Tag Archives: the time-of-possession battle

Justin Herbert and Chargers thrashed by Jaguars in worst loss of the Jim Harbaugh era

The Chargers didn’t have to worry about another historic comeback this time. The Jacksonville Jaguars left no room for doubt in a dominant performance, handing the Chargers a 35-6 defeat under blue skies at EverBank Stadium.

Unable to contain Jacksonville’s powerful ground game or its relentless pass rush, the Chargers offered little resistance. This marked the worst loss of Jim Harbaugh’s 1½ seasons with the Chargers and the team’s most lopsided defeat since the Raiders thrashed them 63-21 on December 14, 2023.

The Chargers struggled to find any rhythm, mustering only a pair of field goals while the Jaguars looked every bit like playoff contenders—even though Jacksonville had lost three of its previous four games coming into this matchup.

Jacksonville dominated on the ground, running for 192 yards compared to the Chargers’ meager 42. They also controlled the clock, winning the time-of-possession battle by nearly 16 minutes.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert took a beating throughout the contest. Despite Jacksonville entering the game tied for last in sacks, Herbert faced heavy pressure on most of his drop-backs. His offensive line woes were fully exposed as he was sacked three times, and he even spent some time in the blue medical tent after taking a particularly hard hit.

Herbert was limited to just 81 passing yards with one interception, as three starters from the Jaguars’ secondary were notably absent but didn’t seem to impact Jacksonville’s defensive dominance. The Chargers’ offense sputtered in the second half, gaining a total of only five yards in their first three possessions after halftime.

With the game already decided, backup quarterback Trey Lance replaced Herbert in the fourth quarter. The Chargers pulled most of their starters with 11 minutes remaining, conceding the match.

This game took place in Jacksonville—where three years ago the Chargers famously blew a 27-point lead in a first-round playoff loss to the Jaguars.

Sunday’s first half was forgettable for the Chargers, who trailed 14-6 at the break. Their biggest concern was Herbert’s health. On a crucial fourth-down play with just 29 seconds left in the half, Herbert was slammed to the turf despite the play being whistled dead due to left tackle Trevor Penning being lined up improperly. Jaguars defensive end B.J. Green raced around the edge and delivered a punishing hit on the star quarterback.

The Chargers didn’t get the benefit of a roughing-the-passer call, as the penalties were offsetting. Herbert headed to the blue medical tent while Lance began warming up on the sideline.

Running back Kimani Vidal, who was promoted from the practice squad earlier this season after injuries sidelined the team’s top two backs, spent much of the first half on the sideline with a leg injury. To fill the void, the Chargers promoted two more running backs from the practice squad.

At the heart of the Chargers’ struggles was their offensive line. Penning, acquired in a trade with New Orleans just two weeks ago, made his debut as the starting left tackle. Unfortunately, like the rest of the team, he struggled mightily throughout the game.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/chargers/story/2025-11-16/chargers-thrashed-by-jaguars-worst-loss-jim-harbaugh-era