Chargers have the most explosive weapon on offense in Tomlinson. He is the ultimate 1 man highlight reel. Stopping LT is impossible, however minimizing his affect in the game is. If you can get a lead early & force SD to play catch up then you?ll have a far better chance of coming out with a W. Basically the team who scores 1st in this contest wins IMO. Last year the Pats had a remarkable streak of scoring on their opening drive. Sunday that will be their primary objective. By forcing the Chargers to pass that will limit LT?s success. Granted he is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, but the Pats boast one of the best DLs. They?ll force Brees into enough mistakes to maintain a lead throughout the majority of the game. Conversely if SD is able to get the lead early then it could be a long day for the Pats already wounded D. Even still Brady is more than capable of making another heroic come back. However I?m banking on the hope that won?t be necessary. My prediction: Pats 34 Chargers 27
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'>Chargers have the most explosive weapon on offense in Tomlinson. He is the ultimate 1 man highlight reel. Stopping LT is impossible, however minimizing his affect in the game is. If you can get a lead early & force SD to play catch up then you?ll have a far better chance of coming out with a W. Basically the team who scores 1st in this contest wins IMO. Last year the Pats had a remarkable streak of scoring on their opening drive. Sunday that will be their primary objective. By forcing the Chargers to pass that will limit LT?s success. Granted he is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, but the Pats boast one of the best DLs. They?ll force Brees into enough mistakes to maintain a lead throughout the majority of the game. Conversely if SD is able to get the lead early then it could be a long day for the Pats already wounded D. Even still Brady is more than capable of making another heroic come back. However I?m banking on the hope that won?t be necessary. My prediction: Pats 34 Chargers 27</div> I agree with most of this and the key definitely is to limit LT but we will also have to worry about Gates matching up against either Scott or Wilson since both give up a ton in size. We will need to get pressure early and often and between that and the speed that LT posseses I hope to see a little more of Colvin in this game because if LT gets matched up with willie out of the back field it could be lights out. As for our offense I think Dillon will finally get on track even with a banged up line and as long as Brady has time he should be able to shred there weak secondary...I have a feeling this is the game when Ben Watson finally shows what he is capapble of while the chargers are busy paying to much attention to Branch and Givens while Graham helps out on the line most of the day. I'm not so sure the score will be as high as you think Bakes..but I think we'll be able to pull this one out.. Pats - 24 Charger - 20
im taking the upset. Chargers 31 Pats 27. Gates will have a huge game against the harrison-less secondary. Drew Brees should have a good day through the air if the pats front 7 doesnt get to him
Even without Harrison the Patriots are still a powerful team, not to mention they have home field advantage this week. I have so much respect for the Patriots, after everything they have accomplished the last few years. I can't pick against them, they're the best team right now and until I see some huge decline I'm not going to doubt their abilities. Patriots 28 - Chargers 17
They key for the Patriots is to get Corey Dillon 30 touches and control the clock. They also need to eliminate the "big play" from LT. If they don't give up any 40, 50, or 60 yard runs to LT, I like their chances to win. Patriots 21 - Chargers 20
i think with harrison out, and most of the secondary gone i think if LT gets into the secondary he will rip off a huge run.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>i think with harrison out, and most of the secondary gone i think if LT gets into the secondary he will rip off a huge run.</div> Well it would be the same guys if harrison was there he'd be running by because Harrison would have already been blocked or missed a tackle in the box..so I guess it doesn't matter we wouldn't be able to tackle him anyways
Gates is a very good TE, but unless LT has a big day the Chargers will be on the losing end every time.
i want chargers, but i say pats. both teams knocked off indefeateds last week. should be fun to watch
and people thought me and you steelerfan and some other people were crazy picking against the SB champs
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>sucks to be a patriot fan right about now</div> It does? Oh wait. I am a 'phins fan.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>sucks to be a patriot fan right about now</div> probably not. There still the defending Super Bowl Champs. Sure their dissapointed but I mean thier not elimanated from anything yet.
Yeah I mean they got shut out by the Bills a few years ago 31-0 then pulled back together and won a superbowl no need for them to panic this early.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>sucks to be a patriot fan right about now</div> Not really..I have 3 superbowl DVD's to make me feel better..haha How many do you have?
LT really put it to us. Like I said our best chance was to get on top early & we failed to do that. Give credit to the Chargers D of which I think we all under estimated.
New England isn't quite the team it was last season. It's going to be a rough go against teams with lots of offense. I didn't see the game, but why didn't New England open up their offense? Or was San Diego's defense that good?
