that we are headed in the right direction," Lawrence said after the game on Sunday.

The Jaguars scored on seven out of 11 drives on Sunday. The only four drives they weren't able to score on were the first two (punt and turnover on downs) and two kneel-down plays, one at the end of the first half, one at the end of the game.

Lawrence spread the ball around, too, connecting with eight receivers.

Though Christian Kirk had been one of the most talked about receivers on the team, leading the team in multiple categories, Kirk wasn't the leading receiver for Jacksonville — that honor went to veteran WR Zay Jones, instead.

Jones caught a career-high 10 passes, totaling 85 yards and a touchdown. After the game, Jones was asked just how good Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor were at putting the offensive in positions to be successful.

"Doug's been phenomenal," Jones said. "Different style of coaching then I was used to. Everyone's different and has quirks per se, whatever. I feel like this team is really bought into what he's selling."

Jones said both Pederson and Taylor show the offense the "why," which helps them when it comes to executing.

It wasn't just the passing game that found success, though. The team was able to make room for running back James Robinson, who accounted for 100 rushing yards on 17 attempts. That included a 50-yard touchdown run, the longest TD run of Robinson's career.

The team as a whole finished with 36 rushing attempts for 151 yards and a touchdown, a near-perfect day of balance between both the passing and running game. Jacksonville finished with a 53.3% third-down conversion rate, and 25 total first downs.

"I think we're just laying the foundation of who we want to be and the type of team and the culture that we want to have here," Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk said in the postgame locker room.

"That's a really good football team and we were able to come in here and do all the things that we talked about: control the line of scrimmage, run the ball, and capitalize on turnovers and make plays."

Domination on defense for a second-straight week is not surprising

The Jaguars' offense wasn't the only factor in Sunday's victory. For the second week in a row, the team's defense showcased why general manager Trent Baalke and owner Shad Khan invested so heavily into the unit over the past couple of offseasons.

The team extended its lead in turnover differential, bringing the total to +7 on the year, including an interception and a forced fumble. They limited the Chargers to just a 38.5 percent completion percentage and made the team's running game a complete non-factor throughout the day.

Los Angeles rushed for just 26 yards on 12 carries throughout the day. That includes four carries for five yards to RB Austin Ekeler. The Chargers simply gave up before it could even try to get going in the run game Sunday.

Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins said after the game the defense likes to "take these guys to the deep end," meaning that they play well for all four quarters.

"Going back to that first game, we kind of started a little slow in Washington, and ever since then, we made an emphasis to start fast but finish faster," Jenkins added.

The Jaguars did just that, they started fast by forcing two punts and two turnovers against Los Angeles, and finished even faster by forcing the Chargers to turn the football over on downs two times to close out the game.

"We just played our ball, man, we relaxed, we got a bunch of young guys. One thing I will say, is our coach does a good job of just preparing us throughout the week and really making sure we know what's coming," Jenkins explained. "You know, it's more mental out there for us and physical."

That transition has been evident when taking a look at rookie LB Devin Lloyd, who played perhaps his best game of the season. Lloyd finished with seven total tackles (five solos), one interception and three pass breakups.

Lloyd leads all NFL rookies in INTs. He's also the first rookie in franchise history to record two INTs in their first three career games.

"I think he's fitting into the scheme, fitting into the defense. He's understanding his role," Pederson said after the game on Sunday when asked about Lloyd. "I challenge the guys each week to understand the game plan and understand their job and how they can fit. He's doing that."

Herbert finished 25 of 45 for 297 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

"They had a good game plan," Hebert said after the game. "Unfortunately, we didn't move the ball as well as we would have like. [WR] Mike [Williams] had a nice catch on one of the go balls near the end zone ... I just had to find the other guys and do your best to move the ball."

Williams was limited to just one reception for 15 yards, a touchdown over CB Tyson Campbell. Campbell excelled in coverage on Williams and even was in a position to make a play on an incredible TD reception by Williams.

Ultimately, the Jaguars dominated, something they'll hope to do more of as the season continues. Up next, the Jaguars travel on the road for a second-straight week. They take on the Philadelphia Eagles, another opportunity for the team to prove itself.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' stingy defense, efficient offense lead to rout of Chargers 38-10