Jets - Chargers Notes: Second Half.

> You've never seen a team with no points and four first downs be happier about their play than the Jets, who are just down by one play on the road, and will start the second half with the ball. KR Brad Smith gets a good return to start things at their own 40. Jones with a nifty run for eight on a three wideout pump fake and draw. Jones moves the chains on a middle run with the required WR end around fake, and they have it in Charger territory. Sanchez uses play action to try Edwards in the end zone, in double coverage, and it's not close. Second is a similar run to Jones, who gets three. Field goal third down is Sanchez to Cotchery on a slant which draws the DPI, a pretty marginal call on Jammer, for the first. Jones gets three to the right, and every run is ending with the pile moving forward. Jones gets two more, then the third and five is Sanchez to Keller, but Jammer destroys the TE to stop the first down. Simms pules for a challenge that makes no sense at all, and the Jets go for it on fourth, rather than try a 45 yard field goal; curious. After the commerce, Ryan sends PK Jay Feely out instead, and the kicker converts to get the Jets on the board. I do believe we've just seen the very first You Almost Crapped The Bed! Chargers 7, Jets 3.

> Feely's kickoff drops like a wedge shot, and Sproles takes it to the 26 as Simms pules about what the Jets should have done, because they aren't as smart as him. Rivers throws it away on first under pressure, then gives to Tomlinson for two as Charger Fan is getting Very Worried, mostly because they are being reminded as to how Norv Turner is their coach. On third and 8 from the gun, Rivers has time against the blitz and throws a perfect ball to Floyd, but the WR can't hold on against great coverage, and that's a three and out. The Jets have the ball and the momentum.

> Greene to the right for three, then eight more up the gut as the Charger blitz overruns the lane. Play action to Keller gains 14, and the Jets OL is taking over the game; nice throw by Sanchez. Cotchery gains one on an end around instead of losing seven, as LB Shaun Philips whiffs on the play. A Jet false start on RT Damian Woody is his second of the day. From the gun on 2nd and 14, Sanchez is pressured, throws into coverage, and the tipped ball is collected by Jammer for the first turnover of the game, and a very big potential game changer. Edwards never had a chance on the ball, and that's the Jets first turnover in their last 42 drives.

> From the Jets 38, Rivers finds Jackson inside for a big gain, but it comes back on a clip by Floyd, and a 23-yard gain turns into a two yard loss. Rivers settles for Tomlinson and three yards over the middle, than a screen that is read like a book for a yard gain. Third and eight is a field goal down, and Revis defends a jump ball with a play that it is initially ruled a pick, and the replay shows that it's right; what a ridiculous play by the deserving Defensive Player of the Year. The ball hits Jackson, who can't corral it, then bounces off his shoes and into Revis without ever reaching the ground. I'm not sure the pick does that much damage, since it's kind of a bad arm punt, but in terms of pure emotion, there has to be some benefit to Your Guy Makes An Astounding Play. Ye gads, Revis is amazing, and seemingly in this game, everywhere.

> From their own 23, Jones gets four, then loses it as the Charger run blitz gets there. Third and 10 sees the pressure not get there, and an easy out to Cotchery for the first down. Terrible coverage by Jammer there. Jones gets three on the required first down run, and we're down to two minutes left in the third. The fake throw and draw to Jones gets five, and with Charger Fan getting loud, Sanchez and Cotchery don't communicate, and the ugly incomplete stops the drive. Weatherford's punt checks up perfectly at the four for 51 yards of net, and the way this game is going, that's a big play.

> Tomlinson into the line, which shockingly does not work very well. Ladies and gentlemen, Norv Turner! From his end zone, Rivers throws a terrible pick, and that throw was so bad, I can only assume there was a missed pattern. Wow. Jet ball on the Chargers 16 after the Leonhard return. and the third quarter ends with a Greene dive for three, along with a flag for a Philips late hit that's just all kinds of dumb. First and goal for the Jets to start the third, and the quarter ends with the Chargers getting no first downs. At least we've got a game that's in doubt.

> CBS inflicts the Punt Pass and Kick kids on us all, like anyone cares. This stopped being fun when the kids stopped wearing jerseys that got them booed. But then again, I'm from Philadelphia, and always wondering when the 14-15 year-old girl is showing cleavage. In other news, I'm going to hell. Let's get back to the game, shall we?

> First and goal from the seven, and Greene gets a yard. He gets it again with a nice head of steam and moves it to the two. The way the Jets call plays, this might be two more runs. On third from the two, it's play action, a rollout, and excellent patience by Sanchez to find Keller for the go-ahead touchdown. Wow, wow, wow. Maybe the Jets really are the Team of Destiny; to have a fourth quarter lead on the road after showing no offense at all for most of two quarters is not something you see every day. Jets 10, Chargers 7.

