Opponent Profile: Can Jets Fly High In San Diego?
By Dave Thomas
When you have lost your last three games, the last thing you need is taking on a team that has won three straight.
Well, the New York Jets just like every other team in the league do not get to make up the schedule, so it is off to 3-1 San Diego this Sunday (4:25 p.m. Eastern, CBS) and a meeting with Philip Rivers and the Chargers.
After beginning the season with a win at home over the lowly Oakland Raiders, the Jets have proceeded to lose to Green Bay, Chicago and Detroit (24-17 this past Sunday). Throw in the fact that the Jets have upcoming dates with Denver and New England in less than a week's time in October, and you have all the ingredients for a season spiraling out of control.
Before those in the Green and White have to think about writing off the season, they will look to right the ship this weekend against a Chargers' squad that dismantled Jacksonville 33-14 this past Sunday. That win came on the heels of victories over Seattle and Buffalo.
Rivers Is Flowing
For those fans who do not get to see Rivers regularly, the veteran quarterback is off and running on yet another solid season.
After four games, the N.C. State product has thrown for 1,155 yards and nine TD's. While Rivers has a number of targets at his disposal, the top receivers to date include veteran tight end Antonio Gates (215 yards receiving, 3 TD's), Keenan Allen (244 yards) and Eddie Royal (236 yards, 4 touchdowns).
The biggest challenge to date for the Bolts has been their running game.
Coming into the season, fifth-year running back Ryan Mathews was looking to follow up on his best season to date, but a knee injury in the second game versus Seattle has sidelined him indefinitely. Meantime, versatile running back and special teams player Danny Woodhead is done for the season, this after breaking a fibula in a win over Buffalo two weeks ago.
With Mathews and Woodhead sidelined, San Diego has turned to former Indianapolis back Donald Brown, though the aforementioned only has 100 yards rushing to date this season. In their 33-14 win over Jacksonville this past Sunday, the Chargers were held to a mere 42 yards net rushing.
On defense, San Diego is paced by linebacker Donald Butler (24 total tackles) and veteran linebacker Dwight Freeney (2 sacks). Safety Eric Weddle (22 total tackles, 1 INT) continues his Pro Bowl play in the secondary.
After hosting the Jets, the Chargers have division rivalry dates with Oakland (away, Oct. 12) and Kansas City (home, Oct. 19) before an all-important road test in Denver (Oct. 23).
For more Jets news and updates, visit Jets 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.
