The Jacksonville Jaguars continue their playoff push Sunday when the team hosts the San Diego Chargers.
Jacksonville (4-6) has won two straight and three of four, including a 19-13 win over the Tennessee Titans last week. The surprising Jaguars, who started the season 1-5, enter Week 12 just a game behind the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans for first place in the AFC South.
While Jacksonville has played well of late, the Chargers (2-8) are struggling, having lost six in a row, including last week's 33-3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite having one of the league's best passing offenses led by quarterback Philip Rivers, the Chargers have been unable to run the ball consistently this season. San Diego averages 80.2 yards per game on ground, third worst in the NFL.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Chargers and the Jaguars.
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1. Account for all the Allens
Only the Saints allow more yards-per-pass-attempt than the Chargers secondary (8.4). They haven't exactly shined against opposing No. 1 receivers, either. The Jaguars have two of them -- Allen Robinson (17.4 yards per catch) and Allen Hurns (16.3 yards per catch) will both try to take the Bolts deep.
2. Match Eric Weddle up on an old foe
Julius Thomas (20 catches, 167 yards, two TD in 2015) owned the Chargers secondary in a previous life. He's a Jaguar now and nowhere near as dangerous without Peyton Manning throwing to him, but still a top-shelf option at tight end. Weddle won't have an easy afternoon in coverage against a player Blake Bortles wants to get the ball to.
3. Get the Rivers-Gates duo back in action
The two longtime Chargers teammates had a sideline shouting match last weekend that was tough to watch. A road trip to Jacksonville won't repair all offensive struggles. But if Rivers and Gates can reconnect, it'll give fans something positive to lean on if the team's losing streak rumbles on.
1. Feed the ball to the backs
Jacksonville running back T.J. Yeldon has been slowed of late by a foot injury suffered in the win against Baltimore two weeks ago, but Sunday's matchup against San Diego offers prime opportunity for the rookie and his backup, Denard Robinson, to make a major impact. The Chargers are the NFL's seventh-worst team against the run, giving up an average of 125.9 yard per game. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson should go to the run early and stick with it. Last week, the Chiefs ran for 153 yards and three scores against the San Diego defense.
2. Finish in the red zone
Last week against the Titans, the Jaguars were once again unable to get the ball in the end zone after a first-and-goal situation at the Tennessee seven-yard line. Denard Robinson failed on three consecutive rushing attempts in a sequence reminiscent of Toby Gerhart's four-straight unsuccessful runs in Jacksonville's Oct. 25 win over Buffalo. If the Jaguars intend to take advantage of being in playoff contention, they're going to need to start coming away from scoring chances with touchdowns rather than field goals. Sunday is a good time to start.
3. Find a way to get to Rivers
The Jaguars have struggled applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks all season, but Rivers has been sacked 24 times this season, including three times last week against Kansas City. Jacksonville may once again be forced to blitz, which leaves the team vulnerable to big plays, especially against a talented quarterback like Rivers. However, Jacksonville needs to find a way to make Rivers uncomfortable, so it's a chance the Jaguars may need to take.
