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Jaguars at Chargers: Game preview, odds, prediction

By Brad Weiss

Nov 29, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) runs the ball as Jacksonville Jaguars conerback Davon House (31) defends in the fourth quarter at EverBank Field. The Chargers won 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Jim Steve-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) runs the ball as Jacksonville Jaguars conerback Davon House (31) defends in the fourth quarter at EverBank Field. The Chargers won 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Jim Steve-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Diego Chargers will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their home opener on Sunday, as both teams look for win No. 1 on the young season.

For the San Diego Chargers, Week 1 of the 2016 NFL could not have been worse. After roaring out to a 21-3 half time lead against the Chiefs, the Bolts offense sputtered, losing their top receiver along the way. With two minutes left in the first half, Keenan Allen tore up his ACL while making a cut, ending his season. Kansas City would come all the way back, beating the Chargers 33-27 in overtime.

The Jaguars tried to pull a comeback of their on Sunday, facing a Super Bowl favorite in the Green Bay Packers. The young Jags made a nice late run, converting on three fourth downs during their final drive, before stalling on their fourth try. Allen Hurns could not find the sticks, and the Packers came away with a 27-23 victory.

This Sunday, these two AFC teams will battle it out in hopes of securing win No. 1 on the young season. The Jaguars are a sneaky pick to make it to the playoffs in 2016, while the Chargers appear to be a franchise on the decline. Jacksonville has a ton of young talent on both the offensive and defensive side, and should be able to grab a road win on Sunday.

The Chargers open up as a three-point favorite against the Jaguars, and the over/under is set at 48 points. Not only do I expect the Jaguars to cover, but they should win this game outright. San Diego is banged up, and the loss of Allen is going to prove to be too much to overcome. If Blake Bortles is hitting his targets early, exploiting a weak San Diego secondary, it could be a long day for the home team.

Next: 2016 NFL season: Record predictions for all 32 teams

San Diego is headed for a down year in 2016, and without a play maker like Allen, Rivers is going to have to rely on some inexperienced receivers. Rivers has the talent and drive to make it interesting, but in the end, the Jags leave San Diego 1-1.

Prediction: Jacksonville 28, San Diego 24

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