Chargers-Jets Line at -2 in Favor of San Diego
San Diego was the favorite in the Meadowlands this Sunday with the Chargers-Jets line at -2.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: San Diego -2 & 43.5
Opening Line & Total: SD -1 & 45
The Jets ended their three-game losing skid on Monday Night, but they have little time to celebrate with 4-1 San Diego coming to town on Sunday.
This is a chance for the brash Jets to prove they’re among the AFC’s elite teams. The Chargers have been one of the NFL’s top ranked teams on both sides of the ball, but they’re also extremely mistake-prone with multiple turnovers in four of their five games. The Jets are still trying to find an identity on both sides of the ball. They are averaging 234 YPG of offense in the past three contests, and their once-stout run defense has struggled badly, allowing 132 YPG (5th-most in league). They could have trouble containing the Chargers’ improved rushing attack that rumbled for 206 yards in their last game. The Bolts are well-rested after their bye week, and will take advantage of a Jets team coming off a short week.
Since 2002, the Jets are 5-1 ATS (4-2 SU) in six meetings with San Diego, but the Chargers won their last road game against the Jets, 31-26 in 2005. The Chargers’ four wins this season are against teams with a combined 4-17 record, but this is a club on the rise. Their four best offensive skill players have been hobbled by injuries (RB Ryan Mathews – calf, RB Mike Tolbert – concussion, WR Vincent Jackson – hamstring and TE Antonio Gates – foot), but Gates is the only one of the four that is questionable for Sunday’s game. San Diego was also very balanced in its last victory in Denver with 212 passing yards and 206 rushing yards. QB Philip Rivers has completed 67% of his passes for 307 YPG this year, but has more picks (seven) than touchdowns (six). The defense has also done a tremendous job in the passing game, ranking second in the NFL with 180 YPG allowed. And although San Diego allowed Denver to rush for 162 yards, it has held three of its opponents to under 100 this year.
Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson will be facing his former team for the first time. In nine years in San Diego, he racked up an eye-popping 153 touchdowns (17.0 per season). The last time these teams met was in the 2009 playoffs, when Shonn Greene ran wild in a 17-14 New York upset. Greene carried the rock 23 times for 128 yards and a TD in that win. But this RB duo has not done much this season, combining for just 411 yards on 122 carries (3.4 YPC). QB Mark Sanchez has been up and down, but he played better in his past two games, with 367 passing yards, 3 TD and no interceptions. TE Dustin Keller leads the Jets in both catches (21) and yards (319), while the top two WRs, Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress have combined for a mere 34 catches on 77 targets (44%). Although the run defense has been suspect, the Jets still are getting elite play from their secondary, as talented cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie each have three interceptions and are the keys to New York’s stingy passing defense (201 YPG, 5th in NFL).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
