Chargers Jets Line

Written by Steve Janus

The New York Jets will host the San Diego Chargers in what is considered one of the top matchups in week 7. The Jets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 24-6 win over the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, moving back to .500 at 3-3. The Chargers come return from their bye at 4-1 overall, but this team still has a lot prove. San Diego hasn’t exactly looked all that impressive in their four wins, and those four teams are a combined 4-17 on the season. The last time these two teams faced each other was in a divisional playoff game back in 2010, where the Jets won 17-10.

Taking a look at the week 7 NFL lines, oddsmakers currently have the Chargers favored by 2-points over the Jets with the total set at 43.5 points.

San Diego Chargers:

The Chargers have to be excited about opening the season 4-1, as they haven’t even come close to playing their best football. The biggest problem for San Diego has been figuring out how to get the ball in the endzone. They come in averaging 416.2 total yards of offense, but are averaging just 24 points a game.

A big reason why the Chargers have struggled in the red zone is they have been without Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates for most of the season. Gates caught eight passes for 74 yards in the season opener against the Vikings, and was held without a catch against New England in the only two games he has played in this season. While it isn’t 100% that he will play against the Jets, all signs indicate that he will return to action.

The return of Gates could help Philip Rivers get back on track after a shaky start to the season. Rivers has not been the quarterback that we have grown accustomed to over the last couple years. He has thrown for 1,536 yards, but has just six touchdowns to seven interceptions. Even if Gates doesn’t have a huge game, he requires so much attention from the defense that it opens up the field for the rest of the receivers to make plays.

Gates isn’t the only key offensive player battling an injury. Wide out Vincent Jackson and running backs Michael Tolbert and Ryan Mathews are all on the injured list. However, all three are listed as probable and expected to play. Mathews is arguably the most important of the three. The second-year back has rushed for at team-high 413 yards and three touchdowns and has caught 20 passes for 261 yards. He will go up against a Jets defense that has allowed 132 ypg on the ground, while holding opposing teams to just 200.8 ypg through the air.

New York Jets:

While the Jets are coming off a big win over the Dolphins, you can see oddsmakers aren’t buying this team just yet. The fact that New York is an underdog on their home field really says a lot about how this team is being perceived right now.

New York has really struggled to get much of anything going offensively. Mark Sanchez seems to have taken a step back from a year ago, and the Jets haven’t been able to run the ball with much success. The Jets biggest problem has been staying on the field. They lead the NFL with 35% of their drives ending in three-and-outs.

Sanchez went 14 of 25 for 201 yards and a touchdown in the win over Miami, but it was just the second time this season he finished with more than 200 yards passing. Getting the passing game going against the Chargers won’t be easy. San Diego has had two weeks to prepare for what the Jets like do offensively and are 2nd in the NFL allowing just 179.6 ypg through the air.

With the passing attack likely in for a long afternoon, the Jets are going to need a big performance out of running backs Shonn Green and LaDainian Tomlinson. Green has been more of a factor lately, carrying 42 times for 157 yards and a touchdown over his last two games. Tomlinson has just 97 yards rushing on the year, but figures to be playing with a vengeance against his former team.

Betting Trends:

San Diego is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a road favorite of 0.5-3.0.

New York is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0.

Be sure to stop back and check out who Steve Janus has picked to win in week 7 of the NFL.

Comments

Got something to say?