Chargers season shot down by Jets

In recent years, the Chargers have had some tough playoff defeats, but Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets may be the most painful of them all. It brought an abrupt and bitter end to what had been a brilliant season, one in which the Chargers had won eleven straight games and had given themselves a great chance to win the Super Bowl. But in order to win the championship you have to get there first, and the Chargers fell way short of that by missing opportunities, making huge mistakes, and getting outplayed by a team that was not nearly as talented, but certainly more focused and determined.

The Chargers best chance to take control of the game came early, but with it came the mistakes as well. On their second possession, San Diego got within range for a field goal try, a 36 yard attempt. For Nate Kaeding, the AFC’s pro-bowl kicker it should have been a chip shot. However, Kaeding’s kick was wide left and the Chargers missed an early opportunity to take the lead. For Kaeding the nightmare had only just begun.

Meanwhile, the Jets offense was unable to get anything going. Sticking to a predictable running game and hesitant to use rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, the Jets went three and out on their first four possessions and couldn’t pick up a first down play until almost midway through the second quarter. The Chargers were able to score a touchdown to take the lead 7-0 when Phillip Rivers connected with Kris Wilson from 13 yards out, but failed to increase the margin during the first half. A chance to take a 10-0 lead came just before half time, but Kaeding missed again, this time from 57 yards. San Diego went into the break with the lead, but the game was far from in hand.

Needing a score desperately, the Jets finally got a drive going to start the third quarter. New York drove from their 40 yard line to the San Diego 28. They stuck mostly to the run game as Thomas Jones carried the ball five times for 20 yards, and with the help of a pass interference call the Jets got into position for 46 yard field goal that Jay Feely nailed right between the pikes. The score was 7-3 as the Jets were now uncomfortably close.

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Uncomfortable was exactly how New York’s defense made Rivers feel all day. The Jets relentless blitzing pressured Rivers and their coverage in the secondary left him with practically no options, making Rivers look like a completely different quarterback. And on the last play of the third quarter and backed up in his own end zone, Rivers made a crucial error, throwing a pass into the hands of Jets safety Jim Leonhard. A few plays later, after another foolish penalty, unnecessary roughness on Shaun Phillips, Sanchez found Dustin Keller in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The sell out crowd at Qualcomm Stadium was stunned as the Jets had jumped ahead in the score, 10-7.

Entering the final quarter of the game the Chargers were just starting to piece a drive together to try and regain control. With a first and ten at their own 46 Rivers dropped back for a pass and was sacked. Two plays later he was sacked again by Kerry Rhodes coming around on a safety blitz and fumbled the ball. Fortunately, the Chargers recovered the fumble, but had to punt as it was fourth down. Then, on the Jets ensuing possession, Shonn Greene broke a 53 yard touchdown run that gave New York a 17-7 lead with a little over seven minutes to play.

Again the Chargers tried to answer, moving into field goal range. They set Kaeding up for a 40 yard try, but Kaeding missed wide right, and for the first time in his career Kaeding had missed three field goals in one game. However, the Chargers would get the ball back quickly. Now they were racing against the clock to score and despite another penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct on Vincent Jackson, San Diego reached the end zone via the quarterback sneak. Rivers’ one yard plunge cut the Jets lead to 17-14 with just over two minutes left in regulation.

The Chargers then chose to go for an onside kick rather than a conventional kickoff, a move that many have criticized Norv Turner for making, especially since it didn’t work. The Jets went right back to the running game, and the Chargers had one last chance to get the ball back on a fourth and one. Electing not to try a field goal or a punt, the Jets went for it and got it as Thomas Jones surged ahead for a gain of two. All that was left was a knee down, which the young Jets QB Sanchez did and ended the game.

By Steven Mondelli
ProFootball-fans.com San Diego Chargers Correspondent