 entered the weekend needing to win both of their remaining games - including next Sunday at home against Oakland - and get lots of help elsewhere to remain in the mix. Rivers & Co. held up their end of things, but barely. Los Angeles, which started the season 0-4, had a tough time getting much going against a spirited effort by the defense of the Jets (5-10). Rivers finished 22 of 40 for 290 yards. Gordon had 81 yards on 19 carries, but left late in the game with an ankle injury. He remained standing on the sideline as the Chargers tried to run out the clock. Bryce Petty, making his second start this season in place of the injured Josh McCown, struggled all game. He missed open receivers and repeatedly flexed his right hand, which he banged up early in the game. But he remained in, going 15 of 28 for 119 yards and an interception. Bilal Powell was the bright spot for the Jets' offense, rushing for 145 yards, including a 57-yard TD, on 19 carries. Los Angeles took a 7-0 lead with 8:55 left in the first half on Gates' 3-yard touchdown catch, capping a 12-play, 71-yard drive. The Chargers had a chance to increase their advantage early in the third quarter, but Nick Rose, signed earlier this week, was wide right on a 47-yard attempt. New York took advantage of the miss to tie it on Powell's long touchdown run. Los Angeles regained the lead quickly, however, on Gordon's 1-yard run. Gordon hit the hole and pushed over the goal line with a strong second and third effort. The Jets had a chance to tie in the closing minutes, getting a roughing-the-passer call on Joey Bosa to help extend their drive. But on fourth-and-7 from the Chargers 17, Petty's heave to Robby Anderson in the end zone with 3:07 left fell incomplete. GOOD HANDSChargers wide receiver Keenan Allen intercepted Petty's desperation toss to end the first half. It was the first career interception for Allen, who was tackled by Brandon Shell. The Jets right tackle injured his head on the play and was replaced by Brent Qvale in the second half. HOLD ONLos Angeles' Travis Benjamin returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter - but it was nullified by a holding penalty on Nick Dzubnar. Instead, it went down as a 14-yard return for Benjamin. NO MOJets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was inactive after being benched at New Orleans last Sunday for being late to a team meeting. Wilkerson practiced with the team all week, and coach Todd Bowles insisted the veteran ''served his sentence'' when asked if further discipline might be used. The Jets did not provide an immediate reason for Wilkerson not playing Sunday, but his contract situation could play a role. His $16. 75 million salary for next season is fully guaranteed against a serious injury. INJURIESJets defensive end Leonard Williams left in the second half with a back injury and didn't return. . . . Jonotthan Harrison started at center for the Jets in place of Wesley Johnson, who was active but dealt with a hip ailment all week. Right guard Brian Winters was out with an abdominal injury and Dakota Dozier started in his place. . . . Chargers left tackle Russell Okung was inactive with a groin injury and replaced by rookie Sam Tevi. SURPRISE STARTThe Jets won the opening coin toss, but deferred - and then pulled off a successful onside kick to start the game. New York became the second team this season to attempt an onside kick to open a game, joining Tennessee (Week 1). The Jets are also the first team to successfully recover on onside kick in the first 30 seconds since Philadelphia in Week 17 of the 2012 season, according to NFL Research. The Jets came away without any points, though, as an offensive pass interference call on Anderson and a sack by Tenny Palepoi short-circuited New York's drive. UP NEXT:Chargers: vs. Oakland next Sunday. Jets: at New England next Sunday. ---For more NFL coverage: http://www. pro32. ap. org and http://www. twitter. com/-NFL)
Dec 21, 2017After an 0-4 start, the Los Angeles Chargers owned a slim margin for error. And after a loss last week in Kansas City, they can err no more. If the Chargers (7-7) lose either of their last two games, they cannot make the postseason. The first will be a Christmas Eve matchup with the New York Jets (5-9) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N. J. , on Sunday. "Our playoffs have begun," first-year Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said after his team's 30-13 loss Saturday night to the Chiefs. "And there's no absolute that we're going to the playoffs even if we win the next two games. But, if we don't, we (darn) sure ain't going. " If the Chiefs (8-6) win one more game, the Chargers cannot win the AFC West. And the only way Los Angeles can get a wild card spot is if the Ravens (8-6) or Titans (8-6) get the No. 5 seed, the other loses both their remaining games to finish 8-8, and the Chargers finish tied with the Bills for the No. 6 seed at 9-7, because they beat Buffalo head-to-head in Week 11. Got all that? "All we can control is these next two weeks," said Lynn, a former Jets assistant under Rex Ryan. If the Chargers, who play the Raiders (6-8) at home in Week 17, do too much scoreboard watching, the Jets can surprise them. New York has been woeful on the road, but surprisingly competent at home. The Jets are 4-3 at MetLife Stadium, including a 38-31 win over the Chiefs three weeks ago. Their three home losses have all been by eight points or less, and they came against the Patriots (11-3), Falcons (9-5) and Panthers (10-4). But that was all with Josh McCown at quarterback. He went down for the season with a broken left hand two weeks ago in Denver. Bryce Petty played decently in a 31-19 loss in New Orleans, but the Jets' offense was limited without McCown, who was having a career year. The 26-year-old Petty called his mistakes "easy fixes" on Monday, but he has only four touchdown passes and nine interceptions in eight career games. What are not easy fixes for the Chargers are their lengthy injury report and their kicking game. Tight end Hunter Henry, the team's third-leading receiver with 579 yards and four touchdowns, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday because of a lacerated kidney suffered against the Chiefs. Running back Austin Ekeler broke his hand after fumbling on the same play Henry was injured and is iffy for Sunday. He was limited at practice Wednesday and wore a club around the hand. Two defensive starters will also be out for the Chargers. Middle linebacker Denzel Perryman may be out for the season with a hamstring tendon strain, and defensive tackle Corey Liuget, who helps clog the middle of the line so edge rushers Joey Bosa (11. 5 sacks) and Melvin Ingram (10) can be isolated on an offensive tackle, has a sprained knee. "Sometimes when the next man steps up at this point in the season, it's not necessarily an upgrade, but they're fresh," Lynn said, trying to put a positive spin on the injuries. What he can't spin is how bad the kicking game has been for his team, which has made a league-low 70. 4 percent of its field goals this season between three kickers, Younghoe Koo, Nick Novak and Travis Coons. Coons is out after missing an extra point against the Chiefs, and in comes Nick Rose, whom the Redskins released last week. The rookie out of Texas missed an extra point against the Chargers just two weeks ago, but apparently the liked something they saw with him. Rose was 10-for-11 on field goals with a long of 55 and 18-of-20 on extra-points for Washington. "We're looking for a kicker we can keep around here for a few years," Lynn said. "Right now, we're just kind of looking and evaluating guys. " It's a somewhat odd time to be evaluating talent, what with their backs against the wall. The Chargers' margin for error is gone, and they are perilously close to missing the playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons.
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