After pulling off one upset last week, the Jets are going for another this week on the West Coast. A win and they’re in the AFC title game with a chance to get to the Super Bowl. Here’s how Jets-Chargers breaks down:
QUARTERBACKS & RECEIVERS VS. DEFENSIVE BACKS
WHEN JETS HAVE THE BALL: Mark Sanchez finished the year strong and performed flawlessly in his first playoff game against a good defense on the road. The rookie has no turnovers in his last three games and certainly has become more reliable. Braylon Edwards has ability but hasn’t been consistent and has had his share of huge drops, though Rex Ryan believes he’s poised to explode. Jerricho Cotchery led the team with 57 catches, while tight end Dustin Keller busted out with an enormous game last week.
This is a strong unit for San Diego, with corners Antonio Cromartie (a great athlete) and Quentin Jammer both former first-round picks. Eric Weddle had 82 tackles and two picks at one safety, and the other starting safety, rookie Kevin Ellison, will be going against former USC teammate Sanchez. EDGE: CHARGERS
WHEN CHARGERS HAVE THE BALL: The Chargers have one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in Philip Rivers, who threw for 4,254 yards, 28 TDs and just nine picks. He is playoff-experienced and is headed to his second Pro Bowl. The Chargers are loaded with tall and superb receivers — tight end Antonio Gates may be the league’s best, while Vincent Jackson (6-foot-5) had nine touchdowns and almost 1,200 yards, though he might be muted this week vs. Darrelle Revis. Malcom Floyd (6-foot-5) had his best season in 2009 and his best game (nine catches, 140 yards) in Week 17.
The best player on the field in San Diego will be Revis, the spectacular corner who was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. Lito Sheppard doesn’t scare anybody, while safeties Jim Leonhard and Kerry Rhodes will need to shut down the Chargers’ deep passing attack. Donald Strickland should play this week, too. EDGE: CHARGERS
RUNNING BACKS VS. LINEBACKERS
WHEN JETS HAVE THE BALL: Between Thomas Jones (1,402 yards, 14 TDs) and revelation Shonn Greene (135 yards against the Bengals last week), the Jets have an excellent 1-2 tandem. Greene has been emerging lately, and last week was the first time all year the rookie had more carries than Jones. Jones has been bothered by knee trouble, but will play. Ryan said Jones “is feeling great.”
San Diego can play here too. Shaun Phillips forced seven fumbles, while Shawne Merriman has been an elite pass rusher (though he only had four sacks this year). Stephen Cooper was the Bolts’ top tackler. EDGE: JETS
WHEN CHARGERS HAVE THE BALL: They have a future Hall of Famer in LaDainian Tomlinson, but Little LT ran for only 730 yards on 3.3 yards per carry. Electric Darren Sproles, all 5-foot-6 of him, is dangerous, and Bengals defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle told The Post this week that the Chargers are a terrific screen team. San Diego was 31st in the league in rushing, though.
This is arguably the Jets’ best defensive unit, with their two leading tacklers (David Harris and Bart Scott) in the mix as well as their leading sack artist (Calvin Pace). Bryan Thomas forced an important fumble on the Bengals’ first drive last week. EDGE: JETS
OFFENSIVE LINE VS. DEFENSIVE LINE
WHEN JETS HAVE THE BALL: Gang Green’s O-line of D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Alan Faneca, Nick Mangold, Damien Woody and Brandon Moore has been outstanding, especially in anchoring the NFL’s top rushing attack. Mangold, Faneca and Ferguson are all Pro Bowl-bound.
The Chargers are without their starting nose tackle, as Jamal Williams went down in Week 1, hurting San Diego’s run defense. DE Luis Castillo (from Garfield, N.J.) is the Chargers’ best lineman, though he’s had stronger seasons. Linemates Jacques Cesaire and Ian Scott shouldn’t hurt the Jets’ offensive line. EDGE: JETS
WHEN CHARGERS HAVE THE BALL: The left side of the Chargers’ O-line (G Kris Dielman and T Marcus McNeill) is impressive, but their right side (rookie G Louis Vasquez and second-year T Brandyn Dombrowski) isn’t exactly established. That could be a problem for San Diego and an opportunity for the Jets.
Longtime Jet Shaun Ellis was second on the team with 61⁄2 sacks, while fellow end Marques Douglas racked up 64 tackles (including four for losses) in following Ryan from Baltimore to the Meadowlands. Sione Pouha replaced star NT Kris Jenkins, who went down at midseason. The unit couldn’t stop the run last week, with Cedric Benson tearing the defense apart. EDGE: EVEN
SPECIAL TEAMS
With punter Steve Weatherford expected to be OK for the Jets, Jay Feely won’t need to handle double duty. Feely has had a terrific year, and both Brad Smith (kick returns) and Cotchery (punt returns) have fared well in replacing Leon Washington and Leonhard, respectively. Smith in particular is dangerous.
Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding is headed to the Pro Bowl, having missed only three field goals all year. In his last 10 games, he’s 18-for-18. Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff calls Chargers punter Mike Scifres “the best there is.” Sproles is dangerous in the return game and Kassim Osgood is going to the Pro Bowl as a special-teamer EDGE: CHARGERS
COACHING
Rex Ryan believes in his team and isn’t afraid to say so. He thinks the Jets are winning this game (and the next two) and the rookie coach certainly held his own in his first playoff game last week. For the Chargers, Norv Turner has reached two AFC title games and has the second seed this year. Tough to be too critical, though he still hasn’t reached the Super Bowl.
INTANGIBLES
The Jets are extremely confident right now and deservedly so. They have a lot of momentum and Ryan believes they’re bound to be Super Bowl champs. San Diego has home-field advantage, doesn’t have to travel, is playoff-tested and is well-rested. But will the Chargers be rusty?
PREDICTION: Expect the Jets to threaten to pull off the upset. But have they beaten a team as good and as healthy as San Diego this year? CHARGERS 23 JETS 17