Jets - Chargers Notes: First Half

> Only the power of Chargers coach Norv Turner can prevent a chalk 1-2 1-2 Final Four matchup, or give us a single competitive game for the second straight weekend. Can he do it? Only time will tell. Or, um, this game.

> The Jets win the toss and defer, and Sproles scampers to the 24, and we're off. RB LaDanian Tomlinson looks competent on a first down carry for five, than QB Phillip Rivers hits TE Antonio Gates for the first. A toss to Tomlinson gets two on a minor hole at best. Rivers from the gun on second barely recovers from a bad snap, and that's a loss of 10 and a sudden deep hole. Third and 18 gets worse with a delay of game, and Rivers throws it away against a Rex Ryan blitz -- and boy, that's Ryan all over, blitzing on 3rd and 23. P Mike Scifres enjoys a roll for 54 yards of net, and we go to commerce with Advantage Jets.

> The Jets start with RB Thomas Jones for a loss on first and a picked up flag. They try it again on second, and Jones slips and almost loses the ball to set up third and nine. With Charger Fan making more noise than usual for Southern California, Jets QB Mark Sanchez goes to scatback Danny Woodhead for a one yard loss on a screen, and Phil Simms likes the first series for the Jets' offense, because three plays for no yards and a punt makes Sanchez relaxed and Phil Simms wet. What. A. Moron. A poor Steve Weatherford punt gives the Chargers the ball at midfield.

> From the gun and alone on first, its Rivers to WR Vincente Jackson on a drag route for the first. The QB then has all day to throw to WR Malcolm Floyd, who collects 19 in front of CB Lito Shepard to put the ball in field goal position. Tomlinson sneaks for four on a nice little run to bring it into the red zone, but a false start flag brings it back. A trickery screen to Tomlinson is destroyed by CB Darelle Revis for a four yard loss, and the Chargers blow a timeout on third and fifteen by the Jets 27. From the gun, the Jets send only four, and Rivers finds Sproles, who can't stay in bounds. K Nate Kaeding misses from 37 yards just as soon as CBS flashes how he never misses from inside 40, and any Charger Fan who didn't see that coming must not have watched any amount of football, really. Meat left on the table, and it's still 0-0, and that is the third straight field goal missed by Jet opponents in the playoffs.

> Sanchez misses on first, then gives it to RB Shonn Greene for five to the right. Thid down sees Sanchez from the gun pump and miss WR Jerricho Cotchery, and the man was opened and missed. Simms, of course, apologizes for the QB. Is there some rule, really, that NFL announcers have to do that? The Chargers will start from their own 20 after the commerce.

> Tomlinson for three up the gut, and he looks downright mediocre now. Woo! Second down has no room for him and a loss. Third and long sees Rivers from the gun to Gates, he takes the hot read and drags the defender to the first. That man's a monster. The Jets diagnose a Sproles screen to the point where Rivers just feels compelled to throw it away, which gives Simms more joy, and San Diego continues to squander timeouts. Rivers has time to find Jackson for a big 26 yard gain, and credit to Tomlinson for a solid block on the blitzer there. Rivers, wisely, is just choosing to avoid Revis, who covered Gates on the last play. Tomlinson into the line gets nothing, then the Chargers blow it again with their third line flag of the quarter. Rivers has time on second and 15 to pick up 11 to Gates. Third and four from the Jet 37 has Revis knocking down a ball to 3rd WR Legedu Naanee, forcing a punt. The Chargers take a 15 yard penalty, forcing a re-kick, and Cotchery fair catches the ball at his own 16. So far, I think I've had more entertaining times doing yard work.

> Jones for four, then a direct snap to Greene is called back a false start on a play that required 40 seconds of Ref Debate. Where's my coffee? Seriously, Nap Time is calling me here. With Charger Fan making noise on 2nd and 11, Jones has room for six yards, and that's the end of the first quarter. Green is stopped on a direct snap play on third, and the Weatherford punt is made worse by a face mask.

> From the Charger 31, Rivers to FB Jacob Hester, who might be better than Tomlinson now, for 15. DPI on Sheppard is a good call and moves the ball to midfield. Gates abuses his man for 23 yards, and the Chargers are suddenly tearing off chunks. Tomlinson for three, then Rivers has time and reserve WR Kris Wilson in the end zone, and boom goes the dynamite. 7-0 Chargers, and wow, that was 69 yards in a hurry.

