Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Diego Chargers provides good measurement for progress

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a tough first game against the Green Bay Packers, but the first true test of growth will come in Week 2 against the San Diego Chargers.

In 2015’s late season collapse, the Jacksonville Jaguars had a chance to get to the playoffs. They were practically in control of their own destiny and needed to beat mediocre-at-best teams like the San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.

The Jags lost to them all.

It all started with the Chargers, though. The Jags were hot off a two-win streak (the Titans the week before and a Week 10 stunner over the Baltimore Ravens) and the sky was literally the limit.

Then the Chargers put together a 31-25 beatdown that wasn’t as close as the score suggests. The Bolts were up 21-9 at halftime and 24-12 at the end of the third quarter.

Quarterback Philip Rivers looked like the stud QB he is, completing 67 percent of his passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns. He was never intercepted.

When the Jaguars needed to hold strong the most, they were completely rocked instead. The defense looked like swiss cheese and the team as a whole was exposed as a non-playoff team, even if they somehow managed to sneak in with an AFC South crown.

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That defensive collapse late in the season was a key contributor to the Jags’ failure to finish strong in the 2015 season. It all started with the Chargers.

If the Jags can come out and be more competitive to start the game (start fast is a point of emphasis for the team) they have a real shot at winning. If the defense can hold up, they have a real chance of persevering through the game and coming away with a win.

Last season the Chargers game was a heartbreaker for Jags fans. There were few other games as demoralizing when there was so much hope around the team.

This year, the Jags can change that and turn around their fortunes earlier in the season. Getting to 8-8 or better begins in Week 2.