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Chargers will host Jets next Sunday

Posted Jan 10, 2010

The Jets victory Saturday in Cincinnati combined with Baltimore’s win at New England Sunday means New York will travel to San Diego next Sunday to face the Chargers in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

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 Philip Rivers said. “Their defense presents a great challenge. It ought to be a heck of a game.”

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 Luis Castillo said. “The Raiders are typically a good running team. We played Baltimore early in the year and that was a challenge. We’ve been tested lately too. We got to face Chris Johnson a few weeks ago and Cedric Benson, who was playing extremely well at the time. The Jets are so good at what they do and it’s going to be a heck of a challenge.”

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.

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    San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers waves to a teammate during NFL football training camp Monday July 26, 2010 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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    San Diego Chargers running back Shawnbrey McNeal, left, runs while being held back by fullback Billy Latsko, right, during NFL footballtraining camp Monday, July 26, 2010, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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    San Diego Chargers wide receiver Legedu Naanee, right, stretches out next to linebacker Kevin Burnett, left, during NFL football training camp Monday July 26, 2010 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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    San Diego Chargers linebacker Donald Butler looks on during the NFL football team's training camp Monday, July 26, 2010, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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    San Diego Chargers' Dedrick Epps tries to make a catch as punter Cort Johnson looks on during NFL football training camp Monday, July 26, 2010, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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    San Diego Chargers linebacker Kevin Burnett upends a tackling sled during NFL football training camp Monday July 26, 2010 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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    San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner, right, directs practice as quarterbacks Billy Volek, left, and Philip Rivers, center, look on during training camp Monday July 26, 2010 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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    San Diego Chargers players drill during training camp Monday July 26, 2010 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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    San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers throws during NFL football training camp Monday July 26, 2010 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)