AP News
(2010-01-18 00:20:47)
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - The New York Jets pulled off a surprise 17-14 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday to earn an AFC Championship showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Jets trailed going into the fourth quarter but snatched the lead when rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez threw a short pass on the run to Dustin Keller.
Then another rookie, running back Shonn Greene, broke explosively on a 53-yard touchdown run to widen the advantage.
In response San Diego's Nate Kaeding missed his third field goal of the day -- a nightmare for a kicker who had converted his previous 20 kicks going into the game.
Although quarterback Philip Rivers ran through the middle from a yard out to bring the Chargers within three points, it was too late for a team which had gone 13-3 in the regular season.
The result means the Jets, who scrambled into the post-season with a 9-7 record, are now just one more upset win away from a place in the Super Bowl.
First year coach Rex Ryan said he did not consider the win, which takes the Jets to their AFC Championship berth since 1998, to be a shock.
"Not really -- we have believed the whole time, the whole year," said Ryan.
"It (the win) probably wasn't the popular choice but its been old fashioned 'ground-and-pound' football and here we are."
The first half was a grueling and unattractive battle with San Diego getting in front in the second quarter thanks to Rivers' 13-yard pass finding full-back Kris Wilson inside the end-zone.
A 46-yard field goal from Jay Feely put three points on the board for the Jets in the third before the two quarterbacks exchanged interceptions.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Jets though with Sanchez coming through to deliver the key plays.
"In games like this you have to weather the storm," said the quarterback who was drafted from the University of Southern California.
The Jets now face a Colts team who effectively eased New York's path into the playoffs by resting key players and losing to them in the penultimate round of the regular season.
(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Alastair Himmer)
