What has been the key to the Jets' success this season? Playing at home. They're 3-0 at home with wins over Dallas, Jacksonville and Miami—and 0-3 on the road. The last two opponents are hardly ones that scare anyone, but the games count just the same. On Sunday, the Jets get the Chargers, who are 4-1 but haven't beaten anyone of note. This is a rematch of the divisional playoff following the 2009 season, a game the Jets won when Nate Kaeding missed three field goal attempts.
Kaeding is hurt this year, and the Chargers' kicker is Nick Novak, who lost out to Nick Folk in a training-camp competition for the Jets' job. But that's hardly the story. Rex Ryan said he would have won a couple of rings with the Chargers had he been named their coach in 2007. He later said that wasn't meant as an insult to Norv Turner,. who did get that job. Whatever Ryan's intention, his comments were still insulting.
The Jets' offense needs to start faster. It has one first down in the first quarter over the last three games. The Jets won last week thanks in large part to an inept Miami offense and Darrelle Revis' two picks, including one controversial one that he returned for a touchdown. San Diego's offense has more weapons than Miami's, especially if tight end Antonio Gates is at full strength. This game should be close, but how many people have confidence in the Jets' ability to score points? They'll need to if they want to win this game. If they do, they'd be 4-0 at home for just the fourth time in 52 seasons.
