The NFL’s top-ranked defense and number one rushing attack is coming to San Diego.
New York’s victory over the Bengals Saturday combined with Baltimore’s win at New England means the fifth-seeded Jets will travel to Qualcomm Stadium next weekend to play the Chargers in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
The Jets led the NFL in scoring defense, allowing just 14.8 points per game. Rex Ryan’s team was first against the pass (153.7 yards per game) and eighth against the run this season.
“They’re a really good team that’s played really good football the past few weeks,” Chargers quarterback ![]()
New York also led the league in rushing offense (172.2 ypg). Aided by a 12-of015 performance by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, they rushed for 171 Saturday against the Bengals, including a 135-yard performance by rookie Shonn Greene. Over the last 11 weeks of the regular season, the Chargers ranked 12th against the run, giving up 107.5 yards per game while facing some of the league’s elite runners. San Diego’s defense knows they’ll have to perform well against the two-headed monster of Greene and Thomas Jones.
“I think we’ve had some challenges this year,” defense end ![]()
The Chargers have won their last two meetings against the Jets, a 48-29 victory in 2008 and a 31-26 victory at the Meadowlands in 2005. Sunday’s game will be a rematch of a 2004 AFC Wild Card game, a contest that New York won in overtime.