Daily Links – 01/18/2010
What We Learned: Jets Defense, Shonn Greene Sparking Jets’ Playoff Run
Three observations from watching the visiting New York Jets come back to upset San Diego 17-14 and advance to next Sunday’s AFC championship game at Indianapolis: The Jets’ defense is always in attack mode. The Chargers had success moving the ball with a balanced offense in the first half, but had only a touchdown and a 7-0 lead to show for it. Credit Rex Ryan for sticking with his game plan of dialing up extra pressure and mixing up the coverage looks. Eventually, as San Diego turned to a more one-dimensional passing approach, the Jets took advantage with two critical interceptions and two sacks in the second half.
Colts hoping dominant defense continues in AFC championship after dismantling Ravens
Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell put a premium on speed for the playoffs. He wanted his defense to play faster – even if it meant giving up a shot at perfection, taking a few extra days off and perhaps missing a couple of assignments. Mission accomplished. The Colts’ defense was dominant in Indianapolis’s 20-3 playoff win over Baltimore on Saturday night. The unit limited the run-first Ravens to just 87 yards and two first downs on the ground while keeping them out of the end zone.
Sanchez, Greene lead Jets to shocker over Chargers
Rex Ryan is on a roll. The rookie coach who declared his team Super Bowl favorites after he figured out they were still in the playoffs, is just a game away from being hailed for his psychic powers. His Jets are still playing. Rookies Mark Sanchez and Shonn Greene led New York to a stunning 17-14 upset of San Diego in the divisional playoffs Sunday, each providing a touchdown in the fourth quarter that marked another Chargers postseason pratfall.
Chargers blow another playoff opportunity, but is it L.T.’s last?
LaDainian Tomlinson sat alone on a plastic folding chair, drumming his fingertips together and staring at the shiny silver toes on his shoes. In a moment, he would walk across the worn blue carpet to explain why the San Diego Chargers belly-flopped in yet another dive into the post-season. Tomlinson could only hope it wouldn’t be the last time he walked through this stadium where he’s done so much for the Chargers – except shake their reputations as playoff disasters. San Diego (13-4) made its latest ignominious exit from the NFL post-season Sunday, wasting numerous scoring opportunities and bending just enough defensively in the second half of the New York Jets’ 17-14 victory in the AFC divisional playoffs.
Saints offense, Vikings defense set to meet after divisional playoff blowouts
The New York Jets can expect to see Peyton Manning for four quarters this time. With a 17-14 upset of the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, brash coach Rex Ryan and his hard-hitting Jets earned a surprise spot in the AFC title game at top-seeded Indianapolis. The Week 16 rematch is one of two conference championship games Sunday featuring some of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, all within one win of the Super Bowl. First, Manning gets another shot at the Jets, who handed Indianapolis its first loss of the season – rallying after the four-time MVP and other Colts starters were pulled early in the second half to rest.
Jets’ defensive blueprint spurs big AFC upset
Braylon Edwards knew that teammate Thomas Jones was engaged in a conversation. And he had a pretty good idea on the topic of discussion. But instead of allowing a relatively peaceful dialogue about the New York Jets’ most recent accomplishments to continue, Edwards offered a loud interruption. I’m on to the next one, on to the next …,” cranked from the audio system in Edwards’ locker stall after the Jets pulled off the biggest upset of the 2010 playoffs so far with a 17-14 victory over the No. 2 seed San Diego Chargers in Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday afternoon. For Edwards, the Jay-Z track is more than a hit song: it’s the team’s theme.
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