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JETS 27, CHARGERS 21

Jets Revive Their Offense and Their Attitude

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Plaxico Burress caught three touchdowns for the Jets. More Photos »

By BEN SHPIGELPublished: October 23, 2011

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In a far corner of the Jets’ locker roomSunday, where tumult and turmoil once reigned, linebacker CalvinPace peddled optimism. He spoke of keeping faith, of confidence, of“keeping that train moving to Indianapolis” — the site of Super BowlXLVI. In two weeks, the Jets have been transformed.

No longer are they desperate anddespondent, their season hanging byan icicle. Now, their bandwagon isaccepting passengers. Now, the Jetsare buoyed by a why-not-us sense ofconviction.

All because they rolled over the San Diego Chargers atMetLife Stadium, riding three touchdown passes fromMark Sanchez to Plaxico Burress, a rejuvenated rushingattack and a dominant defensive second half to a 27-21victory that supplied their fans with two weeks’ worth offond memories heading into the bye week.

“It felt like good old Jets football again,” guard BrandonMoore said.

It has not seemed that way for a while. Not during theirvictory last Monday against the Dolphins, yet another teamwith a losing record conquered by the Jets, and certainlynot during the three-game losing streak — all on the road,

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LaDainian Tomlinson, playing againsthis former team, took the ball deepinto Chargers territory on a second-quarter pass play that led to a Jetstouchdown. More Photos »

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Ben Solomon for The New York Times

Mark Sanchez completed 18 of 33passes for 173 yards, throwing threescoring passes to Plaxico Burress andan interception. More Photos »

all against playoff-caliber teams.

Now the Jets have won two consecutive games, runningtheir record to 4-3 — a half-game behind the Buffalo Bills,whom they visit Nov. 6.

Cast as underdogs Sunday against the A.F.C. West-leadingChargers, the Jets overcame an 11-point halftime deficit,largely on the strength of Shonn Greene’s punishingrunning style and a defensive effort that left no room forcomparison.

“Most definitely,” Pace said, when asked if it was the besthalf of the season. “If you count the Dolphins. ...” His voicetrailed off.

“No disrespect.” And perhaps none was intended, butPhilip Rivers, San Diego’s quarterback, is superior to MattMoore, and the Chargers’ offense is powerful andrelentless.

At halftime, with the Chargers leading, 21-10, Rex Ryan hada two-word message for his defense: calm down. Pace, inturn, had one thought.

“They were getting the ball in the second half; it could havegotten ugly,” he said, adding, “We’re either going to getblown out or we’re going to come back and win.”

After halftime, the Chargers were held to 117 yards. Afterhalftime, the Chargers scored no points. After halftime, theChargers, the most efficient team in the N.F.L. atconverting third downs, were successful only once, onseven chances. Rivers threw two interceptions, both in thefourth quarter, both leading to points.

“We felt like we pretty much dominated the game,” saidLaDainian Tomlinson, who, in his first game against hisformer team, sat out the final quarter because of flulikesymptoms.

As uneven as the Jets’ play has been over all, one theme hasemerged in their victories — a pivotal interception byDarrelle Revis. His pick in the season opener led to agame-winning field goal. His 100-yard touchdown returnagainst Miami energized the team and a sleepy crowd. OnSunday, Revis was at his opportunistic best in the earlymoments of the fourth quarter.

It was third-and-5 from the Jets’ 25, and Rivers, looking forVincent Jackson streaking across the middle, instead firedbehind him. The ball caromed off Jackson and into thearms of Revis, who bolted 64 yards to give the Jets the ballat the San Diego 19. The red zone. Burress territory.

All of the brainpower expended last week on rejuvenatingthe Jets’ offense resulted in a revival for Burress, who entered Sunday with 14 catches insix games. He had four receptions Sunday, but three were for touchdowns. Each time, hetorched Antonio Cason, who at 6 feet 1 inch, is four inches shorter. Burress said, “I wassaying, If they want to play me man for man. ... ”

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A version of this article appeared in print on October 24, 2011, on pageD1 of the New York edition with the headline: Jets Turn Game AroundAnd Head in Right Direction.

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Football

New York Jets

San Diego Chargers

Burress, Plaxico

As in, best of luck. The first touchdown, which cut the Jets’ deficit to 14-10, came on aslant. The second, which cut the deficit to 21-17, came on a back-shoulder fade. The thirdcame on that same slant, with Burress hauling in a high throw to put the Jets ahead for thefirst time.

“Obviously, Plax and Sanchez have to work on red-zone efficiency,” Ryan deadpanned.

Their chemistry had been a problem, as both men had acknowledged, but so had mostthings with the Jets over the last few weeks. Foremost was their running game, whichsprang to life Sunday with a season-high 162 yards — 112 by Greene, who averaged 5.6 percarry, powering through the middle of the Chargers’ defense time and again.

“It felt like a victory for the line, because of how much everybody’s been doubting us to thispoint,” guard Matt Slauson said.

The doubts will persist, as perhaps they should. Sanchez, who completed 18 of 33 passesfor 173 yards, threw into double coverage in the second quarter, and the ensuinginterception by Eric Weddle led to a San Diego touchdown. The Jets committed eightpenalties, including a holding call on Nick Mangold that negated what would have been abeautiful touchdown catch by Santonio Holmes.

But their new season began Sunday, and there are nine games left — nine games toseparate themselves from a crowded A.F.C. pack, nine games to convince passengers tohop on that train to Indianapolis.

After Ryan shook hands at midfield with San Diego Coach Norv Turner — who zingedRyan back after his comments last week that he would have won “a couple rings” had theChargers hired him as coach in 2007 — he retreated to an interview room, where hereinforced Pace’s message. It lacked his trademark bluster, but it sounded true and fromthe heart.

“I think you saw our team,” Ryan said, “the one that we kind of envisioned at the start ofthe season.”

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