After last week’s debacle in Kansas City, which was just the latest in a long line of Chargers letdowns under the command of 4th-year head coach Mike McCoy, a large portion of San Diego’s fan base is justifiably feeling like the 2016 season is destined for failure.
However, nothing shortens the memory quite like winning, and the Bolts have a chance to erase all the consternation from Kansas City on Sunday afternoon in their home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bolts have won five straight games against the Jags and in their relatively short history Jacksonville has lost all three trips it’s made to San Diego.
But this is a very different, much-improved Jags team, certainly not the laughingstock they have been for the better part of a decade. The Bolts are a three-point favorite in Las Vegas but the rule of thumb is playing at home gives you three points so the experts think it’s actually a wash.
The really interesting thing here is, although it’s only Week 2, both of these teams are already playing for their playoff lives. Over the last decade, 75 NFL teams have started a season 0-2. Of those teams, only eight made the post-season. And the Chargers don’t have a weak division they can hope to exploit like they did in 2008 when they won the AFC West with an 8-8 record.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the three Chargers to watch:
Kyle Emanuel, OLB
Emanuel was not great in the season opener, especially in coverage. He was running behind Spencer Ware and Travis Kelce a few times as the Chiefs built their big comeback. Jacksonville does not throw the ball to their running backs too terribly often but they have a pair of tight ends who can be pains in the rear end in the passing game in former Bronco Julius Thomas and veteran Marcedes Lewis. When those guys are both on the field at the same time odds are the coverage is going to come down to some combination of Emanuel, cornerback Casey Hayward, safety Dwight Lowery and linebacker Manti Te’o. If Emanuel is not substantially better than he was a week ago it’s going to be a long day for the San Diego defense.
Left Guard
I have to be vague here because on Saturday Orlando Franklin was a late addition to the injury report with a neck issue. The starting left guard is listed as questionable for the game against Jacksonville. If he can’t go it will be either undrafted rookie Spencer Pulley or Kenny Wiggins who gets the start. Whoever is in the game is going to have to deal with Malik Jackson, another former Bronco who has given Chargers fans a few gray hairs. Jackson, along with Dante Fowler, were not able to get much of a pass rush a week ago against the Packers but part of that was because of the elusiveness of Aaron Rodgers. Chargers QB Philip Rivers is not exactly as mobile so the San Diego line, which finally finished a game the same way it started last week, has got to keep defenders out of the backfield. Plus with no Keenan Allen the Chargers will likely be looking to run the ball a lot more and the big guys up front showed tremendous improvement in the run game with their starting lineup intact. That must continue on Sunday at The Murph.
Drew Kaser, P
After a really solid preseason the rookie’s first real NFL experience was abysmal. On five punts he had a 28.6 yard net average and unleashed a 17-yarder in the 4th quarter that set up the Chiefs on the Chargers side of the field for their final regulation touchdown drive. Odds are Sunday’s game against the Jags will be another close one and in close games field position plays a gigantic role. Another terrible afternoon from Kaser and the Chargers will be staring 0-2 squarely in the face.
Derek’s Prediction
The Chargers and Jaguars have similarly talented rosters and that means the difference in the game is going to be in coaching. After last year and the season opener I don’t have a whole lot of faith in Mike McCoy to be the difference in a good way. Perhaps Rivers can overcome the coaching and win a shootout but until the Bolts prove they can win close ones I’m going with the opposition.
Final score: Jaguars 27, Chargers 24
