Despite being billed as an offensive shootout between Brett Favre and Kurt Warner this game will probably be decided on defense.  Both of these teams are allowing under 300 yards per game this season so turnovers could decide this game.  The Jets would like to run a balanced offense against the Cardinals and for that to happen Thomas Jones will need to have a good game.  If Jones gets going running the football then Brett Favre should have the needed time to throw the football down the field to WRs Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Chansi Stuckey.

The Cardinals have been running the ball more than throwing it the first three weeks but look for that to change against the Jets who are allowing 211.3 yards passing per game while only allowing 86.7 yards rushing on 3.1 ypc this year.  The Jets have 8 sacks this season and the Cardinals have allowed 7 sacks so look for the Jets to be bringing the heat against Kurt Warner.  Still, Jets’ CBs could be in deep trouble trying to match up with WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin of the Cardinals.

PREDICTION:  ARIZONA CARDINALS 23, NEW YORK JETS 21

The Jets are only averaging 85.7 yards rushing per game and that’s putting a lot of pressure on QB Brett Favre.  Favre has completed 63 of 90 passes (70%) for 646 yards with 6 TD passes and 3 interceptions (98.7 QB Rating).  The Jets need to balance the offense a little better so that teams can’t come after Favre with the blitz quite as often as he has already been sacked 8 times this season.  Look for Favre to even get better too as he learns his WRs better in the near future.

The Jets made some huge mistakes in this game and the Chargers made them pay for every one.  Brett Favre completed 30 of 42 passes for 271 yards with 3 TD passes and 2 interceptions (one of which was returned 52 yards for a TD by CB Antonio Cromartie).  Kellen Clemens played a little bit too as he completed 3 of 5 passes for 26 yards with a interception.  Thomas Jones didn’t get much action as the Jets were playing from behind most of the game as he carried the ball 10 times for 37 yards (3.7 ypc).  Jerricho Cotchery led the Jets in this game with 10 catches for 76 yards (7.6 avg).  Laveranues Coles also had a very solid game with 6 catches for 75 yards (12.5 avg) with a TD grab.  Chansi Stuckey (6 rec, 42 yards) and TE Dustin Keller (4 rec, 41 yards) each caught one TD apiece.  The Jets finished up with 41 yards rushing on 13 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 33 of 47 passes for 267 yards.

Linebacker David Harris (10 tackles) and CB David Barrett (4 tackles and a interception that he returned 25 yards for a TD) led the way for the Jets in this game.  The Chargers finished up with 107 yards on 35 carries (3.1 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 25 passes for 250 yards.  The Jets fell to 1-2 on the season with this loss.

This will be a much better game than most people expect as the Chargers in their current condition are not 9 points better than the Jets which is the current line on this game.  The Chargers are allowing 437.0 yards per game and 32.5 points so they should wake up the Jets’ offense.  The Jets will likely give the Chargers a big dose of Thomas Jones (171 yards rushing) as the Chargers are allowing 143.5 yards rushing per game and 5.4 ypc.  But, Brett Favre has to be licking his chops watching game tape of the Chargers pass defense which is allowing 293.5 yards passing per contest.  This could be the game that Favre finds his rhythm with WRs Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Chansi Stuckey.

The Chargers might want to throw the football a little more than usual tomorrow night as the Jets have a solid run defense which is only allowing 76.5 yards rushing per game and 3.1 ypc.  With LaDainian Tomlinson banged up, Darren Sproles will likely get as many carries against the Jets.  Vincent Jackson (9 rec, 120 yards), Chris Chambers (5 rec, 127 yards) and Antonio Gates (8 rec, 122 yards) are all off to good starts for the Chargers this season and if Philip Rivers (122.5 QB Rating) gets the time to throw the ball the Jets could be in trouble.  But, the Jets already have seven sacks this season so they will be coming after Rivers, big time.

PREDICTION:  SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 34,  NEW YORK JETS 30

The Jets just didn’t make the big play when they needed it yesterday and it cost them the game.  Brett Favre completed 18 of 26 passes for 181 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  Thomas Jones led the Jets in rushing with 70 yards on 17 carries (4.1 ypc).  Leon Washington pitched in with 28 yards rushing on only 2 carries (14.0 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 22 yards (5.5 avg).  Laveranues Coles caught 3 passes for 72 yards (24.0 avg) to lead the way in the passing game for the Jets.  Chansi Stuckey pitched in with 4 receptions for 43 yards (10.8 avg) with a TD grab (2-yarder).  The Jets carried the football 21 times for 104 yards (5.0 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 26 passes for 152 yards.

The Jets’ Defense played good enough to win in this game.  Safety Eric Smith led the way for the Jets with 10 tackles.  Linebackers Eric Barton (8 tackles), David Harris (8 tackles) and Bryan Thomas (8 tackles, sack) all pitched in with good efforts yesterday.  The Patriots finished up with 104 yards rushing on 33 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 23 passes for 156 yards.  The Jets fell to 1-1 on the season due to this loss.