San Diego (4-4) at NY Jets (2-5)
VIDEO PLAYLIST 
| SCOUTING REPORT |
Jets' run defense could struggleThe Jets are coming off a much-needed bye week, but getting a visit from the Chargers has to be one of the worst-case scenarios for Herm Edwards' team. Not only will San Diego be looking to exact revenge for the 20-17 playoff ousting it received at home last season, but RB LaDainian Tomlinson presents a nightmarish matchup for a Jets run defense that has been trampled for an average of 140.6 yards per game this season.
Without at least a legitimate threat of the pass to concern itself with, the stout Chargers run defense will have little trouble bottling up RB Curtis Martin and the Jets' surprisingly anemic rushing attack. That's why, if the Jets are to save their sinking ship, QB Vinny Testaverde must limit his mistakes and exploit the man-to-man coverage speedy perimeter weapons WRs Laveranues Coles and Justin McCareins will face. |
· Full Scouting Report 
|
| Matchup |
| | W-L | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF |
| SDG | 9-7 | 418 | 312 | 4-4 | 5-3 | 3-3 | 7-5 |
| NYJ | 4-12 | 240 | 355 | 4-4 | 0-8 | 2-4 | 3-9 |
| · Complete Standings |
| San Diego Passing | | | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | | Rivers | 63.2 | 2621 | 17 | 6 |
| | NY Jets Passing | | | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | | Sanche... | 52.1 | 1791 | 10 | 16 |
|
| TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS |
| TEAM OFFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Total Yards | SDG | 348.0 |
| NYJ | 248.0 |
| Yards Passing | SDG | 218.4 |
| NYJ | 165.1 |
| Yards Rushing | SDG | 129.5 |
| NYJ | 83.0 |
| TEAM DEFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Yards Allowed | SDG | 309.3 |
| NYJ | 308.8 |
| Pass Yds Allowed | SDG | 224.9 |
| NYJ | 172.2 |
| Rush Yds Allowed | SDG | 84.3 |
| NYJ | 136.6 |
| HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001) |
| NY Jets leads 3-1 |
| Jan 8, 2005 | SDG 17, @NYJ 20 |
| Sep 19, 2004 | SDG 28, @NYJ 34 |
| Nov 3, 2002 | SDG 13, @NYJ 44 |
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San Diego (4-4) at NY Jets (2-5), Sunday 1:00 pm EST
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Winning a playoff game
against the San Diego Chargers must feel like more than 10
months ago for Herman Edwards.
The coach of the New York Jets has had to contend with a
plethora of injuries this season along with a rugged schedule.
After hosting the Chargers on Sunday, New York has back-to-back
road games against Carolina and Denver.
Edwards has guided the Jets to the postseason three times in
four years, including last season when they posted a 20-17
overtime victory at San Diego in the AFC wild card round. But
then the Jets were led by quarterback Chad Pennington, running
back Curtis Martin, wide receiver Santana Moss and center Kevin
Mawae. Only Martin will play on Sunday.
Pennington is recuperating from shoulder surgery, Moss was
traded to Washington for wide receiver Laveranues Coles in the
offseason and Mawae suffered a season-ending injury in an
October 16 game at Buffalo.
Pennington threw for 279 yards and a pair of touchdowns,
including a 47-yard bomb to Moss, in the playoff win at San
Diego. Moss finished with four catches for 100 yards. Martin
was held to 66 yards on 18 carries.
The Jets had to resort to bringing back 41-year-old Vinny
Testaverde after Pennington tore his rotator cuff again in a
September 25 game against Jacksonville and guard Pete Kendall
moved from guard to center to replace Mawae, a six-time Pro
Bowler.
The losses Pennington and Moss have certainly affected Martin.
The NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher with 13,827 yards,
Martin has just 461 yards this season.
While the Jets deal with injuries, the Chargers are hoping to
make their second straight trip to the postseason under coach
Marty Schottenheimer. They are 4-4 at the midway point, but
have faced seven teams with winning records.
No team in the AFC has scored more points than the Chargers
(27.6 per game). Drew Brees ranks fifth in the AFC with a
quarterback rating of 92.1, completing 63.2 percent of his
passes for 1,829 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven
interceptions.
LaDainian Tomlinson, considered by many to be the NFL's best
back, has rushed for 728 yards and scored 10 touchdowns and
Antonio Gates leads all tight ends with 43 catches for 575
yards and six touchdowns.
Last week, Gates, a third-year player from Kent State, set
career highs with 10 catches, 145 yards and three touchdowns in
a 28-20 win over Kansas City. Brees threw for 324 yards.
Both are taking advantage of team's planning their defensive
scheme around Tomlinson, who has rushed for just 76 yards on 34
carries in his last two games.
In last year's playoff loss to the Jets, Tomlinson rushed for 80
yards on 26 attempts.
San Diego received a major boost from its two first-round
picks - linebacker Shawne Merriman and Luis Castillo - in last
week's win. Merriman had two sacks and Castillo, who plays end
and tackle, recorded five tackles and 1 1/2 sacks against Kansas
City. The defense also held Priest Holmes to 38 yards on 14
carries.
Matchup to watch: The Jets may have fits with Gates, who caught
the game-tying one-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the
fourth quarter in last year's playoff game. Rookie Kerry Rhodes
and fellow safeties Oliver Celestin and Erik Coleman will
likely take their turns on doubling Gates.
Series: The Chargers lead, 17-12-1, but the Jets won a
regular-season game in San Diego last year as well as the
playoff contest.
Next week: San Diego has its bye
NY Jets visit Carolina, November 13
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San Diego 31, 
NY Jets 26