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The last game on the NFL Divisional Weekend consists of LT and his electrically gliding San Diego Chargers against the Rex Ryan led New York Jets. This is a battle of strengths and weaknesses and there are a few key things to look out for.
The Jets have the number one pass defense in the NFL along with the eighth best rushing attack. This defense is a tough matchup for any team, even the "Super Chargers." Obviously the key to the success of this defense, especially in the passing game is All-Everything Cornerback Darrelle Revis. It's a crime that he didn't get defensive player of the year for what he does to the best receivers in the NFL, but kudos to Charles Woodson because he did put up great numbers as well. A lot of what Revis does well doesn't show up on the stat sheet. When the Jets played the Bills in Toronto, the cameras would constantly show shots of Revis getting in the face of Terrel Owens, and manhandling him at the line. Physical play is a disappearing art for the cornerback position in this day and age in the NFL so receivers just don't expect it. In the two games he played against Chad Ochocinco, he held him to 2 catches for 28 yards and a bruised ego. The week following up to the playoff game, Ochocinco said things like "I'm coming to the big apple to give NY what they've never seen, an escape inmate gone wild on Revis Island... try and cover me!" Revis Responded with, "good morning world. i just woke up from this crazy dream. @OGOchoCinco came to Revis Island and disappeared." He has made everyone disappear on his island this year and is the primary reason why the Jets have only given up eight passing Touchdowns. This week, he has another test in 6'5'' Vincent Jackson who is coming off a career year with 68 catches, 1167 yards, and 9 touchdowns. The Chargers have other weapons, but if Revis can stop Jackson, Phillip Rivers might not be able to look down the field as often.
Plain and simple, the Chargers have weapons. LT, Darren Sproles, Jackson, Antonio Gates, Malcolm Floyd, the list goes on and on. Phillip Rivers has the supporting cast this year for the passing game, but as good as those weapons at running back are, their run game is very poor, 31st in the league with 88.9 rush yards a game. However, when your offense averages 28.4 points per game, does it really matter? The Chargers are the only team in the NFL to score 20 points in every game this year, which is pretty hard to do. The games they have lost, they've have been in every one. This team finds a way to score points even with a putrid running game. The old saying goes, "running the football and defense wins championships." That may be true, but what about the Colts during the 2006-2007 season when they won the Superbowl. They were an average defense at best, and weren't much of a running team and they won the Superbowl so anything can happen. The Bolts' defense doesn't get enough credit either. Ron Rivera has got them in the top half of every defensive category, except for run defense. They are very physical and aggressive in the passing game, which can pose a threat to rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Look for guys like Shaun Phillips and Steven Cooper to bring pressure on the outside and give the young quarterback happy feet. As far as the Chargers offense goes, even though Darrelle Revis is a matchup problem for anyone, look for them to use their other giant at Receiver Malcolm Floyd on the downfield passing game, along with a heavy dosage of Gates in the intermediate passing game, and Darren Sproles in the screen game in space.
The Jets are one of the biggest surprise's in the league this year. They posted a 9-7 record in a "transition year." They were led by a rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez who didn't have the best TD-INT ration (12-20), but he did do one thing and that is win. They have the number one rushing attack in the league with Thomas Jones, who posted his fifth straight one thousand yard season and went for over 1,400 yards this year, and Shonn Greene, who had 500 plus yards in the regular season and had a huge game over the Bengals last week. The key to the Jets success is that offensive line. The whole line could probably make the pro bowl, but the three key contributors are Left Tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Left Guard and nine-time pro bowler Alan Faneca, and two-time pro bowler Center Nick Mangold. These three carry the bulk of the burden for Thomas Jones and allow the Jets to control the clock and manage the game without having Sanchez lose it for them. As underrated as the Chargers defense is, they were 20th against the run this year so look for the best rush offense in the NFL to jam it up the middle, off tackle, and through the Chargers' hearts. The key for the Jets week has to be if their passing game can do enough to help them to win. Braylon Edwards has to play the game of his life not only for the Jets benefit this year, but his own benefit in the offseason. This is his contract year, if he drops another key pass or another touchdown, GM's won't consider him a receiver that deserves top dollar. The Jets have some decent threats in the passing game with their leading receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who ironically was teammates with Phillip Rivers at NC State, Brad Smith, who is used in the "BradCat" the teams version of the wildcat, and Dustin Keller, a versatile Tight End that can block and has very soft hands around the red zone. The difference makers will be Smith and Edwards. If Smith, a former college quarterback at Missouri, can not only be productive in the "BradCat", but also the passing game, watch out Bolts because you may be joining Tiger Woods in the offseason. Also, if Braylon Edwards can finally catch a ball in a clutch situation, the Jets will be dangerous.
The bottom line is the Chargers just have too much firepower on offense for the Jets to handle. They may be the best defense in the League, but the Chargers are much better than the average Bengals offense a week ago. Plus, look for Antonio Cromartie of the Chargers to play physical on the outside with Braylon Edwards to frustrate him early, so that he never gets a rhythm going and loses focus.
Prediction: Chargers defeat the Jets: 24-10
