Allen, Chargers storm past listless Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD >> The “script” stayed the same, but the “actors” seemed to have changed.
When the National Football League — which has leaned hard into a light-hearted marketing campaign that the league is scripted this year — scheduled the Los Angeles Chargers and Jets for Monday Night Football in Week 9, it was hardly out of the realm of possibility to expect a likely future Hall of Famer to have a milestone moment in a blowout win in an electric atmosphere.
What they would not have expected, however, was for it to be Chargers receiver Keenan Allen doing the honors in front of a crowd that had so much powder blue in it, the L.A. team’s social media accounts dubbed the stadium “BoltLife.”
Such is life now for the Jets, who were obliterated by a 27-6 final score at the hands of the Chargers in a game that they were never in, much to the delight of many in attendance who eschewed the color green for the evening.
“When I came out for warmups I felt the powder blues and then I saw them,” said Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. “And then at the end of the game, I just can’t thank the fans enough. Don’t know where they came from, whether it’s here, or from California or wherever, but I know how much it meant to our team. And there’s nothing like going and winning a really tough road game against a really good team in one of the biggest cities in the world and knowing that your fans are all over the place and I think to get this job done, I think it was really special for our players and that’s what the NFL is about.”
There was indeed a special moment that unfolded throughout the course of the night as well, but not one provided by Aaron Rodgers — the only passes he threw all night were well before gametime, as he continues to make seemingly unprecedented strides in his rehab from his Achilles injury — but by Allen, who turned in a circus catch to cross the 10,000 career receiving yards threshold, becoming only the 54th player in league history to do so.
“I remember watching him before I even got here and I knew how special he was,” said Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. “So, the way he’s led our team, the way he’s been a part of that offense, that team, he’s one of the best to ever do it. I’m privileged and honored to be able to throw him the ball.”
With two straight wins, it’s the Chargers and not the Jets who are climbing up the AFC playoff picture, now one game out of a wild card spot at 4-4 with momentum on their side. Turns out, they also have a receiver likely destined for Canton in their corner as well, as Allen is only the sixth active player with 10,000 or more receiving yards — alongside Travis Kelce, DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones, Davante Adams and Mike Evans — and is just 31 years old.
“I just told the group, I just think from afar before I even got here, I was just such a big fan of his game,” Staley said. “I think every coach is, but then every year I’ve been here, I’ve had a greater appreciation for how special he is. He’s got a really unique skillset and I think he’s so dedicated to his craft and I think the real offensive coaches, defensive coaches know that his ability to separate and set people up and how he understands leverage and how he understands coverages, and his hands.
“He’s a lot bigger than people think, he’s six-foot-three and he can just do everything. He can play everywhere, he’s a clutch player, he’s a competitor, you know he’s a dog and I’m just so happy for him. To be a part of history, I think all of know why he made history, cause everyone that’s been with him sees what he does on a day-to-day basis and he’s the ultimate standard to me of consistency. You don’t get to 10,000 yards without being that ultimate example of consistency, so really happy for him.”