Monday night, the Los Angeles Chargers beat the New York Jets 27-6 in what can only be described as an ugly game of football. Once again the Jets offense was an absolute no show, failing to accumulate 300 yards of total offense, while coughing up 3 turnovers in the process. The Chargers offense, for their part, were not all that dominant themselves—at least not as dominant as the final score might indicate—in fact, it was actually the defense and special teams that stepped up and were the major difference in the game. For a Chargers team that often plays down to their competition, it was surely a welcomed sight for Chargers fans to actually see their team take care of a lesser opponent—in primetime no less.
With both teams now standing at 4-4 and sitting just outside the AFC playoff picture, things don’t get much easier heading into the next couple of weeks. For the Chargers, they’re next 3 matchups include the Lions, Packers, and Ravens, respectively. While the matchup against the Packers should be a favorable one for the Chargers, their matchups against the Lions and Ravens could prove to be anything but. The Lions have been powerhouses all year, and the Ravens could very likely be the NFL’s hottest team; a 1-2 stretch over these next 3 weeks could put the Chargers’ playoff hopes just out of reach. For the Jets, their upcoming 3 game stretch is eerily reminiscent to that of the Chargers’, with seemingly 1 favorable matchup, and 2 games where they are sure to be underdogs. If the Jets go 1-2 in their next 3 matchups against the Raiders, Bills, and Dolphins—which in all honesty, seems more than likely—their playoff hopes would surely be out of reach. And if their playoff hopes are dashed, you can all but guarantee Aaron Rodgers ain’t touching the field again this year.
