In a far corner of the Jets’ locker room Sunday, where tumult and turmoil once reigned, linebacker Calvin Pace peddled optimism. He spoke of keeping faith, of confidence, of “keeping that train moving to Indianapolis” — the site of Super Bowl XLVI. In two weeks, the Jets have been transformed.
No longer are they desperate and despondent, their season hanging by an icicle. Now, their bandwagon is accepting passengers. Now, the Jets are buoyed by a why-not-us sense of conviction.
All because they rolled over the San Diego Chargers at MetLife
cheap football jerseysStadium, riding three touchdown passes from Mark Sanchez to Plaxico Burress, a rejuvenated rushing attack and a dominant defensive second half to a 27-21 victory that supplied their fans with two weeks’ worth of fond memories heading into the bye week.
“It felt like good old Jets football again,” guard Brandon Moore said.
It has not seemed that way for a while. Not during their victory last Monday against the Dolphins, yet another team with a losing record conquered by the Jets, and certainly not during the three-game losing streak — all on the road, all against playoff-caliber teams. Now the Jets have won two consecutive games, running their record to 4-3 — a half-game behind the Buffalo Bills, whom they visit Nov. 6.
Cast as underdogs Sunday against the A.F.C. West-leading
cheap baseball jerseys Chargers, the Jets overcame an 11-point halftime deficit, largely on the strength of Shonn Greene’s punishing running style and a defensive effort that left no room for comparison.
“Most definitely,” Pace said, when asked if it was the best half of the season. “If you count the Dolphins. ...” His voice trailed off. “No disrespect.” And perhaps none was intended, but Philip Rivers, San Diego’s quarterback, is superior to Matt Moore, and the Chargers’ offense is powerful and relentless.
At halftime, with the Chargers leading, 21-10, Rex Ryan had a two-word message for his defense: calm down. Pace, in turn, had one thought.
“They were getting the ball in the second half; it could have gotten ugly,” he said, adding, “We’re either going to get blown out or we’re going to come back and win.”
After halftime, the Chargers were held to 117 yards. After
cheap jerseys free shipping. halftime, the Chargers scored no points. After halftime, the Chargers, the most efficient team in the N.F.L. at converting third downs, were successful only once, on seven chances. Rivers threw two interceptions, both in the fourth quarter, both leading to points.
“We felt like we pretty much dominated the game,” said LaDainian Tomlinson, who, in his first game against his former team, sat out the final quarter because of flulike symptoms.
As uneven as the Jets’ play has been over all, one theme has emerged in their victories — a pivotal interception by Darrelle Revis. His pick in the season opener led to a game-winning field goal. His 100-yard touchdown return against Miami energized the team and a sleepy crowd. On Sunday, Revis was at his opportunistic best in the early moments of the fourth quarter.
It was third-and-5 from the Jets’ 25, and Rivers, looking for Vincent Jackson streaking across the middle, instead fired behind him. The ball caromed off Jackson and into the arms of Revis, who bolted 64 yards to give the Jets the ball at the San Diego 19. The red zone. Burress territory.
All of the brainpower expended last week on rejuvenating the Jets’
NHL Jerseys Cheapoffense resulted in a revival for Burress, who entered Sunday with 14 catches in six games. He had four receptions Sunday, but three were for touchdowns. Each time, he torched Antonio Cason, who at 6 feet 1 inch, is four inches shorter. Burress said, “I was saying, If they want to play me man for man. ... ”
As in, best of luck. The first touchdown, which cut the Jets’ deficit to 14-10, came on a slant. The second, which cut the deficit to 21-17, came on a back-shoulder fade. The third came on that same slant, with Burress hauling in a high throw to put the Jets ahead for the first time.
“Obviously, Plax and Sanchez have to work on red-zone efficiency,” Ryan deadpanned.
Their chemistry had been a problem, as both men had acknowledged,
cheap nfl jerseys but so had most things with the Jets over the last few weeks. Foremost was their running game, which sprang to life Sunday with a season-high 162 yards — 112 by Greene, who averaged 5.6 per carry, powering through the middle of the Chargers’ defense time and again.
“It felt like a victory for the line, because of how much everybody’s been doubting us to this point,” guard Matt Slauson said.
The doubts will persist, as perhaps they should. Sanchez, who completed 18 of 33 passes for 173 yards, threw into double coverage in the second quarter, and the ensuing interception by Eric Weddle led to a San Diego touchdown. The Jets committed eight penalties, including a holding call on Nick Mangold that negated what would have been a beautiful touchdown catch by Santonio Holmes.
But their new season began Sunday, and there are nine games left — nine games to separate themselves from a crowded A.F.C. pack, nine games to convince passengers to hop on that train to Indianapolis.
After Ryan shook hands at midfield with San Diego Coach Norv Turner — who zinged Ryan back after his comments last week that he would have won “a couple rings” had the Chargers hired him as coach in 2007 — he retreated to an interview room, where he reinforced Pace’s message. It lacked his trademark bluster, but it sounded true and from the heart.
“I think you saw our team,” Ryan said, “the one that we kind of envisioned at the start of the season.”
