The Predictions Game: Week 3 vs Jax

Every week, our crack writers pool competes for bragging rights with a prediction of the upcoming Chargers contest. This week: the Jacksonville Jaguars surprisingly effective defense vs. a worryingly hobbled Chargers offense at SoFi Stadium (aka: the Thunderdome).

Follow along all season and post your predictions in the comments below. Who will win the prediction game at the end of the season?

BOLT DAD

Win. It might be easy to predict a close game or a nail biter that we Charger fans have come to expect in years past. Especially considering the shutout the Jags unleashed against Indy. But truth be told I'm not for the status quo and neither is Herbert and our new-look defense. It recently came out that this isn't Herbert's first rodeo when it comes to broken rib cartilage. I predict that Herbert will have an amazing gam le through the pain and all.

Score prediction: Chargers 21 - Jaguars 7

Nick Buck

Win. This should be a fairly straight forward game for the Bolts. But the Jaguars looked strong against the Colts last week. There may be some pocket trouble for Justin Herbert, but he is best under pressure.

The potential absence of Corey Linsley and Trey Pipkins is a concern. The O-line will struggle against the Jags without them.

It again will be a closer game than Chargers fans will be comfortable with, but ultimately the offense begins to gel and the Bolts walk away with a win.

Score prediction: Chargers 27 - 21 Jaguars

John Kegley

Win. This game is supposed to be a cake walk but the Chargers have a not so healthy O-Line, Herbert not at 100 percent, and still waiting to see if Keenan Allen will play.

Jaguars have Josh Allen and Travon Walker who love to hit and if one of them gets to Herbert, his time in this game could be limited. The upside: the Jags secondary is exploitable which could allow Herbert to release the ball quickly and avoid the hits.

The Jaguars offense does not worry me. Yes: they have talented players, but they lack all around production and chemistry. If you take Christian Kirk away, the rest of the offense will have to work to score.

Kahlil Mack and Joey Bosa should feast in this game. I'm going to go bold and say they get a combined 6 sacks this game.

Chargers are 9-3 all-time vs the Jaguars, winning 8 of the last 9.

This game will be ugly.

Score prediction: Chargers 27 - Jaguars 13

Señor Snappy

Win. This will be too close for comfort, and will come at high cost. I expect Herbert to play out of moral compulsion--the Chargers will try but be unable to dissuade him from risking his long term recovery.

The Jaguars revealed an effective pass rush against the Colts in week 2, and they were able to keep the Colts rushing attack--the one led by MVP-candidate Jonathan Taylor--under control.

The Chargers may struggle to juggle the need to move the ball and keep Herbert from exposure to further damage.

The Jaguars will be tempted to overcommit to knocking Herbert out of the game as early as possible--targeting him for injury, really. If they do, he'll make them pay and the Chargers will win in epic fashion. The aforementioned price will be a different Justin Herbert--perhaps for the rest of this season--which is unable to accomplish the supernatural plays we've come accustomed to.

The Jaguars will emerge from the contest as the Bolt Fam's new version of the Titans--a most hated opponent outside our division.

Score prediction: Chargers 21 - Jaguars 18

Dominic M.

Win. Philip Rivers started in 252 consecutive professional games (including playoffs) over his seventeen seasons in the NFL. That and a $5 bill will get him a cup of coffee.

W​hat is an ironman streak besides a badge of honor that your fans wear? Outside of the Chargers Bubble, no one cares about that streak. Most Charger fans probably don't even know it. T​he goal is to hoist a Lombardi trophy in February, not to be a trivia answer in July.

Who cares if Justin Herbert's 34-game starting streak comes to an end on Sunday? The organization should prioritize the 24-year-old's long term health. Fifteen games remain on the schedule and the next month's slate is not exactly a gauntlet.

I​'m sure Chase Daniel is a nice guy. Daniel, who has been in the league since 2010 has started just five games and thrown 261 passes in his career. Daniel reportedly has career earnings of $36 million. The man is living well.

You remember Clipboard Jesus? Daniel is Clipboard Yeezy. My personal introduction to Clipboard Yeezy came in the season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. The Chiefs had already clinched a playoff berth and decided to rest starting quarterback Alex Smith which gave backup Chase Daniel the start in Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers, winners of four out of their previous five games, needed to win to earn a spot in the playoffs.

The Lighting Bolts were favored by the sports books by 14.5 points. Clipboard Yeezy would have ruined Chargers dreams that day had Eric Weddle not gone rogue, calling for a fake punt from the Chargers 28-yard line to extend the game-winning drive in overtime. Incidentally, the Chargers' head coach at the time--Mike McCoy, who happens to be the Jaguars' QB coach now--was no friend of analytics.

Career backup Daniel went 21-30 for 200 yards and a touchdown. He added 59 yards rushing to infuriate the partisan crowd who came to see a party and nearly got the end scene from CARRIE. The Chargers trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter against a Chiefs team that rested 20 of 22 starters.

What happens if Clipboard Yeezy plays well? What about a quarterback controversy? C​hase Daniel could go 4-0, and once Herbert is healthy, anyone suggesting that he continue playing should have their driver's license revoked. Drug test them.

T​he schedule is cushioned with cupcakes for the next month. Oddsmakers will project the Chargers as favorites until a November 13 visit to the San Francisco 49ers—contingent on who is playing quarterback. Without Herbert on the field, the Chargers may still might be favored in half of those games against lower tier teams: Houston, Seattle, Jacksonville, Atlanta.

The Chargers roster is talented enough to survive this stretch while the venerated rib cartilage begins to heal. Cartilage injuries can take up to 6 months to heal, since cartilage receives so little blood supply. Rest the franchise QB another week. Forget the flak jacket. Throw a human shield out there. It is high time for Clipboard Yeezy to earn his check.

Score Prediction: Chargers 24 - Jaguars 20

Señora Snappy

Win. The Jaguars shocked NFL by shutting out the Colts during Week 2 while the defense capitalized on Matt Ryan sacks. Trevor Lawrence completed 25/30 attempts with 235 yards and 2 touchdowns. In the league, the Jaguars, in seasons past, have lost 15 of 18 games in the Pacific Time Zone. Jacksonville has also lost to the Chargers 8 out of the 9 meetings with a losing average of 20 points to Jacksonville’s one win by three points in overtime. However, even in the rebuild, the Jaguars do not look the team of seasons past. If Herbert starts, this will be a difficult game to watch should the offensive line crumble around our QB. I can’t imagine Jacksonville having the same answers as Andy Reid did with pressures. However, Trevor Lawrence’s quick release in the pocket will be a good test against the reaction time of defense. The run game will also need to be stifled quickly. After the loss to the Chiefs, the Chargers will look to take some aggression out on the Jags.

This is an opportunity to remind everyone watching that the Chargers--even without their star quarterback--are the grittier team in the league.

Score prediction: Chargers 24 - Jaguars 16

Aaron Vrabel

Win. This is our semi-annual get right game. Justin Herbert will play and the gameplan is going to heavily involve the run game and a lot of keeping an extra blocker in there for Justin.

Due to the Jaguars having an improved defense I don't expect a blowout due to Justin's injury. Our defense will hold the Jaguars down until the 4th Quarter.

The Jaguar fans have always been respectful in previous years. If you see one walking around the tailgates just remember: they don't deserve our heckling. Let's make sure to stay classy.

Score Prediction: Chargers 27- Jaguars 17

That's it for our Week 3 predictions. Please join us and post your predictions in the comment section below. Go Bolts!

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