New York Jets Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. Monday at Qualcomm Stadium. Series: Chargers leads 18-11-1. The Chargers won the last meeting, 31-26, on Nov. 5, 2005 in East Rutherford, N.J. In the last meeting in San Diego, the Jets defeated the Chargers 20-17 in overtime in an AFC Wild Card playoff game on Jan. 8, 2005. Player to watch: QB Brett Favre Look who's trotting out for his 256th consecutive start ---- the legendary former Green Bay Packers quarterback who retired after last season. Bad timing for the Chargers in that Favre is 5-0 lifetime against them, including a big-time performance last season in which he passed for 369 yards and three scores. Favre, who holds the NFL record with 445 career touchdown passes, has thrown for three TDs in two games for the Jets while connecting on 68.8 percent of his passes. The career numbers are dizzying ---- the list includes 62,030 career passing yards, 55 300-yard passing games, 40 fourth-quarter, game-winning comebacks. The 38-year-old Favre is a three-time NFL MVP but the Jets are hoping he will add on to his playoff success ---- he's thrown a touchdown pass in an NFL-record 18 consecutive postseason games and his 5,311 postseason yards are second behind Hall of Famer Joe Montana (5,772). Offense RB Thomas Jones was viewed as a disappointment after his fourth NFL season in 2003 before resurrecting his career with the Chicago Bears. Jones had 1,119 rushing yards (10th best in the NFL) last season in his first year with the Jets and is off to a good start (171 through two games) in hopes of notching his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. WRs Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery are a top-notch duo. Coles is sixth in franchise history with 389 career receptions and Cotchery has caught 82 passes in each of the past two seasons. Coles has topped 1,000 yards three times in his career; Cotchery did it last season for the first time with 1,130 yards. The Jets feature four former first-round picks on their offensive line, including prized free-agent acquisition Alan Faneca, a seven-time Pro Bowl guard with Pittsburgh. Defense The Jets have been difficult to run against (allowing just 3.1 yards per rush and 76.5 yards per game) in the first two games and the biggest reason has been the arrival of three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Kris Jenkins. He already has four tackles for losses and a sack. DE Shaun Ellis, in his ninth season, has been with the Jets longer than any current player. He has 54 1/2 career sacks, fourth most in franchise history. ILB David Harris emerged as a big-time force last season as a rookie, leading the team with 117 tackles. He has a team-best 19 stops after two games this season. OLB Bryan Thomas is tied for the AFC lead with three sacks. Few safeties can blitz and cover as well as fourth-year player Kerry Rhodes, who has been responsible for 11 turnovers (nine interceptions, two fumbles) over the last two seasons and has more sacks (seven) than any other NFL defensive back in that span. The Jets are starting two young corners ---- second-year man Darrelle Revis (three interceptions last season, one this season) and rookie Dwight Lowery, who intercepted 13 passes in just two seasons at San Jose State. Noteworthy Leon Washington is one of the top returners in the NFL. He became the 12th player in NFL history to return at least three kickoffs for touchdowns in a season in 2007 while averaging 27.5 yards per return. … The Jets have a lot of interesting coaching names, including offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer (a former Chargers assistant and son of former Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer), offensive line coach Bill Callahan (coached Oakland to the Super Bowl six seasons ago), defensive line coach Brian Cox (the controversial player who was one of the top linebackers in the 1990) and special assistant Teddy Atlas (the former trainer of boxer Mike Tyson). … K Jay Feely (1-of-2 on field goals) was released by Miami even though he connected on 21-of-23 field goals in 2007. … Cotchery was Chargers QB Philip Rivers' main target at North Carolina State. Coincidentally, Jets receivers coach Noel Mazzone was NC State's offensive coordinator for part of their careers. ... P Ben Graham was waived Tuesday after averaging just 27.3 net yards in 19-10 loss to the Patriots. ---- Mike Sullivan Noel Mazzone should be able to help scout Rivers and his tendencies...IMO.
Other things to note: * Chris Chambers wasn't with the Chargers in their last two meetings. Vincent Jackson was also not a starter back then. Darren Sproles is a rising star on this San Diego team. These three alone give the Chargers a different offensive make-up compared to what the Jets faced a couple of years ago. At the same time, the Jets secondary is different now as well. This would be interesting to watch. * Favre's success against the Chargers came with his familiarity with the Packers' offense and WRs. He's still settling down with his new team, but could finally click like clockwork in this MNF game. However, just having him is not a guaranteed success despite his record against San Diego, but probability of winning is higher.
TO KELLY: OK, seriously . . . are you a dude, or what? I mean, its totally cool if you are. NO ONE will think less of you. But you gotta tell us. Or your lie will haunt your dreams for all eternity... Sleep well!:beer:
LT and Sproles with injuries We better win this one http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_previousnews.aspx?sport=NFL&leaguenum=&id=3221
