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 The Jets have two quarterbacks that are part of ongoing debate:
which one is worse?
San Diego's Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes and the
Chargers crushed the New York Jets 31-0 on Sunday.
Rivers completed 20 of 28 passes for 288 yards as he threw two
touchdown passes to tight end Antonio Gates and another to running
back Branden Oliver, who also scored on a 15-yard run.
"You don't get up 31-0 too often in this league," said Rivers, who
gave way to Kellen Clemens for the last series.
New York quarterback Geno Smith was benched after one half and
replaced by Michael Vick. The Jets did not cross midfield until late
in the fourth quarter, when they were aided by a Chargers penalty.
The Jets converted 1 of 12 third and fourth downs, were outgained
439-151 and committed 12 penalties for 94 yards.
Smith's struggles were obvious in the first half after he completed
four of 12 passes for 27 yards and an interception. He left with a
passer rating of 7.6, but coach Rex Ryan said after the game Smith
would start next week.
"The only thing to change this is to win," Smith said. "We have to
do some soul-searching."
Vick replaced Smith, the Jets' second-round pick last year, for the
second half. Vick completed nine of 20 passes for 47 yards and did
little to spark the team. Overall, the Jets averaged 1.8 yards per
completion.
"I'm just going to stay ready regardless what happens the rest of
the season," Vick said.
Rivers had his career-best fourth straight game with passer rating
over 120.
In the final minute of the second quarter the Chargers surged ahead
21-0. Oliver, who at times looked like a clone of former San Diego
running back Darren Sproles, went up the middle for his first NFL
touchdown. It was the Chargers' second running score since the
opener, breaking a spell of 14 straight quarters without one.
The Chargers extended their lead to 14-0 thanks to a second-quarter
Jets turnover.
One play after cornerback Phillips Adams intercepted Rivers in the
end zone -- Rivers' first pick since the opener -- the Jets
committed a turnover on running back Chris Johnson's fumble, which
was recovered by safety Jahleel Addae at the New York 20.
"We were getting our tail whipped but we were hanging in there,"
Ryan said. "Then we give it right back."
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Rivers hit Gates for their second scoring connection, this one from
12 yards. It was their NFL-best 65th as a quarterback-tight end
tandem.
"Two times Gates was singled-up down there and we threw touchdowns,"
Rivers said. "That is what we expect to do when we get that
matchup."
Midway through the first quarter, Rivers clicked with Gates on a
4-yard touchdown pass. The two key plays in the 90-yard drive were
two Malcom Floyd completions for 66 yards.
Floyd later left the game with a calf injury and didn't return.
The Jets' offense never did appear.
"It's so hard to get a shutout, especially with all the rule changes
and all that stuff," linebacker Dwight Freeney said. "Hats off to
everybody."
Ryan said the Jets had their hat handed to them.
"It was a complete (domination) and it was me getting my (butt)
kicked," Ryan said. "I thought I had my team prepared and clearly
that wasn't the case."
NOTES: The Jets had 12 penalties for 94 yards and their longest play
from scrimmage was a 13-yard run by QB Michael Vick. ... Chargers CB
Jason Verrett, the team's top pick, started in place of Shareece
Wright (knee). It was Verrett's first NFL start. ... CB Brandon
Flowers' second-quarter interception was his team-high second and
18th of his career. ... LB Manti Te'o missed his second straight
game and remains out indefinitely with a foot injury. ... Jets WR
Greg Salas started for Eric Decker (hamstring). ... The Jets had won
two consecutive games in San Diego, including the 2010 AFC Division
Game.
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