Surge Protected Offense

 The Chargers’ weapons were silenced.

The New York Jets (11-7) beat the San Diego Chargers (11-4) with tough second half defense to take away a 17-14 victory at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday. Both teams came into the game riding winning streaks with the Bolts having won 11 straight and the Jets (11-7) having won 4 of its last 5 games.

The story of the first half was the Bolt’s defense. The boys in blue were dominant, giving up just 99 yards and shutting out the Jets in the half.

A dazzling one-handed catch by Antonio Gates early in the second quarter set up a 16-yard touchdown pass down the middle of the field from Philip Rivers to Kris Wilson. The Bolts were moving the ball, but were only 1 for 6 on third down conversions. Kicker Nate Kaeding also uncharacteristically missed a 36-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 57-yard attempt just before halftime.

The Jets got on the board early in the second half with a 46-yard field goal by Jay Feely and capitalized off an interception to score a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give them a lead. The Chargers offense struggled in the second half with Rivers throwing two interceptions and the Jet’s defense stuffing the Bolt’s running game. 

New York struck again on a 53-yard burst by running back Shonn Greene, the longest touchdown run in Jet’s post-season history. On the ensuing possession, Nate Kaeding missed another field goal, this time from 40 yards out.

A quarterback sneak by Rivers with 2:14 left in the game cut the Jet’s lead to 17-14, but the Jets were able to run out the clock after the Bolts were unable to come up with the onside kick or a defensive stop.

The Jets advance to play the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game next Sunday.

Check out our live Twitter feed to see how fans are coping with the loss.
 

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