NFL Playoffs: Jaguars a surprise worst to first and Wild Card game host

The last time the Jacksonville Jaguars made the NFL Playoffs was in 2017 when they were led by a dominant defense.  For the Chargers, their last appearance in a playoff game was in 2018.  Both the starting quarterbacks, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert, respectively, will be making their first career playoff starts as well.  So, who has the advantage, and who will come out of this Super Wildcard Weekend victorious?  Let’s take a look and I’ll give you thoughts on the game, as well as my prediction.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are favored in this NFL Playoff game but it’s only a 2.5 spread and they are the home team.  But do the Jaguars have enough on the defensive side to slow down the Chargers’ offense? The Jags are ranked 24th in the league, and while the numbers look better during their five-game win streak, two of those games were against offensive inept teams, the Jets and Texans, and another against the Joshua Dobbs-led Titans. While the Chargers are ranked ninth on offense and were without their two star wide receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.  Williams is nursing an injury but is listed as questionable and will likely play in this game.

On the flip side, the Jaguars’ offense is ranked 10th and the Chargers’ defense is ranked 20th in the NFL.  So, neither team is that great on the defensive side, but both can put up points.  Jacksonville is averaging 23.8 points per game, while the Chargers average 23 a game.

The Chargers brought in some new defensive pieces this past off-season to address the run game but seems that has not helped, as the Chargers are one of the worst teams in the league at stopping the run again.  For this reason, I think Travis Etienne is going to have himself a day in his first NFL playoffs and run for over 150 yards, with over 200 total yards, with two touchdowns.  Advancing the Jaguars to the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.

Jacksonville wins this one, 27 – 23.