JACKSONVILLE – Each week during the 2025 season, Jaguars "experts" – Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick and Kainani Stevens – will analyze the following day's Jaguars matchup.

Up this week:

The Los Angeles Chargers at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars

• The Jaguars will win if: First and foremost, they put last week behind them. You can't let the Texans beat you twice. That game is behind them and they must move on emotionally. Against the Chargers, they must generate a pass rush and move Herbert off his spot. And they have to protect. Both lines of scrimmage must be better. Better protection allows them to get the ever-changing receiving corps engaged.
• The Chargers will win if: They again win the physical battle. They have been a very physical team, a hallmark of Harbaugh teams. They are a complete team. They will look to stuff the Jaguars run and make Trevor Lawrence throw off schedule.
• As Frangie sees it: This is a critically important bounce-back game for Jacksonville. The Jaguars are still well-positioned at 5-4. But this one is big. I expect another fourth-quarter game that could come down to the closing minutes.

Jeff Lageman, Jaguars analyst and former Jaguars defensive end

• The Jaguars will win if: They bounce back from an emotional loss in Houston and get some deficiencies corrected. The offense had takeaways and strong special teams play to help their cause and were unable to generate any momentum to finish a desperate Texans team. The defense had multiple opportunities to finish the game as well but never closed the deal. Turning the page will allow the Jags to play well against a good Chargers team.
• The Chargers will win if: Herbert dissects a Jaguars defense that hasn't been very good in two major categories – pressuring opposing quarterbacks and getting off the field on third down. Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh isn't just bringing a one-trick pony with him; he believes in a physical run game to help a battered offensive line to protect Herbert by keeping defenses on their heels with a balanced approach.
• As Lageman sees it: This is a matchup of head coaches that believe in the very roots of football, which is a powerful ground attack. The Chargers have lost multiple running backs due to injuries and continue to stay true to their core. Herbert will also add to that strength with his legs and will make it difficult for the Jaguars to dial in a struggling pass rush. Lawrence must increase his productivity to help an injured offense. It would be great to see that second-half magic from that Jags-Chargers playoff game from a few years ago.

Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director

• The Jaguars will win if: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has a big game and the defense doesn't allow a Chargers receiver to accumulate over 100 yards of offense. Lawrence must lift this offense and could use a game like he had against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. The Jaguars need their best players to play big and Lawrence needs to start delivering those kinds of games. The defense has been torched by some pass-catchers this season and can't allow the Chargers passing game to be dynamic.
• The Chargers will win if: They control the line of scrimmage. Los Angeles has a struggling offensive line, but it is matched up against a Jaguars pass rush that statistically is the NFL's worst. The Jaguars' offensive line has been regressing since the first quarter of the season. If the Chargers win the trenches, they win the game.
• As Martineau sees it: It is hard to feel good about this game, even for me. We can hope the Jaguars will respond to the fourth-quarter collapse against the Texans, but we have to see it. We can hope the offense is finally going to get in rhythm, but we have to see it. We can hope the defense can play like the first month instead of the last month, but we have to see it. I need to see it to believe it. I think the Chargers win, 27-20.

John Oehser, jaguars.com senior writer

• The Jaguars will win if: They rush the passer better than they have much of the season and make big plays in the passing game. The Jaguars must pressure Herbert and force him into mistakes, and they need to get more explosive plays – both areas in which this team has struggled this season.
• The Chargers will win if: They give Herbert time to beat a Jaguars secondary and stop the Jaguars' running game. The thought here is the key matchup in this game is the Jaguars' struggling defensive line versus a beat-up Chargers offensive line.
• As Oehser sees it: This is a tough test for the Jaguars – maybe too tough to pass considering the circumstances. Not only are they coming off an emotional loss at Houston last week, they are beat-up in the secondary and at receiver – and they need a defensive line that has struggled to create pressure in recent weeks to be a major difference. A victory Sunday from this view would be their most impressive moment of the season to date.

Brian Sexton, jaguars.com senior correspondent

• The Jaguars will win if: They run. This team must reestablish its toughness and there's no better way to do that than running the football. It will also help a seriously depleted passing game if the Jaguars can be productive on early downs to stay ahead of the chains.
• The Chargers will win if: The Jaguars' pass rush isn't a factor, which it wasn't last Sunday in a loss to the Houston Texans. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will have a field day if he has as much time as Texans quarterback Davis Mills had last Sunday, when Mills was cool and comfortable in the pocket.
• As Sexton sees it: I think Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen is the long-term guy in Jacksonville. I really believe in him and think he will have his team ready to rebound. I wish I had as much confidence in his team. I can't pick the Jaguars after last week, but I think they'll play well. We'll see if that is enough to get to Victory No. 6.

J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com senior reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They run effectively and keep the passing to good down-and-distance situations. The Jaguars' offensive line has multiple players on the injury report this week. How deep can they go against a really good defensive front for the Chargers?
• The Chargers will win if: Herbert has time to maneuver in the pocket. He leads the league in completions and attempts, and is second in yards – even with the second-most sacks in the NFL. If the Jaguars don't get home, the Chargers have the ability to put up a number.
• As Shadrick sees it: There are two battles this week for the Jaguars: the Chargers and themselves. How the banged-up Jaguars respond from the biggest blown lead in franchise history is the No. 1 priority. Will adversity bring this team down, or will it step up to the first signs of issues? The Chargers are a powerful team fighting for the AFC West title. The home crowd must be a factor as well for the only game at EverBank Stadium between October 12 and December 7.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars team reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They can get after Herbert. Jacksonville's pass rush this season has left a lot to be desired. If defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen can get home, the Jags will have a good chance to keep things close.
• The Chargers will win if: They get an early lead and pressure the Jaguars. The Jags had a colossal meltdown last week against the Texans and a hot start from the Chargers could set the whole tone for the game early.
• As Stevens sees it: This may be the make-or-break game for the Jaguars to stay in the playoff picture. This is the Jaguars' opportunity to decide how the rest of their season is going to go.