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Jaguars-Chargers Preview

Sep 15, 2010 - 9:33 PM By JUSTIN EINHORN STATS Senior Editor

Though they've made the playoffs every year with Norv Turner as coach, the San Diego Chargers surely would rather not face another uphill climb to get there.

San Diego is trying to avoid a second 0-2 start in three years and its third consecutive loss in a home opener Sunday when it meets the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Chargers (0-1) have won the last four AFC West titles despite being under .500 through five games in all three years since Turner took over, including 0-2 in 2008 en route to an 8-8 record. Another poor start wasn't expected this season considering four of their first six games were against last-place teams from 2009 - including Jacksonville (1-0).

Kansas City finished in the West basement last year and was an underdog to San Diego on Monday night despite playing at home, but the Chiefs held on to win 21-14.

"I don't see this as a slow start. It's one game out of 16," said Philip Rivers, who threw two incompletions from Kansas City's 6-yard line in the waning seconds. "We can still get off to a fast start this season. It starts at home Sunday against Jacksonville.

"We can still get this thing rolling early, we just gotta correct some mistakes."

Some of those miscues came on special teams, having allowed Dexter McCluster's 94-yard punt return. A mainstay on that unit, though, will be on the other side of the field.

Kassim Osgood joining the Jaguars was far from the biggest free-agent signing this offseason, but San Diego is struggling to fill the hole left by the three-time Pro Bowl special teamer. The Chargers gave up 160 yards on five punt returns Monday.

"You can get into that," Turner said when asked Tuesday if the Chargers missed Osgood. "A year ago, when we lost all the guys throughout the year, we were able to replace them. I believe we can replace anyone who's not here. I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about people who aren't here."

Plus, Osgood could have helped on offense. He caught the game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass from David Garrard in Jacksonville's 24-17 win over Denver last Sunday.

It was his first TD catch since 2004, partly because Turner never gave him a chance to play receiver, but the Chargers might have used him now while 2009 leading receiver Vincent Jackson is holding out.

"I'm just trying to concentrate now on finding out when I can get another touchdown," said Osgood, who also helped down a punt at the 4-yard line last Sunday. "I'm already moving on to how I can get in the end zone again."

Rivers found the end zone twice last Sunday and threw for 298 yards, but San Diego's ground game was unimpressive with 3.8 yards per carry.

Rookie Ryan Mathews rushed for 75 yards on 19 carries in his first game replacing LaDainian Tomlinson as the featured back. The first-round pick lost a fumble, something Tomlinson did twice in the previous three years.

"I missed a lot of good reads that could've turned into big plays. I left my linemen hanging," Mathews said. "Ball security, that's the main thing. It's a lot different from college, it really is. I gotta make sure I keep the ball and protect the ball."

He'll be facing a Jacksonville defense which limited Denver to 89 yards on 25 rushes and forced a fumble last week.

Free-agent signee Aaron Kampman had nine tackles, six quarterback pressures and 1 1/2 sacks. The two-time Pro Bowl defensive end could be in for another big day because San Diego will still be missing holdout left tackle Marcus McNeill.

"Kampman's a monster off the edge and brings leadership, savvy," tight end Marcedes Lewis said. "He's going to help the younger guys grow and give them an understanding of what's expected on the defensive line and how hungry you have to be to make those plays."

The Jaguars offense had few big plays but was mistake-free, totaling 299 yards without a turnover. Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 98 yards and Garrard threw for 170 while completing 16 of 21 passes - his most accurate performance since 2007.

Garrard threw for two touchdowns and Jones-Drew ran for one in a 24-17 home win over San Diego on Nov. 18, 2007, in the last meeting. The Jaguars lead the all-time series 2-1.