The Los Angeles Chargers, as they headed into Jacksonville to face the Jaguars with a 7-3 record, desperately needed another win to show that they still had life as a Super Bowl contender.
Instead, they suffered a brutal loss, and, although they are still poised to earn a Wild Card spot, they proved that neither their offense nor their defense is good enough to propel them to where they hoped to be this season.
On the day, they only amassed six points, with their offense struggling to both gain momentum in the run game and provide Justin Herbert with adequate protection. What was worse, however, was their defense's inability to limit the struggling Jaguars' offense: a devastating sign for any hope they have at being competitive for the rest of the season.
Chargers put up decidedly their worst performance of the season against the Jaguars
Following a major Week 10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, there was reason to be optimistic about the Los Angeles Chargers heading into this week.
However, their offensive line continued to struggle mightily, and the move to start trade deadline acquisition Trevor Penning at left tackle did not pay immediate dividends. Although the Jaguars amassed only two sacks on Herbert on the day, it seemed as though they had constant pressure, with Travon Walker and Josh-Hines Allen both having excellent performances.
Herbert finished just 10/18 for 81 yards through the air on the day.
The defense, meanwhile, did not look much better. Both Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten imposed their will on the Chargers' defensive line, combining for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Their secondary had two massive pass interference calls that resulted in Jacksonville touchdowns, and they struggled to contain their opponents' passing game as a whole.
While this represents a potentially season-saving win for the Jaguars, it is exactly the opposite for Los Angeles.
Chargers are set for a rough end to the season if this game is any indication
While the offensive line's struggles come as no surprise given the injuries they have sustained this season, any chance that the Chargers had of remaining competitive this season rested on the outstanding play of their defense.
Although that unit had experienced some regression this season, they have largely been effective and, at times, even dominant.
Yet, with this loss to the Jaguars, it is clear that the team just does not have the personnel, neither on the line nor in their secondary, to overwhelm teams on a week-to-week basis. While this is not necessarily a fair expectation, it is what Los Angeles needed to have any shot at making a deep playoff run this season.
Their loss to Jacksonville, therefore, represents much more than a slight dip in their record. It, in many ways, could come to represent the death knell of their season.