5 Keys to a Jets Victory Over the Chargers - Divisional Round

I am torn between being grateful and succumbing to greed. Between accepting that the Jets have already exceeded my expectations this year and understanding that it is rare for a team to be in such an auspicious position this late into the season. Gang Green faces a San Diego Chargers team that many experts feel is the favorite to win the Lombardi trophy. All Jets fans will agree that it will require A+ effort in all 3 facets of the game to prevail this Sunday at 4:40pm EST. Specifically, here are the 5 Keys to a Jets victory over the Chargers.

1) Safety Gate Chargers Tight End Antonio Gates poses significant match up problems for opposing teams safety's. Mainly because he is a beast ox who if was on the basketball hardwood would average about the same rebounds a game as David Lee. Kerry Rhodes draws the assignment and he has endured a turbulent season as the Jets strong safety, having come a long way since Nov. 29 when he was benched. Gates is the Bolts key as Revis will blanket WR Vincent Jackson. Philip Rivers will look to Gates and his 8 TD, 15 per catch a game average to keep the Chargers chains moving. If Kerry wavers look to see James Ihedigbo get a shot.

2) Only the Best Braylon Like previously stated, the Jets will need each players A+ game to beat a severely favored Charger team. Braylon has pretty much dropped a sure touchdown pass in each game of his entire Jets career which not only takes 7 points off the board, but also makes tears flow from Sanchez's eyes when he tries to sleep at night and causes Rex to binge on Wendy's nuggets after games. Braylon has to be enough of a threat so the Jets can execute on the next key below.

3) Stick With What Got You Here And that's "running the football Jon". If there is one weakness in the Bolts game it is the 18th ranked run defense. As important as it is glaringly obvious. Possessing the #1 ranked run offense along with the recent beastliness of Shonn Greene should not only keep the Jets O on the field but also keep Rivers off the field.

4) It Takes 60 Minutes Read the next italic part below in the whiny voice of Andy Rooney...You ever notice when an NFL team travels across this great land of America after playing 5 out of their last 7 games on the road can cause a team to be fatigued in the latter part of a game? Its like me after I drink a glass of Pinot Noir at 8:30pm after my favorite television programs finish. I can barely muster enough energy to remove my tube socks let alone cover Malcolm Floyd in the 4th quarter. I'm an old curmudgeon, waaaah.

5) No Fumbles + No Interceptions = Win The concept of something so simple is what makes it so elegant. The one word that you would never use to describe Mark Sanchez regular season is majestic. However, if you are a wordy doucher like me then you could have applied that word to his performance last Saturday. If there was over an overarching, omnipresent KEY to the entire Jets season it is to NOT commit turnovers. They are 9-0 when winning the battle and 0-5 when losing it.

LETS GO JETS J_E_T_S JETS JETS JETS!

The truthful yet unfortunate Prediction - Chargers 23 Jets 16

UPDATE 1/17/10 7:52pm: THANK GOD I AM AN IDIOT AND MY PREDICTION WAS WRONG! GO JETS