Jets 17, Chargers 14: New York’s Defense Stymies San Diego’s Offense

Read and react more to Sunday’s game at our Chargers blog, Bolts From The Blue, and our Jets blog, Gang Green Nation.

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Shonn Greene’s 53-yard touchdown scamper midway through the fourth quarter proved to be the difference, as the Jets defense stymied the high-octane Chargers offense just enough to steal a 17-14 decision in an AFC divisional playoff meeting at Qualcomm Stadium.

With a dominating second half performance and thanks in part to three missed field goals from San Diego’s Nate Kaeding, New York won the right to face the top-seeded Colts next Sunday in the AFC championship game in Indianapolis. That’s where the Jets earned a 29-15 win back in Week 16, when the then- undefeated Colts rested their starters in the second half.

Greene, who rushed for 135 yards and a score in last weekend’s wild-card win over the Bengals, ran for 128 yards on 23 carries to add to his rookie lure in New York, which has won consecutive playoff games for the first time since the 1982 season.

Mark Sanchez wasn’t asked to do much but tossed a go-ahead fourth quarter touchdown to Dustin Keller and ended with 100 yards and an interception on 12- of-23 efficiency for the Jets.

The real difference-maker was the Jets’ defense, which held the Chargers to a season-low point total and just 61 yards rushing.

Philip Rivers rushed for a touchdown and tossed another to Kris Wilson but had two costly interceptions for the Chargers, who fell to 2-5 in their last seven divisional round contests. Rivers had 298 yards passing, 111 of which went to Vincent Jackson and 93 to Antonio Gates.

Kaeding, who missed a 40-yard field goal in overtime in a 2004 first-round playoff loss to the Jets, added to his postseason misery with an 0-for-3 effort on Sunday.