> Jets reeling now, with a false start flag, Greene for a painful yard, and Sanchez scampering and throwing it away; the QB looks scared. On third and 14, Sanchez pumps deep, settles for FB Tony Richardson in the flat, and that's stopped well in front of the sticks for a three and out. Sproles fields Weatherford's punt at his own 37, and the Jet offense at this point is so limited that it just doesn't seem like we are far away from the game being decided. That's just the way the game feels when it's 9 to 0 on first downs, 157 to 21 in total yards, and 13:20 to 6:00 in time of possession. But the Jets are still making excellent play calls, or at least they are in Simms World...

> Rivers to Floyd past the sticks, and S Jim Leonhard makes a good tackle that's ruled a fumble on the field. Norv challenges, with Simms on record as saying it's a fumble; it is, of course, overturned. It's good that Simms is paid a lot of money to analyze NFL games, isn't it? Tomlinson gets nothing on second down as Simms pouts over the call. Third and 10 from the gun has Rivers finding Gates, who spins but can't get to the sticks. On fourth and one against an offense that hasn't made a first down, Norv punts, and Cotchery is drilled at the 11 with no fair catch. A post-kick hold moves it back to the 7.

> With even Simms jumping ship from the Jet play-calling, Greene picks up 7 up the gut, then breaks a tackle for 11. Simms backpedals from the replay pout as I ponder the mute button and/or alcohol abuse. Greene piucks up another good chunk to the left for five. Richardson shakes off a hit at the line of scrimmage on a screen as Jim Nance tells the world that Sanchez has to be reminded of down and distance on every play. What is he, a mental patient? Jones converts the third down behind Alan Faneca, but the Jets finally call a first down pass, and S Eric Weddle wraps up Sanchez for a 7 yard sack. On second and 17, the Jets give it to Greene for a 7 yard gain as Simms applauds the call (naturally - it's conservative!), then it's Sanchez from the gun to WR Braylon Edwards, who is wide open on a deep slant for a ball that's telegraphed but perfect. 21 yard gain, big play, almost like a real live NFL QB!

> Greene for a yard, then Sanchez calls time with 3:11 left in the half. Since the Chargers have squandered their timeouts today, another first down will probably prevent any more Charger scoring drives this half. Greene falls on an outlet pass, gaining only four. Third and five from the 38 has Sanchez not connecting with Keller, as CB Quentin Jammer closing well, and the Jets (surprise!) stay conservative and punt. Sproles returns it to the 12, and Rivers will have 2:18 to work.

> With all day to throw, Rivers tries a long one to Jackson, and Revis is stride for stride with the WR and has a better line to the ball, but Rivers is past them both. Tomlinson around end gains a few, and that's the two minute warning. Norv goes conservative as well with a run to Sproles, and it's stopped well before the sticks, as Rivers pules for an offsides call that doesn't happen. Scifres needs a big punt and gets it, and Cotchery can only get it to the 33. The Jets really do miss Leon Washington on punt returns, as Cotchery just isn't that nifty with his moves.

> From the gun, Sanchez pumps twice, settles on Keller on the sideline, gets three yards more Simms fellatio. Someone might want to show Phil the zero on the scoreboard. Two more quick throws, the second to Edwards for 20, gets the ball in Charger territory. A spike to stop the clock, then a deep try for Edwards that misses by a lot, sets up a field goal third down. Pressure causes an incomplete, and Simms actually makes a good point that the Jets are going to go into the locker room with a timeout in their pocket from the Sanchez first down spike.

The Chargers run out the clock with Sproles before the half, and the little man does it again for 22 yards. A spike gives the Chargers a shot at the field goal, and Ryan calls his last timeout with 11 seconds left. Kaeding does have a big leg, so this isn't impossible, and Jackson takes a simple shallow cross for 10 yards in 5 seconds. Rather than try another play, Norv sends Kaeding out for a 57 yard attempt, and it's short and to the right. Revis returns it for 50 yards and drama, but he's tackled, and that's the half. Chargers 7, Jets 0, and if you aren't invested in the game or laundry, You're Probably Very Bored, but at least the game is still in doubt. Back in a bit.