The Chargers (4-1) don’t need a reason to despise the New York Jets (3-3). Twice as underdogs (2004 and 2009 seasons) the Jets have come into San Diego and knocked them out of the playoffs. This Sunday the Chargers travel to New York and the game has all the ingredients to be an emotional, hotly-contested affair.

Jets coach Rex Ryan didn’t help matters when he spoke with the San Diego media on Wednesday. In 2007, Ryan interviewed with general manager A.J. Smith to be the Chargers head coach and coach Norv Turner was hired instead of him. “I think I would have had a couple of rings,” said Ryan referring to Super Bowl wins if he had been given the job. “I am telling you those teams were loaded. There is no question about it.”

Ryan backtracked a bit when he realized what he had said.“You know, obviously Norv Turner has done a great job there and A.J. and everybody. I mean, that’s a great franchise and he’s probably the best guy for the job at that time.”

Ryan even called Turner to apologize. Turner later commented, “I hadn’t seen his quote and I was a little bit surprised by the call. Then after I saw the quote, I didn’t have a chance to ask him this, but I was wondering if he had those rings with the (Super Bowl championships) he’s guaranteed the last couple of years.”

Ryan inherited a Jets team loaded with talent when he finally received his first job as a head coach in 2009. He promptly promised Super Bowl championships. Ryan has led the Jets to the AFC Championship game in both of his first two seasons, but has fallen short of the Super Bowl. Turner took the Chargers to the AFC Championship game and lost in 2007.

Coaches comments aside, there were already enough intriguing story lines for this week’s game. The Chargers will face their former star running back LaDainian Tomlinson for the first time since he left the team at the end of the 2009 season. “He presents some real problems in terms of making sure we match up well with him in the third-down packages, “ Turner said. “From an emotional standpoint, we are getting ready for the Jets.”

Tomlinson has scored a touchdown against every NFL team except the Chargers. Also, he has never scored a touchdown at home for New York. Ryan was surprised by both statistics when heard about them. “Really, that doesn’t seem right,” Ryan said. “We have to do something about that.”

That comment was almost as misguided as Ryan’s statement about the rings because it telegraphed possible play calls in a goal line situation. Even Chargers inside linebacker Takeo Spikes admitted as much. “Will all of our attention be focused on that? No,” Spikes said if Tomlinson enters the game in a scoring situation. “Will some of it? Yeah!”

Despite the bad blood between the two teams Tomlinson does not hold any grudges about how things ended in San Diego. “That organization was good to me,” Tomlinson said. “They drafted me in the first-round (2001, fifth overall pick) and really gave me the ball as much as I could take it. I don’t have any bones with anyone. I am sure there may come a day where I come back and possibly retire as a Charger.”

Tomlinsoneven sang the praises of his replacement, running back Ryan Mathews. “I think Mathews is doing a great job,” Tomlinson said. “He is doing everything they ask you to do. He is running well. He is catching the ball. He is playing tough.” Mathews is on pace for 2,157 combined yards (rushing and receiving) this season which would equate to Tomlinson’s third best season for combined yards in his career.

Tomlinson will not be the only former Charger who will be dressed in gang green. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie was the Chargers first-round pick in 2006 (19th overall). He has three interceptions this season and is close to being on pace for the best year of his career when he had 10 interceptions for San Diego in 2007. “I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Cromartie said of facing the Chargers. “They have weapons across the board.”

Cromartie is assisted on the other side of the field by cornerback Darrelle Revis who is arguably the best corner in the league. Revis also has three interceptions this season; the last one he returned for a 100-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins this past Monday night.

Quarterback Philip Rivers said he will throw to both sides of the field. “You have to be smart,”Rivers said. “If you don’t throw towards Revis, it’s not like you are going to go to the other side against a guy that can’t play.”

Rivers will especially need to have success throwing the ball on third-down. The Chargers come into the game with a 56.5 percent third-down conversion rate, the best in the league. The Jets, however, have the best third-down defense limiting opponents to a 28.8 percent conversion rate.

Third-down conversions will be a key for the Chargers because they must improve their red-zone efficiency. San Diego comes into the game ranked 26th in the red-zone having only converted 40.91 percent of their red-zone appearances into touchdowns. Untimely failed third-down conversions will lead to more field goal attempts instead of touchdowns.

Fortunately, kicker Nick Novak who was with the Jets in training camp this year has hit all eleven field goals attempted since he joined the Chargers in Week 2 replacing kicker Nate Kaeding (ACL).

The Chargers could dramatically improve in the red zone if tight end Antonio Gates does return to action as expected. Although on a limited basis, Gates has practiced this week for the first time since Week 2 when he tore scar tissue in his right foot caused by a torn plantar fascia he suffered last season. “It was good to have him back,” QB Philip Rivers said. “He looked good. Anytime you add a player of his caliber, a guy we all know very well, you add him in the mix it’s certainly a positive.”

With or without Gates, this is a huge game for the Chargers. They finally have their first fast start (4-1) with Turner as head coach. Their four wins, however, were close games against teams who have a combined record of 4-17, leaving many to wonder if Chargers are good enough to keep winning as their schedule becomes tougher. A win on the road over a good Jets team would go a long way to silencing critics. Regardless of the outcome, the game itself will likely further a rivalry that is likely only going to grow in intensity over the coming the years.