MANHATTAN — Bring on the Chargers.
The Jets are off to San Diego this week to face the high-powered offense of the Bolts after the Baltimore Ravens upset the hated New England Patriots on Sunday.
Gang Green's improbable playoff run got extended to the second round after they beat the Cincinnati Bengals for the second week in a row on Saturday, 24-14. But who says they should stop there?
Coach Rex Ryan sent out a playoff calendar outlining the teams schedule from their Wild Card game through to the Feb, 9 Super Bowl parade, which would be in Manhattan's Canyon of Heroes.
"I wanted to paint a picture, to make sure they were aware of what's in front of us, that we've been preparing for this," Ryan said to the New York Post.
"Our preparation all season was to get to where we are right now. Let's take advantage of it."
After a dismal loss to the Atlanta Falcons late in the season, Ryan all but dismissed hopes of the Jets making the playoffs. After wins over the Indianapolis Colts and the Bengals to end the season, the team clinched a postseason berth and Ryan said his team would be a tough out for any foe they faced.
The Jets will have their work cut out for them against the 13-3 Chargers, whose quarterback, Philip Rivers, threw for 4,254 yards, 28 touchdowns and only nine interceptions this season.
Ryan was unfazed.
"If you're not man enough or have enough faith in your team to put it on the schedule, you wouldn't," Ryan told the Daily News. "But we do. We feel we have an outstanding chance. We feel we have an excellent football team. We're not ashamed of the fact that I believe it can happen."
If the Jets beat the Chargers and the Ravens beat the Colts this week, the Jets could host the AFC Championship game next week at the Meadowlands. If the Jets make the Super Bowl, it would be their first appearance there since 1969.
