After finding out they would be playing the Jets on Sunday, the Chargers praised their opponents.
Quarterback Philip Rivers and defensive end Luis Castillo both were complimentary of the Jets, saying they expected their divisional playoff showdown to be a good one.
“They’re a really good team that’s played really good football the past few weeks,” Rivers told Chargers.com. “Their defense presents a great challenge. It ought to be a heck of a game.”
Castillo also spoke about how the Chargers will have to stop both of the Jets’ running backs, Thomas Jones and rookie Shonn Greene, and how the pair stacks up compared to other teams San Diego faced this season.
“I think we’ve had some challenges this year,” the defensive end told Chargers.com. “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 (13-3) are eight-point favorites over the Jets, having won 11 straight games.
The Chargers’ star linebacker, Shawne Merriman, put his thoughts on the matchup on Twitter.
“Looks like the Jets here we goo!!!” posted Merriman, who has been bothered this season by plantar fasciitis.
The Jets will be hoping Sunday’s game is reminiscent of their only other playoff meeting. In a wild-card game in San Diego in 2004, the Jets were leading 17-7 in the fourth quarter, only to see the Chargers rally and tie the game on a Drew Brees touchdown pass with 11 seconds remaining in regulation. But after Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding missed a 40-yard field goal in overtime, the Jets won the game, 20-17, on a Doug Brien 28-yard-field goal with five seconds remaining in the first overtime.
In regular-season matchups, the Chargers own a 19-11-1 advantage against the Jets. In San Diego, they are 12-6 against Gang Green.