After trailing the entire game, the New York Jets scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to eke out a win over the San Diego Chargers, 17-14. The team moves on to the AFC Championships, where they will face the Indianapolis Colts.
Coming in to the game as the AFC's number 2 overall seed, the Chargers were expected to overwhelm the Jets. The Chargers had an 11-game-winning streak coming into the game, and QB Philip Rivers was one of only a few players to garner NFL MVP votes from the AP (which was won handily by Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning).
While San Diego led the entire game through three quarters, they had only scored one TD at that point, and entered the fourth quarter leading 7-3. Unexpectedly, it had become a defensive struggle. The truism alway used is that a good defense will be a good offense.
By beating the Chargers, the Jets won two playoff games in a season for the first time since 1982 and the second time in team history. It also became only the second 9-7 team since 1997 to beat a team in a divisional playoff game that was 12-4 or better.
Surely, Chargers K Nate Kaeding will feel the weight of the loss in the off-season. Kaeding, who missed only three field goals during the entire regular season, missed three attempts in this game. He became the first kicker to go 0-3 in an NFL playoff game since 1995. One was of 57 yards and could be forgiven, but the others were 36 and 40 yards, clearly makeable.
Despite Philip Rivers going 27/40, 298 yards and a TD, the Chargers couldn't muster very much offense, at least in terms of points. They outgained the Jets 344 - 262. However, Rivers threw two picks.
Meanwhile, rookie QB Mark Sanchez managed 12/23 for a mere 100 yards, but one TD and one INT. Meanwhile, the Jets running attack, led by fellow rookie Shonn Greene, gained 169 yards overall.
San Diego scored their final TD with 2:14 left in the game, to bring the score close at 17-14, but the Jets got the ball back and ran out the clock.
The Jets will now play Indianapolis next week, at 3 PM EST on Sunday, Jan. 24th. The Colts will host the game.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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