When a game looks like a win, there’s always the Chargers to spice it up. With a 27-0 lead, they were burned and the Jaguars made the third-biggest comeback in playoff history with a 31-30 win.
• Also read: Incredible Jaguar comeback
Twenty-seven points… This is the biggest comeback in Jaguar history. It’s also the worst collapse in Chargers history. To whom should we give credit for this score at the end of a play that began with a bad summer theatrical comedy and ended in a spectacular scenario? A little bit of both!
Let’s start with the first act. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was terrible for the first 30 minutes. He seemed completely lost. He was the victim of two interceptions in his first two offensive sequences. Before his final foray into the first half, he’d only completed four passes and the Chargers had just as many interceptions at his expense.
In this poor quality vaudeville, the Jaguars also fumbled on a punt return that gave the Chargers the ball very close to the goals.
As a result of that avalanche of errors, the Chargers had scored 24 of their 27 points in short sequences requiring just 77 total yards of offense. The Jaguars simply gave them the game on a silver platter.
But the chargers are the chargers, they didn’t take it.
Lawrence jumps
In the second act, Trevor Lawrence, as a poor extra, stripped off his costume to take the leading role that was expected of him. After his fourth interception, the blond haired man was sensational. By the end of the game, he was completing 24 of his next 32 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns.
Before the end of the first half, he joined with tight end Evan Engram for a touchdown that then seemed pretty harmless.
It was then Marvin Jones Jr who got his second touchdown pass in the third quarter. Then Zay Jones. Then Christian Kirk. So Lawrence suddenly found his way to attack everyone on the ground. It’s a great show of character for the young sophomore quarterback in his first playoff start.
Three Jaguars streaks were 68 yards or more. This is the difference to the chargers. They only did one sequence for 60 yards. Twice in the paying zone, they were content with field goals from Cameron Dicker, who also missed another try.
The end for Staley
This duel also showed a striking difference in the quality of the coaching. Where Brandon Staley has roamed, Doug Pederson has reminded the NFL planet that he has reinforced concrete family heirlooms.
After his final touchdown, he opted for a two-point converter that made all the difference in the final score. Instead of attempting a placement late in the game that would have leveled the score, that placement proved victorious.
In the final sequence that led to Riley Patterson’s placement, it was necessary to attempt a fourth down and a yard to cross the Chargers’ line of 41. Pederson fielded three running backs in the backfield, creating the illusion of a quarterback “sneak”. Eventually it was Travis Etienne who had the ball and his speed allowed him to turn the corner against a defense slightly faster than a trout in a tiny stocked pond.
Staley in all this? He lost control of a game in which his team was leading by 27 points with a +5 turnover ratio. It’s just not acceptable.
His star defensive end Joey Bosa lost control of his emotions with two costly penalties. Although the officials missed a clear offside of the blocker facing him, he reacted poorly.
Payton in the crosshairs?
Staley, therefore, does not have enough influence over this infinitely more talented team than it shows on the field. To give you an idea, the Jaguars became the first team since the Dolphins in 1999 to have five turnovers in the first half of a playoff game. The Dolphins lost that game, as they should when a team plays casually, 62-7. The Chargers have never shown such killer instincts and have never found ways to adapt to stem the bleed. Is there a pilot on the plane?
It can be a blessing in disguise, mind you. The action to be taken is to immediately court Sean Payton, who is buying a return as head coach at a high price. Staley had his chance and he’ll step up elsewhere as defensive coordinator, a role he’s fulfilled very well with the Rams.
The Chargers must use any means necessary to establish themselves in the Los Angeles market, where they are struggling to establish themselves. Payton, the former Saints pilot, is more than just a big name in the business. He would bring instant credibility to this much-needed franchise and take quarterback Justin Herbert to the next level.
Sean Payton and Justin Herbert sound great.
The stars of the day
Trevor Lawrence
Of course, the four interceptions on his tally aren’t a credit to him, but it’s important to emphasize here that he never faltered. Several young quarterbacks would have lost control and made the situation worse. He reported back perfectly.
Travis Etienne
The sophomore running back has become a major advantage for the Jaguars, who are rushing for 109 yards and averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
Asante Samuel Jr
In the loss, the Chargers cornerback intercepted three passes from Trevor Lawrence. He became the first player since Ty Law (Patriots) and Ricky Manning (Panthers) in 2004 to record three interceptions in a playoff game.