Pregame Primer: Jets-Chargers meet in game with massive playoff implications
Everything you need to know ahead of today’s game between the Jets and Chargers.
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What’s Up with the Jets? 🛩️
The Jets face-off against the Chargers tonight in New Jersey at 8:15 PM
New York reportedly made efforts to acquire Raiders WR Devante Adams at the trade deadline, but Las Vegas did not make him available (Schefter)
Though the did not make a trade by the deadline, the Jets did sign veteran OL Rodger Saffold III earlier in the week, who last played with the Bills last season
OL Joe Tippmann is expected to return to the Jets tonight after dealing with a quad injury
Despite worries earlier in the week, G Laken Tomlinson practiced fully on Saturday and will also start vs the Chargers tonight
LB Quincy Williams was awarded as the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October
Injury Report 🏥
❌ OUT
OL Duane Brown (hip)
LB Chazz Surratt (ankle)
❔ QUESTIONABLE
WR Allen Lazard (knee)
S Adrian Amos (ankle)
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Jets (4-3) vs. Chargers (3-4)
Where: MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ
When: 8:15 PM EDT
Where to Watch: ESPN
The Odds 🎲
ESPN Analytics: Jets 39.3% chance to win
Line: Jets +3.5
Over/Under: 39.5 points
Postseason Odds: +225
⬆️ from +310 last week
Super Bowl Odds: +6000
⬆️ from +9000 last week
Our Prediction 🔮
Maybe it’s because we’re coming off of one of the ugliest games we’ve seen in some time, but this has been one of the harder games for me to get a feel for this season.
The Jets have the better record, are playing at home, and the Chargers always seem to be paper tigers, and yet the consensus here still seems to be that Los Angeles has the edge.
That’s nothing new, of course. This is now the seventh time in eight games this season that the Jets have been underdogs, and the third time that they haven’t been favored vs. a team that had a worse record than they did. People have been betting against this team all season long, and somehow the Jets have been proving the doubters wrong every step of the way. It hasn’t always been pretty – in fact, it almost never is – but you don’t win style points in the NFL. Wins all count the same.
That being said, this has still been one I’ve gone back-and-forth on. This may be the best offense the Jets have faced so far this year with a balanced attack between Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen through the air and Austin Ekeler on the ground. New York’s defense has been up-to-task in nearly every single game this season, shutting down potent offenses like the Bills, Chiefs and Eagles, but this may be a game where this offense is required to put up some points in order to skate away with a victory.
Over the last two games the Jets have been up against the brink because of their offense, both times trailing with under two minutes to go and their opponent having possession of the football. Miraculously, both times the Jets were able to steal the ball back and rally for an unlikely victory – but that is not a formula that is going to work every week. It’s a dangerous way to live, and sometimes the miracle play (hello Patriots game) doesn’t get converted.
It’s hard to picture the Jets offense putting up 20+ points as they’ve scored just eight offensive touchdowns in seven games all season long but that’s likely what it’s going to take to win, even with a dominant defensive effort. I’m not ever convinced which Zach Wilson we’ll see on a given game day but the Chargers do have the 31st ranked defense in the league. So, if there was ever a week for it to happen, you’d think it would be this one…
Jets 20, Chargers 17.