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Chargers blow 27-point lead with horrendous second half in playoff loss to Jaguars
The Chargers lost a playoff game Saturday night that they led by 27 points.
A playoff game in which one of their players had three interceptions.
A playoff game that ended with them having a 5-0 edge in takeaways.
The Chargers lost to Jacksonville 31-30 when Riley Patterson kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired, bringing a sudden and shocking end to a season as inconsistent as their final game.
“I don’t even have any words for it right now,” safety Derwin James Jr. said. “I’ve been playing football 21 years and I ain’t never felt like this.”
After taking their big lead, the Chargers collapsed under a hail of penalties, an inability to run the ball and a defense that bent just far enough before breaking.
Top performances from the Chargers’ playoff loss to Jaguars
Here’s a breakdown of top performances from the Jaguars’ 31-30 comeback win over the Chargers in the AFC wild-card playoffs Saturday:
Travis Etienne Jr. — Jaguars
His 25-yard run on fourth down and less than a yard with 1:27 to go set up the deciding field goal as the Jaguars completed a comeback from a 27-point deficit. Etienne finished with 109 yards in 20 carries. He also had one reception for 12 yards.
Trevor Lawrence — Jaguars
Despite having four passes intercepted in the first half and trailing by 27 points, the Jaguars quarterback bounced back to throw four touchdown passes, dove for a two-point conversion and led the deciding, 61-yard drive.
Asante Samuel Jr. — Chargers
The cornerback intercepted three passes thrown by Lawrence in the first half, the first two leading to points for the Chargers. Samuel stopped six passes from being completed and also had three unassisted tackles.
Gerald Everett — Chargers
The tight end had six catches in eight targets for 109 yards and a touchdown, making much of his yardage on runs after the catch, including his nine-yard score. The Chargers’ tight ends combined for 12 catches for 148 yards.
Doug Pederson praises Trevor Lawrence after comeback win
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson praised quarterback Trevor Lawrence following Jacksonville’s 31-30 victory over the Chargers in the AFC wild-card playoffs Saturday:
“I’ll just keep saying it. It’s a step in the right direction for (Lawrence), and for our team, for our franchise,” Pederson said. “And you know, we love having Trevor as our quarterback. And he never, I mean, he never flinches.
“You saw the emotion on the on the sneak, on the goal line ... You saw the emotion, right? And that’s who he is. I love the fact that he’s leading our football team, but it’s a step in the right direction. It’s a step in the direction that we want this organization to go. ... We just got to continue to build on that.”
Travis Etienne Jr. says Jaguars never lost hope
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. said the team never lost hope despite falling into a 27-0 hole in the first half of Jacksonville’s 31-30 comeback win over the Chargers in the AFC wild-card playoffs on Saturday night.
“We shot ourselves in the foot but we kept battling,” Etienne said. “I feel like the running back, when it gets to that part of the game, you’re supposed to be the closer. And coach believed in me on that fourth-and-one to give me the ball and I had to make something happen for my teammates.”
Brandon Staley: ‘I’m hurting for everybody in that locker room’
Chargers coach Brandon Staley expressed frustration over the team’s struggles on offense and with penalties in the second half of his team’s 31-30 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC wild-card playoffs on Saturday.
“There were far too many penalties in the second half. That really hurt us and we didn’t play well enough in the red (zone),” Staley said. “We just did not sustain drives in the second half and didn’t run the football effectively enough and then didn’t do well enough on third down. ... Got some killer third-and-shorts that we didn’t make today, and then obviously we missed a kick down the stretch that really hurt us.
“I’m hurting for everybody in that locker room. It’s a special group of guys and, you know, this is the toughest way that you can lose, in the playoffs.
“We just didn’t finish the game, and we’re going to learn a lot from this. Unfortunately, this is the tough side of things. Our season is over, but I love everybody in that locker room and this was a step for us and we’re going to grow a lot from it.”
Trevor Lawrence stunned by the Jaguars’ comeback victory
Speaking to NBC’s Kaylee Hartung after the Jaguars’ 31-30 comeback victory over the Chargers in the AFC wild-card playoffs, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence was stunned by the thrilling victory.
“You couldn’t write a crazier script,” Lawrence said. “We said in the locker room, it’s kind of how our season’s going. We’re never out of the fight, you know. I was breaking, not a good record in the first quarter, had a couple of interceptions, not looking great offensively.
“We just kept believing in one another and we knew that our defense, if we got enough stops and if we get enough opportunities to go win the game, it’s, I’m kinda speechless.
“Just to see what belief can do and see when a team believes in each other, what you can accomplish. I mean, playoff game down 27-nothing, we come back and win. We know we’re always counted out of these games and we don’t care. Unbelievable.”
