Jaguars Listed as 2.5-Point Underdogs vs Chargers After Minshew Named Starter
- Rookie Gardner Minshew will start in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 14 date with the LA Chargers
- Minshew takes over in place of veteran Nick Foles, who was benched in Sunday’s 28-11 loss to Tampa Bay
- The 23-year-old has led the Jaguars to wins in four of his first eight NFL starts
Following Monday’s breaking news that rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew will get the nod as the starter in their Week 14 clash with the Los Angeles Chargers, the Jacksonville Jaguars have held steady as 2.5-point underdogs. The Chargers had opened as 1-point chalk but quickly moved to -2.5 in the hours that followed.
NFL Week 14 – Chargers vs Jaguars Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Chargers | -2.5 (-122) | -154 | Ov 43 (-110) |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +2.5 (+102) | +134 | Un 43 (-110) |
Odds taken Dec. 2.
Nod to Minshew Unsurprising
Head coach Doug Marrone made Monday’s unsurprising move in the wake of a 28-11 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 13 that now leaves Jacksonville winless SU and ATS in four games going into Sunday afternoon’s Chargers vs Jaguars matchup at TIAA Bank Field.
From NFL Now: It feels like Minshew Mania is headed back to Jacksonville. #Jaguars coach Doug Marrone will talk to his QBs, but it will be a surprise if Gardner Minshew doesn't start on Sunday. Also, it would mean Nick Foles back to the bench. pic.twitter.com/FwLRShjdcP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 2, 2019
Veteran pivot Nick Foles struggled badly in just his third start since returning from a broken collarbone suffered in his debut with the Jaguars on opening day. The former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl hero left the field to a chorus of boos after completing just seven of 14 pass attempts, with no scores, one interception, two fumbles and three sacks in the first half.
The former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl hero left the field to a chorus of boos after completing just seven of 14 pass attempts, with no scores, one interception, two fumbles and three sacks in the first half.
Taking over with the Jags down 25-0, Minshew didn’t fare much better in relief of Foles, going 16-for-27, with one TD, one pick, and two sacks in the Jaguars’ second straight loss by double digits on home turf. However, after exceeding expectations at times while Foles was sidelined, Minshew’s return under center has not negatively impacted the Jaguars in the Week 14 odds.
Minshew Exceeded Expectations in Starter’s Role
The 23-year-old out of Washington State guided Jacksonville to SU wins in four of his eight starts this season. Minshew tossed for 11 scores during that stretch, capped by a three-TD, 279-yard performance in the Jaguars’ decisive 29-15 win over the New York Jets as 7-point home chalk in Week 8.
#Jaguars QB @GardnerMinshew5 ➡️ WR @DJChark82 for his third touchdown of the game!#Jaguars up 29-15 on #Jets.
🎥: @LaurieFitzptrck pic.twitter.com/Ymvp9gZiCy
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) October 27, 2019
And with the Jaguars non-existent running game producing an NFL-worst three scores this season, Minshew deserves plenty of credit for keeping the Jaguars as competitive as they have been.
Minshew vs Foles 2019 Head-to-Head Stats
| 8/4 | Number of Starts / Wins | 4/0 |
| 61.1 | Pass Completion Percentage | 65.8 |
| 14 | Touchdowns | 3 |
| 5 | Interceptions | 2 |
| 23 | Sacks | 8 |
Foles Hobbles by Injury, Porous O-Line
Conversely, Foles has been far from steady, connecting on just three scoring passes while tossing a pair of picks, and getting sacked eight times in his four brief appearances this season.
The Jaguars have been blown out in the three games since his return, getting outscored by a massive 103-44 margin, and things got so rough for Foles against the Buccaneers that he left the game at recess sporting a minuscule 1.1 adjusted QBR.
#Jaguars RT Jawaan Taylor beat around the edge and Nick Foles doesn't know the pressure is coming. Leads to a Buccaneers touchdown. pic.twitter.com/hNqgoavtP0
— Jaguar Report (@JaguarReport) December 1, 2019
However, fault does not lay solely with Foles. The Jaguars offensive line has provided the 30-year-old with little protection since his return, and has allowed 14 total sacks over the past four contests. That clearly contributed to Marrone’s decision to turn to the far more nimble and mobile Minshew in next week’s date with a Chargers squad that has racked up 11 sacks over their past five contests while surrendering just 175.8 passing yards per game.
https://twitter.com/hershner/status/1201579098482577408?s=20
The line has held steady in Sunday’s contest with the Jaguars pegged at +2.5 (+102).
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
