On Monday night, the Chargers handled the Jets, 27–6. The result leaves both teams sitting at 4–4, with Los Angeles now potentially holding a key tiebreaker.
For fans, it was a hideous exhibition of offensive football, with the two teams combining for 461 yards. Despite the lackluster showing from both units, the Chargers pulled away with considerable ease, largely because of three New York turnovers along with a Derius Davis 87-yard punt return touchdown.
Looking ahead, here’s what the game means and where both teams are headed:
1. The Jets are a fun story, but that’s the limit with Zach Wilson
Jets fans came into the season with championship dreams. In four offensive snaps, it turned into a nightmare with Aaron Rodgers tearing his Achilles tendon.
With Zach Wilson back in the starter’s seat, New York’s offense is toothless. Wilson has done a nice job of avoiding interceptions in recent weeks, throwing only one in the last six games. However, he remains an anchor, throwing for fewer than 250 yards in every start this season while losing two key fumbles on Monday night. On the year, Wilson has fumbled eight times.
Additionally, Wilson has led one of the more pathetic third-down attacks in the era of color television.
As noted multiple times on the ESPN broadcast, New York entered Monday night with a third-down conversion rate of 23%, worst in the NFL since 1978. This is a direct result of coordinator Nathaniel Hackett protecting Wilson with runs and short throws on first and second down, before Wilson fails on third. Against the Chargers, the Jets were 3-of-17 in that situation.
At 4–4, New York is still in the playoff chase with a winnable game against the Raiders next week, but it’s very difficult to envision the Jets reaching 10 wins, which is probably the threshold for a postseason berth in the AFC.
2. With much work ahead, the Chargers are alive in the playoff race
The Chargers had to beat the Jets and they did, evening their record at 4–4. Moving forward, the next three weeks will be what makes or breaks Los Angeles.
The stretch starts with a home game against the Lions before traveling to Green Bay for a date with the Packers. The following week, the Chargers welcome the Ravens to SoFi Stadium. If Los Angeles is going to make a real move towards the postseason, they must win at least two of those games before getting a nice three-game stretch which includes the Patriots, Broncos and Raiders.
Even after Monday’s win, Los Angeles has questions. The defense played its best game of the year, holding the Jets to 270 total yards and six points. Still, the Jets barely qualify as having an offense. Next Sunday will provide a much stiffer test with Detroit’s offense on turf, coming off a bye week. Then there’s the constant question of coaching, which will always exist while Brandon Staley is donning the headset.
But for the moment, the Chargers are back to .500 after two primetime wins, and suddenly in the mix.
3. Los Angeles needs more from its receivers beyond Keenan Allen
With Mike Williams out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in Week 3, the Chargers are more reliant than ever on Allen. And while Allen is spectacular, he’ll need support against better teams.
Last weekend, Quentin Johnston had 50 receiving yards on five catches against Chicago, the second-most by Chargers wideouts on the night. On Monday, Allen once again paced the group with 77 yards on eight receptions. Behind him? Johnston, who had a measly 14 yards on two grabs.
With Joshua Palmer out, the Chargers were incredibly thin on the perimeter and it showed, as Justin Herbert completed 16-of-30 throws for 136 yards. Aided by the aforementioned three New York turnovers and an 87-yard punt-return touchdown, the lack of production from the receivers was survivable. Most weeks, that won’t be true.
4. New York’s offensive line remains a hazard for anyone behind it
Entering Monday night, the Jets’ offensive line had been a blight on a unit full of them. And facing the Chargers, the issue only became more pronounced.
Through New York’s first seven games, Zach Wilson faced pressure on 33.2% of dropbacks, the highest rate in football. Los Angeles did nothing to lower that figure, harrying and harassing Wilson into eight sacks, including 2.5 from Joey Bosa. Some of those sacks were on Wilson, and some were on the line, but the result was the same: negative plays for an offense which can ill-afford them.
At some juncture, the Jets have to figure out a solution. Whether it’s keeping in extra blockers, changing the personnel up front or going almost exclusively to rollout-heavy, single-read throws, Hackett needs to find some answers.
5. Aaron Rodgers isn’t saving the Jets in 2023
This isn’t a takeaway from Monday night, but rather an observation based in reality.
There’s a thought in some corners that if the Jets can remain competitive long enough, Rodgers can return with a speedy recovery from his torn Achilles to launch New York on a run. It’s a nice daydream, but it’s fiction.
Even if Rodgers were to defy every medical norm and play this season, he would be doing it behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. Is it possible Rodgers plays? Sure. In 1997, Jerry Rice tore his ACL in Week 1 for the 49ers and then returned in Week 16. That night, he broke his patella and missed the balance of the year.
Additionally, Rodgers would be trying to rally a team that, best-case scenario, would likely need to be almost perfect to even qualify for the playoffs. After taking on the Raiders come Sunday night, the Jets draw the Bills on the road before hosting the Dolphins on a short week. After those games, we’re into December.
Rodgers seems hellbent on getting back on the field immediately, and credit to him for that, but the Jets are better off telling him to return healthy in the spring.
