This is the way I see it.
New York Jets (10-6) vs San Diego (12-4)
Game Prediction: NYJ 17, SD 27
(Line - Chargers by 6.5)
Let's not dwell too long here. The Jets are a bad road team. They lost three of their last five road games and the wins were only three points over the Browns and seven points over the Cardinals. This game is a rematch from week two when the Jets won 34-28 but while the Jets aspire to remain as good as they were, the Chargers have been improving all season and are now healthier than they were back then.
The Jets dropped a must win against the Rams just last week and were shellacked by the Patriots the week before that. They are backing into the playoffs on a two game losing streak.
The Chargers at home have almost always scored at least 24 points or more and this exciting return to the playoffs at home will be far too much for the Jets to handle.
The Jets like to win with big rushing by Curtis Martin but that is unlikely here. The Chargers have only allowed one good rushing game in San Diego all season and it was to Martin - 32 carries for 119 yards and two scores. But that was back in week two when Drew Brees was no lock to remain a starter and LaDainian Tomlinson was banged up. It not likely that Martin can get 32 carries again, Since that game the best any runner has had in San Diego was only 63 yards.
The Chargers have given up a lot of passing yardage and scores this season but much of that was a function of scoring 40+ points and playing in the prevent defense for much of the game. Chad Pennington had 258 yards and two scores in that game and will be hard pressed to replicate that much this week unless the rushing game is abandoned.
The Chargers are in a new, pumped-up situation with a healthy Tomlinson and a diverse offense. The Jets come off two straight losses and head south hoping to reverse their trend on the road in the last half of the season. They won't. Pennington is not playing any better and Martin won't be able to run as well.
Keenan McCardell has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury but is expected back this week.
Motley
New York Jets (10-6) vs San Diego (12-4)
Game Prediction: NYJ 17, SD 27
(Line - Chargers by 6.5)
Let's not dwell too long here. The Jets are a bad road team. They lost three of their last five road games and the wins were only three points over the Browns and seven points over the Cardinals. This game is a rematch from week two when the Jets won 34-28 but while the Jets aspire to remain as good as they were, the Chargers have been improving all season and are now healthier than they were back then.
The Jets dropped a must win against the Rams just last week and were shellacked by the Patriots the week before that. They are backing into the playoffs on a two game losing streak.
The Chargers at home have almost always scored at least 24 points or more and this exciting return to the playoffs at home will be far too much for the Jets to handle.
The Jets like to win with big rushing by Curtis Martin but that is unlikely here. The Chargers have only allowed one good rushing game in San Diego all season and it was to Martin - 32 carries for 119 yards and two scores. But that was back in week two when Drew Brees was no lock to remain a starter and LaDainian Tomlinson was banged up. It not likely that Martin can get 32 carries again, Since that game the best any runner has had in San Diego was only 63 yards.
The Chargers have given up a lot of passing yardage and scores this season but much of that was a function of scoring 40+ points and playing in the prevent defense for much of the game. Chad Pennington had 258 yards and two scores in that game and will be hard pressed to replicate that much this week unless the rushing game is abandoned.
The Chargers are in a new, pumped-up situation with a healthy Tomlinson and a diverse offense. The Jets come off two straight losses and head south hoping to reverse their trend on the road in the last half of the season. They won't. Pennington is not playing any better and Martin won't be able to run as well.
Keenan McCardell has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury but is expected back this week.
Motley
