Lead writer Nick St. Denis and AFC East Daily contributors Dan Begnoche and Sean Donovan pick the New York Jets' home bout with the San Diego Chargers.
Nick's take:
Quarterback Greg McElroy, who will be making his first career start, will be the beneficiary of something Mark Sanchez has lacked all season: fan support. A strong running game, a conservative passing attack and a stout defensive showing against the turnover-prone Phillip Rivers gives the Chargers the higher draft pick come April.
Prediction: Jets 17, Chargers 14 (Nick's record: 34-12)
Sean's take:
San Diego's defense is inconsistent, but it certainly has the ability to force a young, inexperienced passer in McElroy into numerous mistakes. A beatdown at the hands of the Chargers punctuates what has been a mess of a season for New York.
Prediction: Chargers 28, Jets 17 (Sean's record: 36-10)
Dan's take:
The Chargers' defense is allowing a quarterback rating of nearly 90 to opposing signal callers and a third down percentage of almost 43 percent. San Diego has lost five of its last six and should have its hand full with New York's 10th-ranked rushing attack.
Prediction: Jets 20, Chargers 13 (Dan's record: 27-19)
Quarterback Greg McElroy, who will be making his first career start, will be the beneficiary of something Mark Sanchez has lacked all season: fan support. A strong running game, a conservative passing attack and a stout defensive showing against the turnover-prone Phillip Rivers gives the Chargers the higher draft pick come April.
