NEWSLETTER
Well, it didn’t take long for us to get our first thriller of the NFL playoffs as the Jaguars stunned the Chargers with a wild comeback!
After Trevor Lawrence threw his fourth interception with 6:55 to play in the first half, things looked gloomy for Jacksonville. The fat lady was singing when the Chargers kicked a field goal to make it 27-0 with 4:28 to play in the half.
10-of-24 for 77 yards, 1 touchdown, four interceptions, and a 24.5 passer rating. That’s what Trevor Lawrence’s first half box score looked like.
NBC’s Kaylee Hartung caught Jacksonville head coach Doug Peterson on the sideline as Jacksonville made its way to the locker room. After watching his team put together a seven-play, 47-yard drive that ended with a Lawrence touchdown, Pederson wasn’t worried.
Neither was I. I don’t know why. I mean, I kind of do. For as much as I love Justin Herbert’s game, I don’t trust the Chargers. I don’t trust their defense, even after making four interceptions in the first half. I don’t trust Brandon Staley as a game manager, even after he came out with an answer for Lawrence and the Jags.
The Chargers defense lived up to my expectations in the second half.
Trevor Lawrence completed 18-of-23 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Lawrence had a clutch two-point conversion and a passer rating of 144.5 in the second half. The Chargers’ defense lost the battle physically and mentally. Joey Bosa was called for a costly offside and two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
Brandon Staley lived up to my expectations.
Staley had no answer for Doug Pederson’s adjustments. He blew his challenge and his second timeout on a meaningless challenge, and it cost him down the stretch. Staley, the defense, and the Chargers, well, they Chargered.
I also felt that the Jaguars were riding a high that was too strong to break tonight in front of their home crowd.
Trevor Lawrence showed incredible poise with his second half rebound tonight. Doug Pederson reminded us why he is a Super Bowl champion. And the Jacksonville Jaguars reminded us why we all love the NFL playoffs with their thrilling comeback victory tonight.
Jacksonville’s wild comeback was the third-largest deficit overcome in NFL playoff history. Thankfully, the Jaguars will get to entertain us all again next weekend. As for the Chargers, Brandon Staley has some answering to do after this one.