> A near total disaster for the Chargers on the kickoff, as Sproles recovers a fumble from the short man to give the home team the ball at the 29. Charger Fan boos the play call of Tomlinson for two, which shows that Charger Fan is watching the same game that I am; LdT has 24 yards on 12 carries, which is to say, a whole lot of Whoop De Damn Do. Tolbert pays the price for a six yard gain, and the medics come out before the third and three. From the gun, the Jets bring pressure and Rivers outlets immediately to Gates for the first down and 10 yards. From the gun on first, Rivers holds it too long and takes a five yard loss, rather than dump it to Tomlinson in the flat. On second with 11 minutes left, Sproles makes a good catch but only gets two yards out of it, and Rivers looks genuinely afraid of Pick #3 right now. On third and 13 from the gun, Rivers never sees S Kerry Rhodes on the blitz, and the Chargers are very lucky to recover the fumble. The Jet defense has taken over this game, and the Scifres punt outkicks the coverage, leading Cotchery to a big return. We are one good drive away from the #6 seed going to the AFC Championship game. The Chargers have 19 yards of offense in the second half.

> Greene for four to burn clock. They do it again on second for two, and the Charger defense is not folding its tent, but is starting to show wear. Third and four from the gun has Sanchez to Cotchery on a tight and perfect throw for the first... and then the dam bursts, as Greene bursts up the middle for 53 yards and the killshot. The RB runs through Weddle, outruns the secondary, and suddenly the Chargers are down by 10 with 7 minutes left in the game. It's fork time in San Diego, and I have to tell you, I'm kind of shocked right now. The Jets are playing a game that hasn't been seen in the NFL for most of this century, and doing it spectacularly.

> A squib kick is taken by TE Brandon Manumaleuma (phew) for good field position, and the Chargers have it at their own 48. From the gun, its Rivers to Floyd on a slant for eight as the Chargers to to hurry up. On second, Gates drops a wide open ball which should have been a big play, and that's the Chargers' day in a nutshell as Simms chooses to impugn the All-Pro's courage. Classy! Rivers goes right back to him for a good spin and gain. From the Jet 30, Rivers takes Jackson for six and appears to be in rhythm, but the plays are taking too long and the clock winds down to 5L20 and more. Yeesh. Rivers throws it away to set up third and five, and the fact that Kaeding has missed both field goals is a big deal. From the gun, Rivers throws from the blitz to Floyd for four yards, and Norv chooses Kaeding from 40 yards. The nightmare continues with another field goal miss, and Jet opponents are now 0 for 5 on field goal attempts in two playoff games. Holy moley.

> Greene for a two and clock burns. Charger Fan is, I suspect, making for the exit; Norv seems to be, giving that he's not using his timeouts. Jones is stopped to set up third and five with 3:50 left, and that's the first Charger timeout. Third and five is a toss to Greene which is stopped with an immediate Charger timeout, and at least that gives a few more plays that will be contested. Weatherford's punt is nearly blocked by Hester, and the fullback actually tipped the ball, but not enough to matter.

> From the Charger 37, Rivers needs big plays, and takes Gates for 10 inbounds. San Diego moving too slow before the snap, and a false start on the offense to boot. Norvalicious! Rivers finally gets a deep ball to Jackson, and the Jets wisely challenge the play, and the Chargers blow even this with a kick of the challenge flag for a 15 yard flag. If I've seen a more undisciplined team than Norv's Chargers, they would have to be wearing Raider laundry. The play is upheld, and after the flag, the Chargers have it at the Jet 35. If only they had a field goal kicker!

> With three minutes left, Rivers finds Sproles, who gains 19 and the sideline; nice play. From the gun at the 16, Rivers actually avoids a sack with his legs as poor DE Shaun Ellis doesn't have a working had to tackle with, and gets three yards and out of bounds. A ball to Gates doesn't work on a tough drop, and on third and seven from the 13, Rivers from the gun gets it to Jackson, who is stopped at the 1. Big clock difference there, even though Rivers is able to sneak it in on the next play. Had Jackson been ruled in, and he clearly could have been, that would have kept 20 extra seconds on the clock, and given the Chargers an option to kick away. Jets 17, Chargers 14, and both fan bases are convinced that their team will blow it. Good times!

> Oddly, Scifres is out to kick the onside; maybe Norv just hates Kaeding that much right now. The punter does a great job, but Rhodes recovers the rebound, and the Jets have it at the Charger 38. Greene for no gain, and that's the two minute warning. Assuming two more runs, no fumble, no first down and a punt, the Chargers might get the ball back with a minute left, no timeouts, and 50+ yards to go for a tying field goal attempt from a guy who hasn't made anything all day.

> Greene to the 35, and that's the Chargers' last timeout. Killshot opportunity for New York if they can convert on third and six. Greene takes it to the 29, and Ryan has any number of ideas. A field goal makes it a touchdown game, and Feely can hit from 46. Going for it would be very ballsy, but they do need a yard. Not much room for a pooch punt -- and Ryan's going for it, because he's Rex Ryan, Dammit. Maximum Balls, and the Jets call their last time out with 1:09 left.

> Personally, I think I'd kick the field goal. Feely's been money, and it seems like a middle ground move that gives me my best chance to win. A blown conversion just opens the door to all kinds of insanity. But he's Rex Ryan. From power, it's Thomas Jones up the gut for the win, and the OL just owned it. Ball game. Ryan just gave every old-time football fan in America maximum wood. Good Night, Norv... and Sanchez now has as many playoff wins as Joe Namath. Unbelievable.

I suspect New York might be a double-digit dog next week in Indy. I also suspect that just like the Patriots last week, this might be the end of the Charger run. But that's all for later; thanks for riding with me. The Jets are going to Indy.