Melvin Gordon Los Angeles Chargers
(Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)

The New York Jets get sent to the electric chair by the bolts in Christmas Eve letdown. Heres the highlights.

  • New York Jets  (5-10)
  • Los Angeles Chargers  (8-7)
  • NFL Week 16, Final, Box Score
  • MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The New York Jets, having already been eliminated from the playoffs last week, came into this game with literally nothing to lose (outside of draft position). Constrastly, the Los Angeles Chargers still feel a hearbeat and there’s nothing more dangerous than playing a team with nothing to lose.

The Chargers learned that on the first play of the game:

SURPRISE MOTHER FU#$%^!

Todd Bowles getting a little frisky to start the game and it pays off in a big way. Of course, the Jets weren’t able to capitalize on it, but you’ve got to like the aggression from the head man.

Also quick side note, what can’t star second-round pick Marcus Maye do? This guy continues to make plays for the green and white. Multiple-interception rookie season (two), one of the hardest hitters in the NFL, and apparently special teams savant.

Although that was the lone highlight of a scoreless first quarter for these AFC conference rivals.

On this Christmas Eve spectacular, not a lot of offense or big plays to report. A bit of a slugfest at MetLife Stadium, but the scoreless staredown finally ended on the longest drive of the game for the Chargers.

A beautiful 12 play drive that had a good mix of run and pass that ended with a familiar connection between Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates.

With Hunter Henry out for the season with a lacerated kidney, the Chargers had to go back to their tried and true for the 87th time. No tight end in NFL history has more touchdown receptions than the player who didn’t play a down of college football.

Gates and Tony Gonzalez represented the start of the basketball player transition to the gridiron and that’s really just the gateway drug for where the NFL is heading at that position.

It seemed like the Gates touchdown gave the Jets the jolt they were looking for and their offense came to life on a 41-yard burst from Bilal Powell up the middle. But that proved to be a false alarm as his running mate Matt Forte coughed up his first fumble of the season.

Speaking of false alarms, earlier in this game, Jets star safety Jamal Adams had another flirtation with his first career interception.

All kidding aside, there are a few things that Adams has to perfect, he is a rookie after all, but the Jets certainly got the bang for their buck with the sixth overall choice. He could create some more turnovers, but when you consider what the Jets did with their second-round choice, the 2017 NFL Draft was a raving success.

Bryce Petty FUN FACT!

Petty is (1-5) as a career starter prior to today’s game and has thrown an interception in every game that he’s played in. His first interception on Christmas Eve was thrown in a hail mary attempt to end the first half. Who was the recipient? Keenan Allen.

No that’s not a typo. So that’s some bonus points for all your fantasy teams out there!

Injury update: on that final play in the first half, right tackle Brandon Shell laid out Allen on his interception return, but at a price. He was ruled out for the game with concussion-like symptoms.

It took the Jets a little longer than intended to get on the board, but they knotted the game up after a Nick Rose Chargers shanked field goal attempt to put gang green on the board.

Well done by the Jets social media squad: festive and effective. While not every hero wears a cape, some deserve recognition for their call to honor. That man is backup offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison who was Powell’s official escort to the end zone. Great hustle and effort.

Speaking of hustle and effort, a healthy dose of Melvin Gordon led the Chargers back on top over the Jets. From one yard out, the Chargers go up a touchdown with a few minutes left in the third quarter.

Another fun fact, that was Gordon’s 18th career rushing touchdown, which is good for 9th place all-time in Chargers history.

Which led to the great punt wars between the Jets and Chargers and that wrapped up the first three-quarters of action at MetLife Stadium.

But the fourth quarter started out with a bang, what appeared to be a 90+ yard punt return touchdown was fortunately called back and the Jets maintained a one-score game.

While this isn’t a false alarm, for the second straight week Leonard Williams got hurt during the game, last week was a concussion, this time a back injury that kept him out of the rest of the game.

This game through 50 minutes had varying levels of big plays, but overall it was closer to a snooze fest with a combined 16 punts in this one from both teams.

Although despite the stagnant sporadic play, the Jets made a last-ditch effort to try and tie the game. They drove down the field and got help from some penalties and some unexpected mobility from Bryce Petty to have a chance. But Petty just seemed to not be on the same page with his weapons and it resulted in a turnover on downs.

Fast forward some garbage time delaying tactics and the Chargers remain alive in the AFC playoff picture with the 14-7 victory over the Jets. The Jets will wrap up the 2017 season against the New England Patriots on the road.

People call me Boy Green for my unwavering dedication to all things New York Jets. I work at The Score 1260 in Syracuse and I'm extremely passionate about sports. I aspire to continue my rise through the business and hopefully I'll end up working for the New York Jets in some capacity.