Opponent Profile: Chargers Look To Ground The Jets
By Dave Thomas
Riding a three-game winning streak, the San Diego Chargers welcome in another struggling team this Sunday, the New York Jets.
After winning their first game of the season, the Jets have dropped three straight, including a 24-17 home loss this past Sunday to the Detroit Lions. That setback was preceded by losses to Green Bay and Chicago, respectively.
As anyone that follows the Jets knows, the quarterback situation couldn't be any more opposite than that of San Diego's scenario.
While Philip Rivers is working on yet another solid season under center with the 3-1 Chargers, youngster Geno Smith is struggling, to put it mildly, for the 1-3 Jets. For the latter, his days as the starter could be numbered, though head coach Rex Ryan has said that Smith is his guy, this given the fact that veteran Michael Vick is standing and available on the sidelines.
New York Searching For Answers
For a Jets team that has a lone win over the abysmal Oakland Raiders in the season opener, getting away from playing NFC North teams may be a blessing in disguise.
New York had a sizable lead in Green Bay in its second game of the season, only to see the Pack rally. The following week, Jay Cutler and the Bears came to New Jersey and sent the Jets and Smith down to defeat. Detroit completed the trifecta this past weekend, leaving many in the Green and White frustrated and scratching their heads.
While Smith came into the league on some rather high promise, he has not been able to take the Jets to the next level, something that could ultimately send Ryan out of New York.
Even though he has thrown to date this season for nearly 1,000 yards (922 yard passing in four games), Smith (15 career TD passes, 25 INT's) has had some critical turnovers that have had the Jets coming out on the short end.
Elsewhere on the offensive side of the ball, New York's rushing game has been nothing to pound one's chest about, with Chris Ivory leading the way to date with 274 yards rushing and two TD's. On the receiving end, Eric Decker leads the way with 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, the Jets have been led to date by linebacker Demario Davis (32 total tackles, 2.5 sacks) and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (3 sacks).
After heading west to visit the Chargers this Sunday, New York's schedule does not get any easier, as it gets a visit from Peyton Manning and the Broncos before a road trip to Foxboro to battle AFC East rival New England.
For more Chargers news and updates, visit Chargers Central.
Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
