JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Justin Herbert and the Chargers looked like a team in desperate need of a break in the action during their 35-6 loss Sunday to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which ended their three-game winning streak and sent them into their bye week with questions to be answered.
The Chargers (6-4) couldn’t move the ball and couldn’t stop the Jaguars (6-4) from moving it, a bad combination. The Chargers were outplayed in every aspect of the game imaginable, but especially in the trenches. Their offensive and defensive lines were pushed around from beginning to end.
It was the Chargers’ first visit to Jacksonville since their 31-30 AFC wild-card loss to the Jaguars on Jan. 14, 2023, when they squandered a 27-point second-quarter lead. Lawrence threw three touchdown passes in the second half as the Jaguars rallied to win. There was zero drama this time.
In addition, the loss was the Chargers’ widest defeat in the Jim Harbaugh era, eclipsing a 40-14 defeat last Dec. 15 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Chargers trailed 14-6 by halftime largely because their offensive line couldn’t protect Herbert adequately when he dropped to pass. He was sacked twice and under near-constant pressure by a Jaguars defensive front that was not renowned for pressuring quarterbacks this season.
Cameron Dicker kicked two field goals for the Chargers, who failed to capitalize fully on Donte Jackson’s interception of Trevor Lawrence. Bhayshul Tuten rushed for a 4-yard touchdown and Travis Etienne scored on a 2-yard run on a direct snap to account for the Jaguars’ first-half scores.
The Jaguars limited the Chargers to 100 total net yards in the first half.
Lawrence’s 1-yard run, Tim Patrick’s 1-yard touchdown reception, and Etienne’s 13-yard run pushed Jacksonville’s lead to 35-6 with 11:02 remaining in the game. Coach Jim Harbaugh saved Herbert from further torment, replacing him with Trey Lance with the game well in the hands of the Jaguars.
The Chargers packed their bags and returned home with their bye upcoming in Week 12. They’ll return for a sprint to the regular-season’s finish line with games against the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos.
No team in the NFL will have traveled as many miles as the Chargers, who have made three cross-country trips in addition to their season-opening trek to Sao Paulo, Brazil to open the season. The Chargers played like a road-weary team Sunday, a bruised and battered team.
More to come on this story.