The haunting of EverBank Stadium over the Chargers continued Sunday as the Jacksonville Jaguars embarrassed LA 35-6.
It was an ugly game on both sides of the ball, with offensive coordinator Greg Roman and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter both deserving blame with head coach Jim Harbaugh deserving the most.
Roman’s play-calling lacked creativity and repeatedly forced quarterback Justin Herbert to hold the ball for long stretches while going 10-for-18 for 81 yards and an interception. The defense didn’t fare any better—gashed on the ground and picked apart in zone coverage by Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence who went 14-for-22 passing for 173 yards with two touchdowns (one rushing) and an interception. The Jaguars rushing attack also made the defense look weak with Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten combining for 147 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
The Chargers had a major opportunity heading into the bye week to sit at 8-3, with a big AFC West showdown looming between Denver and Kansas City. A Broncos loss would have put LA in first place. Instead, they head into the break embarrassed, especially after riding a three-game win streak and allowing Davis Mills and the Texans to torch their secondary for 26 fourth-quarter points last week.
On the second drive, Jacksonville benefited from a favorable call. On 1st-and-10 from the Chargers’ 46, Lawrence went deep to Parker Washington with Tarheeb Still in coverage. The pass fell incomplete, but the referee threw a questionable defensive pass interference flag. Still was looking at the quarterback, and Washington initiated the contact. The 31-yard penalty set up a Tuten 4-yard touchdown run for a 7-3 lead.
Herbert made some questionable decisions on the next drive. He took a first-down sack from Danny Striggow and Travon Walker, then threw a short pass to Kimani Vidal that lost nine yards. Another short pass attempt to Vidal left Herbert shaken up.
Down 7-3, the defense finally stepped up when Donte Jackson jumped a Lawrence throw for an interception. The offense moved the ball thanks to a Herbert 12-yard scramble and a Keenan Allen 3rd-and-4 conversion. But penalties and pressure crept in again: on 3rd-and-10 from the Jaguars’ 14, left tackle Trevor Penning was beaten by Josh Hines-Allen for a sack. The Chargers settled for a field goal, cutting it to 7-6.
Minter’s group quickly broke again. Lawrence marched the Jaguars down the field behind the run game—two Tuten carries for 19 yards, a 16-yard pass to Johnny Mundt, then three straight Travis Etienne runs for 16 yards and a touchdown to push the lead to 14-6.
Then came the head-scratchers. On 3rd-and-10 from their own 25, Herbert hit Allen for a 30-yard gain. Later, on 3rd-and-7 from the Jaguars’ 42, Herbert forced an early throw to Allen that fell incomplete. Had he waited another beat, Ladd McConkey was about to pop open, but pressure forced the rushed decision.
Instead of punting or attempting a long field goal, the Chargers went for it. BJ Green came free untouched from the right side and crushed Herbert with a WWE-style spear. Offset penalties wiped the play away—Penning for illegal formation, Green for roughing the passer—but Herbert had to head to the blue tent. He returned in the second half.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) hurries Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) as he is called for intentional grounding during the first quarter of an NFL football game at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Coming out of halftime, Jacksonville continued pushing the Chargers around. Lawrence hit Washington for 11 yards, Tuten ripped a 12-yard run that Cam Hart prevented from becoming longer, and on 3rd-and-12 from the Chargers’ 44, Lawrence found Jakobi Meyers for 21 yards. Later, on 3rd-and-goal from the six, a pass breakup by Jackson was undone by a questionable Elijah Molden holding call. Lawrence scored on a 1-yard keeper on the next play for a commanding 21-6 lead.
The Chargers defense had allowed just two touchdowns over their previous three games. They gave up three in the first three quarters alone.
LA went three-and-out again, and Jacksonville resumed the onslaught. Lawrence continuously found open receivers, hitting Meyers three times for 32 yards on the drive while the run game matched that output. He capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown to Tim Patrick.
Herbert’s next possession ended in disaster. He overshot McConkey deep and placed the ball near Quentin Johnston, but Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson cut in for the interception and returned it 44 yards. Etienne punched in a 13-yard touchdown to put the game away at 35-6.
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Nov 16, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) celebrates with offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen (70) after rushing for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter at EverBank Stadium.
This Chargers team will go only as far as their offensive line takes them. Despite the talent on the roster, the front office ignored glaring O-line issues and only added Mekhi Becton in the offseason. Herbert has taken a beating all year, and Sunday was no different—pressured nine times and hit five times by halftime.
For a team feeling confident on both sides of the ball entering this matchup, things unraveled fast. The bye week comes at a much-needed time, with running back Omarion Hampton expected to return. But the offensive line remains a massive concern.
The Chargers enter the bye with a sour taste after this blowout loss. All eyes will be on Jim Harbaugh afterward to see how he and his staff attempt to salvage a playoff push with a 7-4 record—and possibly the worst offensive line in the league.
