Los Angeles @ Jacksonville preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2017 ) L.A. Chargers 17, Jacksonville 20

Teams experiencing lackluster campaigns get together Sunday when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chargers were supposed to be a top-tier AFC title contender after a 12-4 regular season last year and Jacksonville was hoping to rediscover its form of two seasons ago when it played in the AFC Championship Game.

The Jaguars have committed to rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew for the rest of the season after Nick Foles struggled to ignite the offense over the past three games. "He has the respect of his teammates, he works extremely hard, (and he's) very intelligent," Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone told reporters of Minshew. "It's a joy being around him. ...On the field, he gives us some mobility, which I think is important for us right now." Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers turns 38 on Sunday and there isn't much for him to celebrate individually as he has thrown 15 interceptions during a season in which his team has repeatedly lost close games. "Obviously, to be on the losing end of eight one-score games is tough," Rivers told reporters. "It has been a tough go, but we have the fourth quarter (of the season) left. We can only control what we have left."

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Chargers -3. O/U: 43

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (4-8): Rivers has passed for 3,434 yards and 17 touchdowns in what could be his final season with the organization and Los Angeles has scored 20 or fewer points in seven of its eight setbacks. Wideout Keenan Allen is enjoying another solid campaign with 76 receptions for 864 yards and five touchdowns and has a strong chance at the second 100-catch season of his career. Defensive end Joey Bosa (8.5 sacks) has been a standout for the Chargers, who gave up 218 yards (134 passing, 84 rushing) in last week's 23-20 loss to the Denver Broncos.

ABOUT THE JAGUARS (4-8): Jacksonville has lost its last four games by an average of 20.5 points so now the task resolves on finding out whether Minshew, an undrafted rookie free agent who has passed for 2,432 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions, can be counted on in 2020. Running back Leonard Fournette has proven his rocky 2018 season was a thing of the past as he is 11 yards away from his second 1,000-yard rushing year in three seasons. The Jaguars limited Tampa Bay to 74 rushing yards in last Sunday's 28-11 loss after being carved up for an average of 233 in the previous three games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Chargers hold a 7-3 series lead but the Jaguars prevailed in the most recent meeting, 20-17 in overtime in 2017.

2. Jacksonville placed standout LB Myles Jack (66 tackles, one interception) on injured reserve Thursday because of a knee injury.

3. Allen moved into fifth place on the franchise list with 496 receptions, passing Hall of Famer Lance Alworth (493 from 1962-70).

PREDICTION: Jaguars 23, Chargers 20