4 critical observations from the Jaguars' dominant win vs. the Chargers

After a humiliating loss to the Houston Texans, the Jacksonville Jaguars needed to bounce back if they wanted to keep their season alive. They did just that against the Los Angeles Chargers, and then some.

Although the Bolts scored first, once the Jaguars picked up steam, they didn't let go of the gas pedal and won 35-6. They're now 6-4 and in much better shape than they were after the demoralizing Texans loss. And with this in mind, here are four critical observations about their statement game.

Trevor Lawrence needs to keep using his legs

Trevor Lawrence has been inconsistent this season but has played much better in recent weeks. And with the Jags keeping penalties at a minimum, that improvement was notable. Sure, No. 16 overthrew a pair of deep shots (one in the first quarter and the other in the third) but still did a good job of getting the ball to his playmakers, going 14-of-22 for 153 yards with one touchdown and one interception. On top of that, he took advantage of an element of his game he hardly ever puts to use.

Throughout the game, Lawrence routinely used his legs and even reached the end zone on a designed run. He ended up tallying just nine yards with a touchdown on nine totes, but the threat of taking off most definitely kept the Chargers from dropping an extra defender in coverage, which, in turn, created more favorable matchups.

Good things happen when the Jaguars lean on Bhayshul Tuten and Travis Etienne

Before the game, Bhayshul Tuten had fewer snaps than fellow rookie LeQuint Allen, but he showed that he deserves more playing time moving forward. Although Travis Etienne is the starter, Tuten made a bid for more playing time when he toted the rock 10 times for 56 yards with a touchdown.

That doesn't mean that Etienne should get fewer carries. Not at all. If anything, this game proved that the Jags need to establish the run and not steer away from it, as the duo combined for 34 carries for 174 yards with three touchdowns. By taking a bit of pressure off Trevor Lawrence's shoulders, the offense was more efficient.

Josh Hines-Allen and the pass rush showed signs of life

The Jaguars have struggled to bring the heat all season long, but the pass rush showed signs of life against the Chargers. After logging a league-low 12 sacks the past nine games, the defense tallied four, along with 17 total pressures, in Week 11. One noticeable change was that Emmanuel Ogbah was a healthy scratch, while rookies Danny Striggow and B.J. Green got extended playing time.

Granted, Los Angeles has one of the worst offensive lines in the league, but that shouldn't take anything away from the Jags. They had a favorable matchup in the trenches and took advantage of it. Expect both Striggow and Green to get more snaps to finish the season.

The Jaguars show they can be a legitimate playoff team

The Jaguars needed to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they delivered. One huge reason is that they managed to cut down on all the things that have held them back in recent weeks: Penalties (one) and drops (0). On top of that, they won the battle on the trenches. While the pass rush came to life, the offensive line only allowed two pressures and no sacks.

This was probably the cleanest game the Jags have played this season, and if they keep executing like that, they could make some serious noise in the playoffs.