“Last night we just said, ‘Guys, let’s keep this real simple. Let’s just go out and cut it loose for four quarters as a team and see what happens.’ I had a good feeling about the way we would respond, but you never really know until you get into it.”
Lawrence ran for a third-quarter touchdown and threw a fourth-quarter touchdown to wide receiver Tim Patrick as the Jaguars pulled away with a methodical second half. Etienne rushed for touchdowns in the second and fourth quarter as the Jaguars out rushed the Chargers, 192-42.
“Coach put a little pep in our step, and that transferred over the field,” said Etienne, who rushed for 73 yards on 18 carries. “We have to come out like that each and every week, every Sunday.”
The Jaguars outgained the Chargers 345-135 with 30 first downs to eight for the Chargers. The Jaguars finished the game with a 37:55-22:05 time-of-possession advantage.
The Jaguars’ defense dominated throughout – holding the Chargers without a touchdown, sacking Chargers quarterbacks three times and intercepting them once.
“We were hunting up front,” Coen said of the defense.
Lawrence completed 14 of 22 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 10 of 18 passes for 81 yards and no touchdowns with an interception, leaving the game in the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars’ sacks: .5 by ends Danny Striggow and Travon Walker and one each by end Josh Hines-Allen and tackle Arik Armstead. Safety Antonio Johnson intercepted Herbert in the fourth quarter and returned it 30 yards to the Chargers 13, setting up a 13-yard touchdown run by Etienne that gave the Jaguars a 35-6 lead. The Jaguars, after entering Sunday second in the NFL in takeaways, now have 19 for the season.
Hines-Allen’s second-quarter sack gave him three for the season and 56 for his career, moving him into first place for most career sacks in franchise history.
“It’s cool to be a part of it,” Hines-Allen said. “Just keep sacking.”