After last week’s collapse against the Houston Texans, the Jacksonville Jaguars entered Week 11 in a desperate spot. The game plan going into the game was simple. The Jaguars needed to commit to the run, protect Trevor Lawrence, clean up discipline issues, and attack a weakened Los Angeles Chargers offensive line. On Sunday, they executed that plan to a level they had not reached all season, and the end result was a dominant 35-6 victory at home.
A True Commitment to the Run
In Jacksonville’s recent losses, they have abandoned the run too quickly and refused to run the ball in the red zone. This week, they flipped that issue on its head in an impressive fashion. The Jaguars finally leaned on the run game in a way fans have been waiting for, and maybe even excessively.
The team ran the ball a whopping 47 times, combined with Bhayshul Tuten, Travis Etienne, LeQuint Allen, and Lawrence. This commitment to running the ball allowed the offense to stay in manageable situations and control the pace of the game. According to PSFN’s RB Impact Rankings, all three of Jacksonville’s backs posted a score of over 70, showing just how well each of them contributed to this win.
With the ground game setting the tone, Jacksonville finished with four rushing touchdowns and, for the first time this season, had perfect red zone execution, scoring touchdowns on all five red zone trips. The consistency on the ground kept the Chargers defense off balance and forced them to respect every look the Jaguars showed. When the Jaguars pound the rock, the results speak for themselves.
Lawrence Benefits from a Balanced Attack
With the run game leading the way, Lawrence played one of his most comfortable games of the season. He was not asked to throw often, but he was accurate and efficient when he did. He delivered several sharp throws that kept drives alive and helped the offense finish drives.
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The offense also corrected miscues that have hurt them throughout the year. The receivers avoided the drops that have held the passing game back time and time again. The offensive line bounced back, providing acceptable protection after struggling to an absurd degree for four straight games. Finally, the entire unit avoided pre-snap penalties, a problem that had been a crushing issue throughout the season.
Thanks to this newfound discipline, Jacksonville did not punt the ball a single time. The offense wasn’t flawless, though. Lawrence threw an interception on the first play of a second quarter drive, and the team failed on two fourth down attempts.
Even with those mistakes, scoring touchdowns on five of eight full drives against a strong Chargers defense is an extremely impressive accomplishment. If the offense continues to trend in this direction throughout the remainder of the season, the Jaguars could be a legitimate contender.
A Defensive Masterclass
The Jaguars needed their pass rush to take advantage of the Chargers’ missing Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. They did that and more. Jacksonville recorded 23 total pressures and three sacks, overwhelming the Chargers’ backfield throughout the whole game. Josh Hines-Allen collected one of those sacks, giving him the franchise record for career sacks. The team would have had another sack as well if not for a controversial roughing penalty on B.J. Green.
The Chargers’ passing game struggled from the opening snap as Justin Herbert completed just 10 of 18 passes for a career low 81 yards with no touchdowns. The Jaguars even capitalized on a Herbert interception to Antonio Johnson on the first play of the fourth quarter, which resulted in another touchdown on the board for Jacksonville.
The impressive pass defense added a staggering seven pass deflections as the defensive backs played physically and aggressively from start to end. Trey Lance replaced Herbert late in the game, but was unable to generate any momentum either.
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Jacksonville also dominated on the ground defensively. The Chargers were without Omarion Hampton, and Kimani Vidal left the game after only five carries due to injury, but that doesn’t take away from the Jaguars’ triumphant performance.
The Jaguars’ defense took full advantage of the injuries, recording five tackles for loss and allowing only 42 total rushing yards. Of those 42 yards, 22 came from Herbert and Lance scrambling. The Chargers running backs combined for only 20 yards total on the day, showing the extent to which Jacksonville’s run defense held up all day long. In contrast, the Jaguars’ running backs finished with 183 yards.
A Complete Performance That Reflects a Growing Culture
The Jaguars excelled in all three phases of the game and delivered their most complete performance of the season. They entered the matchup as underdogs, but the energy and execution never reflected that. They looked focused, physical, and disciplined from the opening drive to the final whistle.
This win carries even more weight given the emotional swing from last week’s collapse. Jacksonville needed a response and showed exactly the kind of team they want to become. Under Liam Coen and James Gladstone, the Jaguars have formed a new culture built on resilience and belief. This group does not lose morale, and they are not prepared to surrender to anyone.
