I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, or even if people are aware of it. I don't get much of the pre-game or post-game talk that most of you guys will get, but I noticed some people referencing some insults that were thrown the Jets way during pre-game warm ups by the Chargers sideline.
Now I'm no expert on the area of psychology, but does anyone else think of the now famous Bill Callahan Raiders quote when they read this, to try and insult and embarrass the number one defense in the league, moments before you are about to play them.....you have to be the dumbest team in America.
"We were real agitated, because when we came out a lot of those guys on the San Diego sideline were saying we didn't deserve to be here," said Jets trash-talking linebacker Bart Scott, who immediately seized upon the disrespect being shown to the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense and top-ranked rushing attack. "That kind of gave us extra motivation as well.
"The fact that we didn't believe they respected us as a football team ... sometimes you can look at records and pre-judge an opponent, but you have to take every opponent seriously in the playoffs. Every team is dangerous. You never know what is going to happen.
"It was chatter, man, a lot of chatter before the game. But we never said anything disrespectful about them during the week. So I don't know if that was a way of motivating themselves or what, but it kind of put us on edge."
I'm sure this happens often in the NFL, but when you look at the way the Chargers played with mental lapses, specifically the Phillips head butt and the Jackson tantrum kick, and you have to think if the players are really all there. It just doesn't make sense to me that you would give a fierce unit who you know is coming in with a physical style, any more motivation to want to hit you in the mouth.
I'm not saying that we don't talk a little trash, because we do, but I can't imagine this team doing so just before a game like this, you need to get your heads in the right place, and that's not thinking of some 'your momma' jokes.
The Jets managed to ruffle the feathers of the Chargers with their frustrating play which resulted in bonus yardage. The Chargers tried to do the same to the Jets pre-game, and all it did was give them them the extra motivation to come away with the only thing that mattered.
Perhaps they should of been a little more focused, a little more dialled in, and less mouthy, perhaps then they manage to keep their heads in hot situations.
Only one set of players are looking foolish this morning, and that's the pre-game smack talkers.