OPEN THREAD: Chargers vs. Jaguars

Joey Bosa and the Los Angeles Chargers travel to Jacksonville to face Jalen Ramsey and the Jaguars in Week 10. Chat with other Chargers fans on the open thread while watching the game.

Back from the bye and looking to make some noise, the Chargers face the Jaguars, a team they’ve beat six consecutive times dating back to 2010. The 2017 Jaguars, however, are no joke.

The Jags currently boast the league’s third-best defense, having only allowed 281.2 points per game so far this season. They rank first in pass defense thanks to the play of corners Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Jacksonville also leads the league in total sacks with 35. Free-agent acquisition Calais Campbell (league-leading 11 sacks) is having an All-Pro year.

On offense, rookie rusher Leonard Fournette, who hasn’t played in three weeks (injury, bye week and coach’s decision) leads the Jags’ top-ranked rushing attack. They are averaging 166.5 rushing yards per game. It’s a good thing the Chargers have the second-worst rush defense…

Despite their struggles against the run, the Chargers have the best pass-rushing duo in the league in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, both of whom have 8.5 sacks a piece. They will face Blake Bortles, a quarterback who has been heavily criticized the past two years. However, the Jags’ line has done a solid job in protecting him, as Bortles has only been sacked 11 times this year. The same could be said for a Chargers line that’s allowed just 11 sacks on the year, too.

Let’s see who’s inactive for the Chargers:

Our #LACvsJAX inactives:

QB C. JonesWR G. DavisRB B. OliverLB H. PullardRT J. BarksdaleTE S. CulkinTE J. Cumberland

— #LACvsJAX (@Chargers) November 12, 2017

Center Spencer Pulley was on the injury report but he is active, which is big. Joe Barksdale will miss another game despite practicing fully twice during the week. Michael Schofield will start at right tackle again. Hayes Pullard is out, which means we get to (finally) see more of Korey Toomer. Even better, ILB Denzel Perryman is BACK after missing the first half of the season!

Three starting linemen for the Jags all came into this game questionable, but only right tackle Jeremy Parnell is the only one who won’t play. Expect Bosa to do some damage. Also, DT Sheldon Day is also inactive.

Bosa and Ramsey were my top two players in the 2016 NFL Draft. I can see this game being a defensive showdown, especially if what should have been a talented Chargers offense continues to struggle. Let’s hope running back Melvin Gordon gets going early so Philip Rivers doesn’t have to throw a ton in this one.