New York beats San Diego if ... the Jets can get their confidence level back to where it needs to be in the playoffs. One of the things working on one side and not on the other is the confidence factor. I know San Diego, especially at home, is very confident. But the way the Jets finished, they're struggling a little bit with their confidence. It's hard to finish the season that way, losing three of their last four, and go into the playoffs with any momentum. It's just a natural reaction to question how you are right now. Are you going in going in as strong as you can, or have you lost confidence from losing the last couple games? To me that's a huge factor, whether you're a player or a team -- confidence.
Another key to the game for the Jets is going to be the line of scrimmage and whether they can run the ball at the Chargers' defensive front seven. The Jets have to establish that they can do that, because their running game is kind of their bread and butter. Curtis Martin is running so well. It's amazing. Just like Jerome Bettis , it looks like both of those guys, with their footwork, are better even than they've been in the past. Some how Martin has found another gear even at this stage of his career.
People keep talking about Chad Pennington's shoulder and his arm strength, but throwing the ball downfield is not really their offensive mentality. I know they take their shots when they get them, but they just want to get the ball into the hands of their weapons offense. Santana Moss , if you get the ball into his hands, regardless of where he's at, he's got the potential to make yards for you. With Pennington, they just want him to manage the game, and know where everybody is. And it's hard to get to him because that is their mentality. I don't think they really need a strong-armed guy running that offense.
On defense, I know Herman Edwards and Donnie Henderson , and they're high energy coaches. I know their players feed off them, and probably take it personally that they've given up some points the past two games. I'd be shocked if the Jets' defense doesn't respond to that challenge and tighten things up against the Chargers.
San Diego beats New York if ... it continues to get so many different contributors on offense. What's great about what the Chargers have done is they haven't won with one or two guys this season. It hasn't been all LaDainian Tomlinson . They haven't had to rely on just him. Antonio Gates has been a huge find at tight end. But at some point everybody has been a difference maker in making that thing run. Obviously it starts with Drew Brees at quarterback, and he's been about as consistent as you can be. But they have enough there that it's almost like pick your poison, which ones are it going to be this game? Because they've got that kind of offensive talent.
The Chargers' offensive line has been a great success story this season. And I'm a big believer in that it doesn't matter who you've got running or throwing, if you don't have the guys up front to protect or open the holes, you're not going to win. In the chances I've had to see the Chargers this year, those guys are just getting it done. For a group that hasn't played together long, and has a couple rookies in the lineup, they've really come together quickly.
Defenses have started to take Gates away a little bit, but that just means other guys have to step up and make them pay for taking him away. Defenses will try and take your most dangerous option away, and for San Diego, that has been Gates this season. But your other guys come to the front then and start making plays, and the Chargers have been a great example of that, with Keenan McCardell , Eric Parker and Kassim Osgood stepping up.
What I love about the Chargers' defense is the coaching staff is using those guys perfectly, according to their strengths. Their linebackers, Donnie Edwards , Steve Foley , Randall Godfrey , instead of forcing a scheme on them, the coaching staff has realized what they have and what they do well, and put them in the right spots to make plays and have success.
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