Pregame Report: Chargers at Jaguars
The Chargers will take on the Jaguars in the Wild Card Round at TIAA Bank Field.
The Chargers (10-7) and Jaguars (9-8) will face off in the Wild Card Round. Here's a look at this week's pregame report, previewing the matchup.
Date, time and location
- Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5:15 p.m. PT
- TIAA Bank Field
How to watch and listen
- TV: NBC
- Radio: ATL FM-98.7, featuring Matt "Money" Smith, Daniel Jeremiah and Shannon Farren
Where to stream
Final injury report
Chargers:
- OUT: WR Mike Williams
Jaguars:
- QUESTIONABLE: WR Jamal Agnew, QB Trevor Lawrence, LS Ross Matiscik, WR Kendric Pryor, OL Brandon Scherff
Betting odds
- Point spread: Chargers -2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Chargers (-138), Jaguars (+110)
- Over/under: 47 points
*All betting odds are courtesy of Sports Illustrated Sportsbook.
Things to watch
- How the Chargers supplement the offense without Mike Williams: It won't be easy. Mike Williams has been the Chargers' consistent downfield threat, being the team's go-to target in the deep part of the field. The Chargers have averaged 3.5 more points per game and over 50 yards more per game when Williams is active. During his absence, Keenan Allen and second-year player Joshua Palmer will be heavily relied upon.
- Pressuring Trevor Lawrence: During the first meeting between these two teams in Week 3, the Chargers struggled to manufacture pressure on Trevor Lawrence. The Chargers' pass rush tallied 11 pressures, one quarterback hits and did not record a sack. To disrupt the Jaguars rhythm offensively that must change. Joey Bosa, who played just 13 snaps in Week 3 before suffering a torn groin muscle, will appear in his third game since making his return to play. The combination of Bosa, Khalil Mack and Kyle Van Noy should be able to improve the pressure this time around. Van Noy enter's the playoffs riding a streak of five games with a sack.
- Protecting Justin Herbert: The Chargers' pass protection has been hit-and-miss nearly all season. From weeks 1-9, Herbert was the least-sacked quarterback in the league. But in weeks 10-16, Hebert was sacked a league-high 27 times. The last two weeks, the Chargers' offensive line has kept him upright, holding opponents to just one sack and four quarterback hits in games against the Rams and Broncos. The Jaguars pose a pass rushing duo of two former first-round picks, featuring Travon Walker and Josh Allen, who are no strangers to applying pressure. Without having Williams available out wide, adequate time in the pocket for Herbert is even more important for the Chargers offense to function appropriately.
*Get your Chargers tickets from SI Tickets by clicking here
Read more from Charger Report:
- Chargers at Jaguars Game Day Betting Odds: Wild Card Round Point Spread, Over/Under, Moneyline
- Chargers at Jaguars Wild Card Round Game Prediction
- Chargers WR Mike Williams Downgraded to Out For Wild Card Round Game vs. Jaguars
- Chargers Uncertain to Have WR Mike Williams For Wild Card Round Matchup vs. Jaguars
- Chargers at Jaguars Wild Card Round Injury Report: Thursday
Nick Cothrel is the publisher of Charger Report. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickCothrel for more Chargers coverage.