Jaguars pull off third-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history, ending Chargers’ season
🏈 Jaguars 31, Chargers 30 — FINAL
Riley Patterson kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired in regulation, lifting the Jaguars to a 31-30 victory over the Chargers in the third-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history Saturday.
A 25-yard run by Travis Etienne Jr. on fourth down set up the winning field goal.
The Chargers held a 27-0 lead late in the second quarter after picking off Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence four times in the first half. In the second half, it was all Jaguars as Lawrence spearheaded four scoring drives to dissolve the Chargers’ lead.
Lawrence completed 28 of 47 passes for 288 yards, with four touchdown passes. Etienne finished with 109 yards in 20 carries.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 25 of 43 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Gerald Everett had six catches for 109 yards and one touchdown.
Asante Samuel Jr. had three of the Chargers’ four interceptions, but the team’s first-half dominance on defense wasn’t enough to earn them their first playoff win since the 2018 season.
Jaguars score another touchdown to make it a two-point game
🏈 Chargers 30, Jaguars 28 — 5:25 left in the fourth quarter
Trevor Lawrence found wide receiver Christian Kirk in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown pass before Lawrence scored on a two-point conversion attempt to make it a two-point game with just over five minutes left in regulation.
Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after slamming his helmet to the turf following a missed false start penalty on the touchdown play. The touchdown came at the end of nine-play, 70-yard drive.
Lawrence converted on the two-point attempt by diving forward and stretching his arm across the plane of the end zone.
The Chargers went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, giving the Jaguars a chance to potentially take the lead on their next possession.
If the Jaguars manage to win after trailing 27-0 late in the second quarter, it would be the third-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history.
Cameron Dicker misses 40-yard field goal attempt
🏈 Chargers 30, Jaguars 20 — 8:47 left in the fourth quarter
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker missed a 40-yard field goal attempt, frustrating the Chargers’ efforts to rebuild their advantage over the Jaguars on the scoreboard.
Justin Herbert pieced together the Chargers’ best-looking possession of the half, helping the Chargers move the ball 58 yards on 14 plays to the Jacksonville 22.
It was only the second missed field-goal attempt by Dicker this season.
Jaguars strike back with big-play touchdown pass
🏈 Chargers 30, Jaguars 20 — END OF THIRD QUARTER
Trevor Lawrence connected with a wide-open Zay Jones on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left in the third quarter to further cut into the Chargers’ lead and put the Jaguars within striking distance of what would be an epic playoff comeback.
Unlike its last drive, Jacksonville wasted no time on the possession, with Lawrence finding the end zone on a quick five-play, 68-yard drive. Adding to the Chargers’ woes, Joey Bosa was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after saying something to the referee.
The Chargers led 27-0 late in the first half. Justin Herbert will have to hold onto the ball and find the end zone to overcome the momentum Jacksonville has built in the second half. The Chargers have historically struggled in third quarters, but will they stay ahead?
Cameron Dicker’s 50-yard field goal extends Chargers’ lead
🏈 Chargers 30, Jaguars 14 — 2:51 left in the third quarter
Cameron Dicker kicked a 50-yard field goal to salvage something from a Chargers drive that sputtered after it crossed into Jaguars territory.
A pair of incomplete passes by Justin Herbert brought the seven-play, 45-yard drive to an abrupt end.
After looking completely lost for most of the first half, the Jaguars hold the momentum. Can the Chargers keep their commanding lead?
Jaguars strike back with Trevor Lawrence touchdown pass
🏈 Chargers 27, Jaguars 14 — 5:11 left in the third quarter
Trevor Lawrence found a wide open Marvin Jones Jr. in the end zone on a six-yard touchdown pass to cap a meticulous 14-play, 89-yard drive that thrusts the Jaguars back into the game.
The drive chewed more than seven minutes off the clock and was bolstered by a costly offsides penalty on Joey Bosa that negated a third-down sack on Lawrence (Bosa lined up in the neutral zone).
The Chargers opened the second half with the ball, but punted after six plays.
Jaguars finally get on the scoreboard just before halftime
🏈 Chargers 27, Jaguars 7 — HALFTIME
Trevor Lawrence connected on a nine-yard pass to tight end Evan Engram to put the Jaguars on the scoreboard with 27 seconds left in the first half.
The seven-play, 47-yard drive included the Jaguars converting on fourth-and-one and a third down.
The Chargers capitalized on four interceptions — including three from Asante Samuel Jr. — to take the big lead.
Justin Herbert has completed 15 of 24 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Austin Ekeler has 35 yards and two touchdown on eight carries and Keenan Allen has 44 yards on four catches.
Lawrence has completed 10 of 24 passes for 77 yards, with a touchdown. He is the first player since 1983 to throw four interceptions in the first half of a playoff game. Engram has three catches for 32 yards.
