CHARGERS (3-4) at JETS (4-3)
When: Monday, 5:15 p.m.
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
TV/Radio: Ch. 7, ESPN; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Chargers by 3½ points
Notable injury designations: Chargers: OUT: WR Joshua Palmer (knee). QUESTIONABLE: DL Morgan Fox (oblique), WR Jalen Guyton (knee), DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (illness), LB Eric Kendricks (ribs), LB Kenneth Murray Jr. (shoulder), DL Otito Ogbonnia (knee).
Jets: OUT: OL Duane Brown (hip), LB Chazz Surratt (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: DB Adrian Amos (ankle), WR Allen Lazard (knee).
What’s at stake: A victory over the Jets would move the Chargers back to .500 and give them some much-needed confidence and momentum heading into the heart of their schedule. As of today, the Chargers play five teams with winning records and five with losing records in their final 10 games. The Chargers need to win seven of their final 10 in order to match last season’s 10-7 record. Anything less would put their AFC playoff chances in serious jeopardy.
Who’s better: The Chargers face a second consecutive opponent playing a backup quarterback. Zach Wilson took over when Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury on New York’s first possession of the season and his first drive after signing with the Jets after a Hall of Fame-caliber career with the Green Bay Packers. The Jets don’t score many points, averaging 18 points per game, but they don’t give up many, either, giving up 18.4. The Chargers have averaged 24.9 points scored and 24 points given up.
Matchup to watch: Even more than other games for the Chargers, this could be a contest determined by the battle in the trenches. The Chargers’ ground game hasn’t exactly ground to a halt, but it hasn’t been as effective as when they rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns in 40 attempts in their season-opening loss Sept. 10 against the Miami Dolphins. They had 54 yards and zero touchdowns in 25 attempts in last Sunday night’s victory over the Chicago Bears.
Chargers win if: Failing to combine an effective run with an effective passing game didn’t hurt the Chargers during their 30-13 victory over the Bears, but it would be a big help against the Jets if they were able to at least grind out a few more yards on the ground. Running back Austin Ekeler appeared to be back to his familiar productive self last week against the Bears after sitting out three games and looking like less of a threat in two others. He is a key to much of what the Chargers attempt to do on the ground and through the air. He caught seven passes for 94 yards and one touchdown against Chicago, but rushed for only 29 yards on 15 carries.
Fantasy sleeper: Ekeler for all the reasons stated above.
Prediction: The oddsmakers were right last week to make the Chargers eight-point favorites over the Bears. They favor the Chargers by 3 ½ points over the Jets this week, which seems about right, too, if Justin Herbert and the offense can overcome New York’s stingy defense. Chargers 21, Jets 17.
