A write up from a highly respected handicapper - this is his TOP play today
There is a ton of data to support the Chargers in the role of an underdog and plenty of systems to oppose the Jaguars in their rare spot as a favorite for the third straight week. But Jacksonville has arrived and you haven't been able to say that in a long time (David Gerrard?). This team has turned the corner in week #3 when they destroyed Baltimore in week #3 44-7 in London. Two weeks later the Jaguars proved they were legit when they won in Pittsburgh 30-9. They absolutely embarrassed Cincinnati 23-7 last week with a 148-29 edge in rushing without Leonard Fournette playing. The Chargers figure to be a very popular underdog on Sunday considering they have won three of their last four and are off a bye week. But the wins were somewhat tainted against Denver, Oakland without Carr, and the Giants. Blake Bortles is playing just as well as Philip Rivers. But the difference here is defense. The Jags are just flat-out NASTY. They lead the league with 35 sacks with Carolina's 29 a distant second. We all know Philip Rivers is capable of multiple blunders when under duress. Sure he's been patient this year and not playing the role of the riverboat gambler. But the Bolts are only 3-5 straight-up and haven't beat anybody with a pulse. Jacksonville has the killer instinct. They have five wins by 16 points or more with four of them by 21 points or more. Find me another team that has that resume. We all thought the AFC West was the best division in the NFL back in August. Take a look now. Even KC has lost three of the last four and it's hard to fathom Denver won the Super Bowl two years ago. Jacksonville is allowing a league-low 14.6 points per game and they are #2 in total defense entering Sunday and figure to pass Denver as #1 by night's end. Bortles is in a contract year too and wants to stay a Jaguar. He is right now on pace for 3,314 yards, 20 touchdowns and 10 picks. That will work when you have a dominating defense. Remember in August you could have landed him for a bag of football. I'm still amazed Cincinnati only had 148 total yards against Jacksonville last week running just 35 plays compared to 78 for the Jags. I get the feeling Tom Coughlin's fingerprints are all over this franchise. You can't keep him off the practice field as "Executive Vice President of Football Operations". One thing we can be sure of: The Jaguars are hungry. For years teams like the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals embarrassed the Jags. Those days are over.
There is a ton of data to support the Chargers in the role of an underdog and plenty of systems to oppose the Jaguars in their rare spot as a favorite for the third straight week. But Jacksonville has arrived and you haven't been able to say that in a long time (David Gerrard?). This team has turned the corner in week #3 when they destroyed Baltimore in week #3 44-7 in London. Two weeks later the Jaguars proved they were legit when they won in Pittsburgh 30-9. They absolutely embarrassed Cincinnati 23-7 last week with a 148-29 edge in rushing without Leonard Fournette playing. The Chargers figure to be a very popular underdog on Sunday considering they have won three of their last four and are off a bye week. But the wins were somewhat tainted against Denver, Oakland without Carr, and the Giants. Blake Bortles is playing just as well as Philip Rivers. But the difference here is defense. The Jags are just flat-out NASTY. They lead the league with 35 sacks with Carolina's 29 a distant second. We all know Philip Rivers is capable of multiple blunders when under duress. Sure he's been patient this year and not playing the role of the riverboat gambler. But the Bolts are only 3-5 straight-up and haven't beat anybody with a pulse. Jacksonville has the killer instinct. They have five wins by 16 points or more with four of them by 21 points or more. Find me another team that has that resume. We all thought the AFC West was the best division in the NFL back in August. Take a look now. Even KC has lost three of the last four and it's hard to fathom Denver won the Super Bowl two years ago. Jacksonville is allowing a league-low 14.6 points per game and they are #2 in total defense entering Sunday and figure to pass Denver as #1 by night's end. Bortles is in a contract year too and wants to stay a Jaguar. He is right now on pace for 3,314 yards, 20 touchdowns and 10 picks. That will work when you have a dominating defense. Remember in August you could have landed him for a bag of football. I'm still amazed Cincinnati only had 148 total yards against Jacksonville last week running just 35 plays compared to 78 for the Jags. I get the feeling Tom Coughlin's fingerprints are all over this franchise. You can't keep him off the practice field as "Executive Vice President of Football Operations". One thing we can be sure of: The Jaguars are hungry. For years teams like the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals embarrassed the Jags. Those days are over.