Chargers keep piling on after Jaguars botch a punt return
🏈 Chargers 27, Jaguars 0 — 4:25 left in the second quarter
A botched punt return gave the Chargers optimal field position, setting up a 23-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker to extend the Chargers already formidable lead.
A Chargers punt bounced off the helmet of Jacksonville’s Chris Claybrooks as he was trying to block, giving Amen Ogbongbemiga a chance to recover the bouncing ball on the Jaguars’ six-yard line.
Asante Samuel Jr. picks off Trevor Lawrence for a THIRD time
🏈 Chargers 24, Jaguars 0 — 6:48 left in the second quarter
Asante Samuel Jr. has to be in Trevor Lawrence’s head at this point.
The Chargers cornerback picked off the Jaguars quarterback for the third time tonight, this time on a third-and-10 for Lawrence’s fourth interception of the game.
The turnover gives the Chargers the ball at their own 32-yard line.
Samuel Jr. is the first player in NFL history to have three interceptions in their playoff debut.
Chargers take commanding lead on Gerald Everett touchdown
🏈 Chargers 24, Jaguars 0 — 7:12 left in the second quarter
Justin Herbert connected on a nine-yard pass with tight end Gerald Everett to give the Chargers a commanding lead.
The 11-play, 62-yard drive included a clutch 23-yard pass from Herbert to Keenan Allen on third-and-11 and a 13-yard catch by Joshua Palmer that pushed the Chargers into the red zone. The Chargers have converted on five of seven third downs.
Herbert has completed 13 of 19 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Austin Ekeler has 34 yards and two touchdowns on six carries, and Everett has 38 receiving yards and a touchdown on three catches.
Asante Samuel Jr. picks off ANOTHER pass; three interceptions for Chargers
🏈 Chargers 17, Jaguars 0 — 2:02 left in the first quarter
Austin Ekeler scored his second touchdown of the game on a six-yard run, capitalizing on another Asante Samuel Jr. interception to give the Chargers an impressive early lead.
Samuel Jr.’s second pick of the quarter gave the Chargers the ball on the Jaguars’ 16-yard line. From there, Ekeler carried the Chargers back into the end zone.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has completed four of 13 passes for 30 yards, with three picks. The Chargers have been great at disrupting slants and quick throws. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson might have to make some major adjustments to change the course of the game.
The three interceptions have predictably sucked the life out of the home crowd at TIAA Bank Field.
Chargers extend lead on Cameron Dicker field goal
🏈 Chargers 10, Jaguars 0 — 5:30 left in the first quarter
Cameron Dicker kicked a 22-yard field goal to extend the Chargers’ lead in the first quarter.
The Chargers quickly drove the ball into Jaguars territory after Asante Samuel Jr.’s interception, but the Jaguars’ defense managed to hold them out of the end zone.
Justin Herbert has completed six of 10 passes for 57 yards so far. Austin Ekeler has two carries for 13 yards and a touchdown.
On the ensuing possession, the Jaguars went three-and-out.
Asante Samuel Jr. picks up Chargers’ second interception
🏈 Chargers 7, Jaguars 0 — 10:02 left in the first quarter
Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. intercepted a pass from Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on fourth down, giving the Chargers two picks in the first five minutes of the game.
The Jaguars drove into Chargers territory before failing to convert on third-and-10. Rather than go for the field-goal try from the Chargers’ 23, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson elected to go for it on fourth down.
Samuel appeared to make impeding contact with Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones before picking off the pass but was not flagged for pass interference. Samuel returned the interception 16 yards to the Chargers’ 42-yard line.
Chargers capitalize on interception to score quick TD
🏈 Chargers 7, Jaguars 0 — 13:33 left in the first quarter
Austin Ekeler scored on a 13-yard touchdown run two plays after an interception by Drue Tranquill to give the Chargers a quick lead.
On the second play from the scrimmage, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Joey Bosa each tipped a pass from Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and Tranquill hauled in the ball, running it back 14 yards to the Jaguars’ 18. A five-yard pass to Donald Parham Jr. set up the Ekeler run.
Kyle Van Noy explains why Chargers’ lack of playoff experience means little
The Chargers have a quarterback whose most recent postseason game was the Rose Bowl.
They have a head coach who owns just a single playoff victory — as an NFL assistant.
They represent a franchise that hasn’t played this deep into January in four years, only six players still around from that team.
All of which “doesn’t matter,” according to the man among them who has appeared in the most NFL postseason games.
“Playoff experience doesn’t mean anything to be honest,” Kyle Van Noy said. “But everybody likes to talk about it this time of year. Look at the Bengals last season. Their coach, their quarterback had no experience, either.”
