The San Diego Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars took to the field in Week 2 of the NFL season both looking for their first win. Here are three things we learned.
In what could possibly be their final home opener at Qualcomm Stadium, the San Diego Chargers throttled the Jacksonville Jaguars, 38-14.
In Week 1, San Diego blew a 24-3 third quarter lead to the Kansas City Chiefs, eventually losing in overtime. For the second time in as many weeks, the Chargers raced out to a huge first half lead, but this time, they finished the job.
Philip Rivers had a great day under center, throwing for four touchdowns passes. Despite losing his best wide receiver to injury in Week 1, Rivers was able to continuously lead his team down the field. The Jaguars did not put up much of a fight, as they passed midfield only six times.
Here are three things we learned from the Chargers/Jaguars game on Sunday.
1. Philip Rivers still has it
For the past 11 seasons, Philip Rivers has been the starting quarterback for the San Diego Chargers. He has gone 92-69 as a starter, leading the team to a .500 or better record in all but two of his years under center. One of those seasons was 2015, when the Chargers went 4-12.
Despite the record, Rivers set a career record for passing yards (4,789), while leading the league in completions and attempts. Heading into the 2016 season, the Chargers had plenty of question marks, including how much longer Rivers could be productive. Through two games, he has proven he may still have a lot left in the tank.
For the season, Rivers has thrown five touchdowns to zero interceptions. In Week 1, he lost his best weapon in Keenan Allen, and then went out and threw for four scores against the Jaguars. He hit three different players for scores in Week 2, dominating the Jaguars despite being without Allen. He is headed for another monster season in San Diego, and is headed for Canton one day.
2. Blake Bortles is more than just stats
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a good young quarterback in Blake Bortles, who really came of age in his second season as the team’s starter in 2015. Bortles was one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in the league, throwing for 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns. The Jaguars have two very good wide receivers and a playmaker at tight end, giving Bortles plenty of options when he drops back.
The biggest thing I saw with Bortles is that he is so much more than stats. Any player could have given up after being down 35-0, but he kept on trying to drive the offense downfield. In the fourth quarter, Bortles rang up two touchdown passes, showing a never-say-die attitude in the face of an insurmountable lead.
Bortles has gained the trust of his team, and has the Jaguars in serious contention for a possible playoff spot in 2016. They played the Green Bay Packers very well in Week 1, as Bortles nearly led his team to a last-minute game-winning drive. The Chargers game was a blowout, but he should be able to rebound at home against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.
Next: 2016 NFL season: Epic season preview
3. San Diego has their next big running back
When the San Diego Chargers drafted Melvin Gordon out of Wisconsin, they were expecting to get their next big star at the running back position. That title was supposed to go to Ryan Mathews, who never really panned out for the Bolts. Gordon struggled through a rough rookie season, but now appears to be a legitimate threat in the backfield.
Last season, Gordon appeared in 14 games for San Diego, starting 13. He failed to reach the end zone in any game, and already people were slapping the “bust” label on him. He has come out blazing in 2016, and already has three touchdowns on the young season. After scoring two TDs in Week 1, Gordon scored his first home touchdown on Sunday, showing Chargers fans that he can be a big-time player in this league.
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For years, LaDainian Tomlinson was one of the marquee running backs in the league while playing for the Chargers. It is still very early in his career, but Gordon has the kind of big-play ability that you look for in a back. He may be starting to reach his potential, and that could be a scary thing for the rest of the AFC West.