NFL Play-Off Betting: NY Jets at San Diego Chargers

NFL / Andy Richmond / 16 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Rivers can lead San Diego to within one game of the Superbowl

" You have to pass the football at this time of the year, and I'm not sure the Jets can do it well enough. Look for Rivers, Sproles and Antonio Gates to eat up that Jets defence."

San Diego have so many weapons on offence that the league's best D will struggle to contain them, says Andy Richmond

Yet again, the San Diego Chargers are surging entering the post-season but hey shouldn't be surprised to find a top defence in their way here. Winners of 11 straight and fresh off a bye, the Chargers find themselves in familiar circumstances in the play-offs as they host the New York Jets and their top-ranked defence.

San Diego (13-3) are the NFL's hottest team, riding a streak that brought a fourth straight AFC West title and the conference's No. 2 seed. With Philip Rivers firmly established as one of the league's top quarterbacks, the Chargers have a good opportunity to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 15 seasons.

Rivers loves to go at defences and he has the personnel here to be able to do that - in WR Vincent Jackson he has one of the emerging targets in the league and whilst everyone may still associate the Chargers offence with LT (LaDainian Tomlinson). It's River, Jackson, Darren Sproles and the ever consistent Antonio Gate who will give the Jets the biggest problems. The Jets may have the number one ranked defence but how do you cover all those and get pressure on Rivers?

The Jets offence is a simple unit - it's run, run and more run - so I can see the Chargers stacking the line to stop that and challenging the Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez to beat them. If the Jets get behind, running the football is not going to be an option and in that situation you don't want to rely on a rookie quarterback in a hostile environment, especially in a lose-and-you're out game. You have to pass the football at this time of the year, and I'm not sure the Jets can do it well enough. Look for Rivers, Sproles and Antonio Gates to eat up that Jets defence. San Diego are the better team -- and it shows especially with the experience at quarterback.

Recommendation: San Diego -7.5 @ [2.04]