Chargers vs. Jaguars inactives for Saturday’s wild-card playoff game
Jaguars kick returner Jamal Agnew is active for Saturday’s AFC wild-card game against the Chargers. Agnew was listed as questionable heading into the weekend after he was limited in practice this week because of a shoulder injury.
Here are the players who will not be suiting up for the Chargers and the Jaguars:
Chargers inactives
WR Mike Williams (back)
OT Storm Norton
QB Easton Stick
RB Isaiah Spiller
DL Tyeler Davison
S JT Woods
TE Stone Smartt
Jaguars inactives
WR Kendric Pryor
CB Montaric Brown
CB Gregory Junior
LB De’Shaan Dixon
DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
‘He never flinched’: How coach Brandon Staley guided Chargers to playoffs
His coaching seat has gone from sizzling to soothing to who knows what’s next, Brandon Staley experiencing a coach’s lifetime in the span of barely a month.
From 6-6 to the AFC’s top wild-card spot, Staley has steered the Chargers into the postseason by avoiding an on-field calamity and ignoring an off-field cacophony.
“A lot of people outside the building have opinions about what should happen inside the building,” defensive lineman Morgan Fox said. “But they don’t know what goes on inside the building. You have to give all the credit for this to Coach Staley and his staff.”
Behind a steadiness and an authenticity cited by several of his players, Staley has this franchise in the playoffs for the first time since the 2018 season. The Chargers travel to Jacksonville for a wild-card game Saturday night against the AFC South champion Jaguars.
Chargers enter playoffs against Jaguars with cloud hanging over franchise
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The state of the Chargers is such that the team enters its first playoff game in four years with few people talking about its first playoff game in four years.
Instead, the future of everyone in the organization from general manager Tom Telesco on down came into question Friday after the Chargers ruled out wide receiver Mike Williams.
So, now, rather than talking about Justin Herbert versus Trevor Lawrence and Chargers versus Jaguars on Saturday night in Jacksonville, the conversation centers on this team reaching new heights of Chargering.
Williams was ruled out because of a fracture in his back suffered in the team’s regular-season finale Sunday in Denver. He was hurt in the final three minutes of the first half in a game that had no impact on playoff seeding.
Chargers receiver Mike Williams ruled out for wild-card game against Jaguars
The Chargers will play the franchise’s biggest game in four years without wide receiver Mike Williams.
The team’s top deep threat was ruled out Friday because of a fracture in his back that the Chargers claim did not show up in tests until Friday morning.
Williams remained home while the team traveled to Jacksonville, where the Chargers will play the Jaguars in an AFC wild-card matchup Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
Williams was injured Sunday in the regular-season finale in Denver. He was hurt on a hit after making a six-yard reception in the final three minutes of the first half.
Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars matchups, how to watch and prediction
Breaking down how the Chargers (10-7) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) match up heading into their game at 5:15 p.m. PST on Saturday at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The game will be shown on NBC and streamed on Peacock and NFL+.
When Chargers have the ball
The Chargers lost wide receiver Mike Williams to a back injury last weekend in Denver, costing them their only deep threat to test a Jacksonville pass defense that hasn’t been good this season.
The Jaguars throttled the Chargers in Week 3, 38-10, limiting Austin Ekeler to five yards rushing and the Chargers to 26 net yards on the ground. There would seem to be little chance of the Chargers winning Saturday night unless they can make Jacksonville at least acknowledge the threat of a running game.
With Justin Herbert, this offense never will go ground-centric, but the Chargers are 5-8 over the last three seasons when Herbert attempts 45 or more passes. One of those losses came in that Week 3 game against the Jaguars.
Chargers vs. Jaguars: Best bets, betting lines and odds
Chargers (-2.5, 47.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars
After losing their season-opener to the Commanders and then shutting out the Colts 24-0 in Week 2, the Jaguars’ 38-10 rout of the Chargers in Week 3 is where they really showed that this wasn’t the same ole Jags.
The Chargers are still more of a public team, but that’s really the only reason why they’re a road favorite here. The Jaguars average more points per game (23.8 to 23.0) and allow fewer points per game (20.6 to 22.6), so I’m really tempted to say the wrong team is favored here.
However, we think the better way to play this is to tease Jacksonville through the key numbers of 3 and 7 in two-team, six-point teasers.
This is a good time to list the other advantage teasers (aka “Wong teasers” for old-timers) as we’ll use Jaguars +8.5 with the Giants up to +8.5 or +9 at the Vikings, Bengals down from -7 to -1 vs. the Ravens and Buccaneers from +2.5 up to +8.5 vs. the Cowboys.
Best bet: Jaguars in teasers (pool play: Jaguars 60/40 in ATS contests and 55/45 in SU pools).