Jets bandwagon filling up on way to San Diego

Football Betting Lines

01/12/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the first time since mid-December, the New York Jets faced an opponent that was 100 percent, beyond all debate, trying its best to win a football game. Turns out Rex Ryan's team was just as capable of handling an all-out effort as they were a questionable one.

The Jets were clearly the stronger team in Saturday's 24-14 victory over the AFC North Champion Cincinnati Bengals, simultaneously answering their skeptics and advancing to the NFL's "round of eight" by getting quality play from all three phases.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez had one of the finest games of his rookie season, completing 12-of-15 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown without a turnover in the triumph, and complementing a running game that generated 171 yards behind the work of Shonn Greene (21 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD) and Thomas Jones (15 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD). Sanchez's passer rating (139.4) and completion percentage (80.0) were both season-highs, as the USC product led the Jets to their first postseason victory since 2004.

Less surprising was the work of a blossoming defense that has now allowed just 61 points in its last seven games overall. Gang Green sacked Carson Palmer (18- of-36, 146 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) three times, rendered wideout Chad Ochocinco (2 receptions, 28 yards) a non-factor for a second straight week, and forced a pair of turnovers.

The special teams was less of a force, but was on the field when Cincinnati's Shayne Graham had two critical missed field goals that further altered the complexion of the game.

In all, a complete performance from a team that is now 6-1 in its last seven games, with a full head of steam as it prepares to face the San Diego Chargers in the Divisional Playoff round.

"It was a tremendous team effort," said Ryan on Monday. "It was great. We talked about being able to pick each other up - the offense being able to pick up the defense and vice versa. You saw part of that because there were times when the defense needed to be picked up, and the offense did it, and then vice versa. It was a classic team win."

For the first time since playing the Colts back in that notorious Week 16 tilt, the Jets will this week be facing a team that is even hotter than they are. The Chargers (13-3) - who have won 11 in a row since a 2-3 start - enter the postseason as a popular choice to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLIV, and there is no one alive that will fail to acknowledge that San Diego represents a major step-up in class from fading Cincinnati.

The Jets' ability to handle Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers (4254 passing yards, 28 TD, 9 INT), as well as his top targets Antonio Gates (79 receptions, 1157 yards, 8 TD) and Vincent Jackson (68 receptions, 1167 yards, 9 TD), will be of paramount importance in pulling the upset.

Meanwhile, Sanchez will again have to be a credit to the cause in his return to southern California, where he made his name as a star signal-caller at USC.

"We're excited," said Ryan. "We're moving on, playing against a team that's only won 11 straight games (and) is explosive on offense. The least amount of points they've scored all year is 20. Their offense is playing about as good as anybody's right now. With their weapons, it's certainly understandable.

"On defense, they have some of the great players in the game when you have (Shawne) Merriman, (Antonio) Cromartie and others, so it's going to be a huge challenge for us and we look forward to it."

GREENE MEANS GO

Though somewhat overshadowed by the work of Sanchez and the defense, it was Greene that proved toughest for the Bengals to figure out on Saturday. The third-round rookie out of Iowa made an impact in his initial postseason foray to the tune of 135 yards, his second-best showing of the year behind a 144-yard display against the Raiders back in Week 7. The outing helped compensate for a less-than-stellar individual showing for Jones (15 carries, 34 yards).

The biggest moment for Greene was a 39-yard touchdown dash in the second quarter, which tied the game at 7-7 and silenced the Paul Brown Stadium crowd. The TD run was the longest in Jets postseason history, besting a 25-yard TD dash for Freeman McNeil against the Browns on Jan. 3, 1987.

"We felt great about our run game," said Ryan. "We kept feeding Shonn. He had the hot hand a little bit. It's great to get both of them carries. I would expect Thomas to have his carries over 20 again this week."

CHASING HISTORY

Any Jets fan worth his or her salt can tell you that postseason history has not been kind to their team, and that as well as the club has played of late, the vision of a Super Bowl appearance will not be allowed to dance in their heads for another seven-and-a-half quarters or so, if it comes to that.

The Jets have won multiple postseason games only twice. The first was 1968, when Joe Namath and company got by the Raiders (27-23) and Colts (16-7) to win the only Super Bowl in their history. The second-best showing came in 1982, when the team went on the road to beat the Bengals (44-17) and Raiders (17-14) before being blanked at the Dolphins (14-0) in the AFC Championship.

The Jets are 0-4 in their last four opportunities to notch a second postseason victory, with losses to the Browns (1986), Broncos (1998), Raiders (2002), and Steelers (2004).

REVIS THE BRIDESMAID

Though he'd surely trade in any piece of individual hardware for a chance at a Super Bowl title, Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis received a dose of bad news on Tuesday, when he finished second to Packers CB Charles Woodson for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Woodson received 28 votes to 14 for Revis in the AP voting, followed by the Broncos' Elvis Dumervil and Saints' Darren Sharper with three each, and Vikings pass rusher Jared Allen with two.

Though Woodson had a terrific year and posted better numbers than Revis, it is definitely worth debating which cornerback actually had the stronger season. Woodson played on a defensive unit that was decidedly hit-or-miss, one that allowed 500-plus yards through the air to the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and comes off a week in which it could do no right against Cardinals QB Kurt Warner (29-of-33, 379 yards, 5 TD), though postseason performance does not impact the voting.

Revis shut down a selection of the league's best wide receivers, including Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Steve Smith of the Panthers, Roddy White, and Chad Ochocinco twice, and managed six interceptions despite many quarterbacks' unwillingness to throw in his direction.

To wit, Revis definitely has the attention of the next quarterback he'll face. "As far as we've played this year and I've seen, he stacks right up there with the best of them," said Rivers. "He's just very patient, for as much press as he plays he's a very patient corner. Obviously you see when he gets his hands on the ball he catches it. That's not always the case for those defensive backs, but if he gets his hands on it he usually come out with it."

NEXT UP: CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

The Chargers and Jets have met just one other time in the postseason, with the Jets scoring a 20-17 overtime victory at Qualcomm Stadium in a 2004 AFC First- Round Playoff. A 28-yard field goal by Doug Brien late in the extra session won the game for New York, after San Diego's Nate Kaeding had missed what would have been a 40-yard game-winner.

San Diego holds a 19-11-1 lead in the all-time regular season series with the Jets, including a 48-29 home victory when the teams last met, in Week 3 of last season. The Jets have lost two in a row to the Chargers since last defeating San Diego, in 2004 on the road.

San Diego head coach Norv Turner is 3-1 in his career against the Jets, including 2-0 while with the Redskins (1994-2000) and 0-1 while at the helm of the Raiders (2004-05). The Jets' Ryan will be meeting both Turner and the Chargers for the first time as a head coach.