Week 11: San Diego at Jacksonville

Both of these teams are feeling pretty good about themselves heading into this key AFC matchup. San Diego leads the AFC West, Jacksonville trails Indianapolis by only a game in the AFC South.

The Chargers’ 23-21 win over Indy Sunday night will be remembered long after this season concludes. One of the most memorable games of 2007 included the Chargers intercepting Peyton Manning a remarkable six times (three by CB Antonio Cromartie); both a punt and kickoff return for a touchdown by San Diego’s Darren Sproles; and a 29-yard field-goal miss by Indy’s Adam Vinatieri in the final two minutes. It was bizarrely entertaining stuff.

The Jaguars’ 28-13 thumping of Tennessee in Nashville didn’t have quite the same dramatic flair, but counted just the same. Jacksonville had three different running backs score rushing TDs as the Jags pounded the Titans into submission, outgaining a Tennessee team with a reputation as one of the league’s most physical squads 166-62 on the ground.

It will be interesting to see what the Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson will be able to do with the Jaguar defense. QB Philip Rivers certainly must be better – San Diego beat Indy despite Rivers, not because of him. Rivers now leads the NFL with 10 fumbles.

Jacksonville hopes to have the services of QB David Garrard, who has missed the last three games with a high ankle sprain. If not, Quinn Gray has done a respectable job as Garrard’s backup, mostly handing off to Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor.

Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio likes to gamble this season – the Jaguars lead the league with 11 fourth-down conversions and 23 fourth-down attempts this season. The team had three successful fourth-down conversions against Tennessee, each of which led to TDs.

Coach Norv Turner isn’t as well-regarded in San Diego. Despite his team beating the defending Super Bowl champions Sunday, a sports columnist at a local San Diego paper gave him an “F” for the game. Wow. That’s a tough crowd – much like Jacksonville’s defense.

Jacksonville by 4