Breven Honda
The Los Angeles Chargers are making the cross-country trip to the Big Apple on Sunday to take on the New York Jets for Monday Night Football.
Los Angeles (3-4) comes into this pivotal game with playoff implications on the line against another AFC opponent. The Jets (4-3) currently hold the No. 8 spot and are three games ahead of the Chargers in the No. 11 position.
Last week, the Chargers defeated the Chicago Bears, 30-12, which was fueled by quarterback Justin Herbert completing 31-of-40 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns.
The Chargers are in a position where their playoff chances could fluctuate in either direction, based on Monday’s result.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Chargers would have its playoff chances jump up to 30% with a win, but a loss would move the mark closer to 10%.
Here are three bold predictions for the final game of Week 9 between the Chargers and Jets.
Austin Ekeler dominates with 140 total yards and two TDs
This matchup is a prime opportunity for Chargers running back Austin Ekeler to excel on the ground.
The Jets are one of six teams in the league that have allowed more than 1,000 rushing yards through eight weeks. For the Jets in particular, they give up 1,014 yards on the ground for an average of 145 rushing yards per game.
Last week, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley rushed the ball 36 times for 128 yards in the Jets’ 13-10 overtime win.
Ekeler recorded season-highs last week in receptions, targets and yards as his catch and score came from 39 yards out during the Chargers’ 18-point win. The touchdown also gave Ekeler his 40th TD since 2021.
As a result, this is an opportunity for Ekeler to get going in the running game after recording less than 50 rushing yards in each of the last three games.
Ekeler is coming off a performance against the Bears where he carried the ball 15 times for 29 yards. He made up for his ground production in the receiving game catching seven passes on eight targets for 94 yards and a touchdown, which was his first score since the team’s first game two months ago against Miami.
His production in the passing game, especially on checkdowns from Herbert, is crucial for this offense to march down the field for drives to result in points.
Chargers coach Brandon Staley said his team must find that mix of run plays vs. pass plays to keep the defense on their toes for a full game.
“The big thing you’ve got to do is force defense to adjust force them to see things that they have to second guess and keep them off balance,” Staley said Thursday. “If you give them a steady diet, when you turn into a passing team and it’s drop back, now they can get into rhythm with their front seven, but then their back seven too, in terms of how they play.”
Keenan Allen overcomes tough New York Jets secondary with 100-yard performance
After Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen had a breakout game in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings (18 receptions, 215 yards), he has a 241 combined 241 yards in his past four games.
Although the Jets pass defense is better than the Vikings, Allen still has the opportunity to make plays.
By playing mostly in the slot, that means he will probably not be going up against Sauce Gardner or DJ Reed. As a result, Allen will most likely be going up against Jets nickel cornerback Michael Carter II, who only allows targets to a rating of 84.4, a mark that is one of the best among cornerbacks.
Allen is also on milestone watch this week, needing 70 receiving yards to reach 10,000 for his career. Among active players, Allen is sixth in receiving yards, trailing Las Vegas’ Davante Adams, Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, Tennessee’s DeAndre Hopkins and Philadelphia’s Julio Jones.
Despite getting his lowest yards per catch mark of the season last week (8.6), Allen can be the fourth receiver to total 100-plus receiving yards against the Jets this season, along with Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs, Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb and Philadelphia’s AJ Brown.
In addition, this will not be a Chargers offense that will be limited to minus-9 receiving yards on 14 passes, which were the totals the Giants accumulated last week. Herbert’s performance against the Bears on Sunday Night Football gave him a 122 rating for his 298 yards and three touchdowns.
Los Angeles Chargers defense gets three turnovers against Zach Wilson and Jets
The biggest thing to watch on Monday night will be the Los Angeles Chargers defense, which allows 24 points per game. That ranks eighth-worst in the NFL.
However, they are facing a Jets offense that averages 18 points per game, a mark that ranks seventh-worst. As a result, the Chargers have to be able hold their side, especially on defense. The Chargers defense has recorded at least two turnovers in five of seven games this season and in each of their last two games against Chicago and Kansas City.
Winning the turnover margin, by picking up fumbles or catching interceptions, goes a long way in shifting the game, especially on the road in prime time. In each of Los Angeles’ three wins, they have won the turnover margin over their opponent.
The Chargers are tied for fourth with Dallas with a plus-6 turnover margin, trail Cincinnati with seven and Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh at plus-8. Those turnovers lead to more scoring opportunities for Herbert and the offense.
Jets QB Zach Wilson has thrown four interceptions over his last four games, including three picks two weeks ago in Dallas. That means the opportunities are present for Derwin James and the offense to find those turnover chances.
