The Jacksonville Jaguars face off against the Los Angeles Chargers in a battle of struggling teams this Sunday. Of course, the biggest news is Gardner Minshew II being named a starter again which should bring some excitement to the fanbase.
Here are three things to know for the battle of opposing coasts:
The Chargers lead the series 7-3
The Jaguars have an unfortunate history with the Chargers. The Chargers lead the series 7-3 and have won six of the last seven matchups. Both teams boast a 4-8 record and are looking to right the ship as each are coming off of multiple game losing streaks.
Luckily the game is in Jacksonville since generally, the Jaguars don’t travel well to the west coast. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers has struggled this season, turning the ball over at an alarming rate with 15 picks on the season. Against a weak offensive line, the Jaguars’ defensive unit should be able to take advantage and make it a tough game for Rivers.
The return of ‘Minshew Mania’
“Minshew Mania” is back and appears to be here to stay. Nick Foles has struggled mightily since returning from his broken clavicle, which he sustained in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. After multiple disappointing losses and a first-half shutout against the Tampa Bay Bucs, Doug Marrone decided to move back to Gardner Minshew II.
Minshew has been a solid starter, leading the team to a 4-4 record in Foles’ absence. Now, the Jags will turn to Minshew once more, hoping to turn around a four-game losing streak. Minshew instantly brought a new energy to the offense and it is clear the team is better with him. Hopefully, Minshew can bring some more of that magic against the Chargers.
Leonard Fournette is 11 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards
There is not a single Jaguars player I’m more proud of this season than running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette was thrashed by fans last season — and for good reason. This offseason, Fournette took time off in Wyoming and came back a completely different player. Fournette is third in the NFL in yards from scrimmage and is just 11 yards away from his second 1,000 yard season.
The offensive line has done him little favors, but right now No. 27 is likely the team’s best offensive player. With Minshew back under center, maybe fans could see a return to more of a run-heavy offense built around Fournette. With 66 total yards, Fournette will also eclipse the 1,500 total yards mark. While the season has been a disappointment, Fournette has been a nice surprise.
