The Chargers got back into the win column by defeating the Jaguars, 45-10, Sunday in Jacksonville.
Philip Rivers celebrated his 38th birthday by posting a career-high 154.4 passer rating with three touchdowns, Austin Ekeler recorded a career-high 213 total yards and a touchdown on 12 touches, and the L.A. offense erupted for a season-high 525 yards. The Bolts' defense was also excellent, limiting the Jags to 252 yards and 10 points.
The Jaguars opened the game with a 14-play, 7:37-long drive that ended with a 26-yard field goal by former Chargers kicker Josh Lambo.
On the Bolts' first drive, they advanced 79 yards on three plays in 1:37. Ekeler ran for 27 yards, then Rivers found Keenan Allen for a 45-yard gain, and Melvin Gordon finished the series with a 1-yard touchdown rush.
Michael Badgley's extra point gave the Chargers a 7-3 lead with 5:46 remaining in the first quarter.
After the Jags went three-and-out, the Bolts also failed to score on their ensuing possession.
The Jaguars' next drive ended on a sack by defensive end Joey Bosa, who led all AFC defensive players in Pro Bowl voting as of the NFL's most recent release. He compiled two sacks and three tackles for loss in the game.
On the sixth play of the Bolts' series, Ekeler ran for 23 yards. Two plays later, Rivers connected with Gordon for 19 yards to the Jacksonville 4-yard line. Finally, fullback Derek Watt put a bow on the drive with his first career NFL score, a 1-yard run up the middle.
Badgley converted the extra point to extend L.A.'s lead to 14-3 with 5:18 left in the half. The 10-play drive spanned 75 yards and took 6:11 off the clock.
After a third-straight unfruitful Jags drive, the Chargers got the ball with 1:52 remaining in the half. Ekeler ran 35 yards to the left on the first play and was brought down by his face mask, which added 15 yards.
On the next play, Rivers rolled to the right and then threw across the field to find his starting tight end, Hunter Henry, wide open for a 30-yard touchdown.
The Chargers only needed 18 seconds and two plays to advance 80 yards. Badgley tacked on the extra point to increase the Bolts' lead to 21-3 with 1:34 to play until halftime.
Back on defense, the Bolts stopped the Jags for their second three-and-out of the half, on the strength of a Bosa tackle for a loss on third and two.
On the final drive of the half, the Chargers advanced 57 yards, finishing with a 40-yard field goal by Badgley to put the Chargers in front 24-3 at halftime.
On the third offensive play of the half, Rivers hit Ekeler on a short pass that the running back sprinted 84 yards to the end zone for his 11th touchdown of the season. It was the longest pass of Rivers' 16-season career.
Badgley nailed the PAT to make the score 31-3, Bolts.
The Jaguars responded with a 14-play, 70-yard scoring drive that took 8:05 and ended in a touchdown pass from Gardner Minshew to tight end Nick O'Leary. Lambo's extra point cut the Jacksonville deficit to 21 points at 31-10 with 5:48 to play in the third quarter.
On the sixth play of the Chargers' drive, Rivers went deep and found wide receiver Mike Williams for his first touchdown of the season, a 44-yard pass for which the 6-4 receiver laid out in the end zone.
Badgley's extra point extended the Bolts' advantage back to 28 points at 38-10 with 1:51 remaining in the third.
The Jaguars unsuccessfully went for it on fourth and one, as safety Derwin James brought down running back Leonard Fournette for a loss after a short catch. James had a standout game, with six tackles, including one tackle for loss.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor then entered for the Bolts to start the fourth, ending Rivers' impressive evening with 314 yards passing on 16-for-22. It wasn't long before Taylor threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Virgil Green, the first touchdown of the season for both the QB and the TE.
Badgley then drilled the extra point to extend the lead to 45-10 with 10:53 left in the game.
The defense kept the momentum on the Bolts' side with a third three-and-out of the contest. Neither team would score the rest of the way, with the game ending on a victory kneel by the Chargers.
In the win, linebacker Drue Tranquill led the Chargers in tackles with eight, and Allen caught five passes for 83 yards, reaching 500 career receptions Sunday. The Bolts' defense also held Fournette to 50 yards rushing on 3.3 yards per carry.
The Chargers improved to 5-8 and return home to play the 9-4 Minnesota Vikings. Kickoff will take place on Sunday, December 15 from ROKiT Field at Dignity Health Sports Park at 1:05 p.m. PT.
Browse through live action photos from Week 14 as the Chargers take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field.
