AFC Championship Prediction: Chargers Over Patriots
No players are listed as definitely out for Sunday's game on either team, but Patriots Tom Brady, Stephen Neal, and Donte Stallworth were listed as limited participation in practice on the injured list. Mel Mitchell and Ryan O'Callaghan didn't practice.
San Diego mouthpiece quarterback Philip Rivers may have to sit on the bench during Sunday's big game, right next to "Superman," LaDainian Tomlinson, due to injuries suffered in last Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. Antonio Gates, Jamal Williams, and Shawn Merriman are also on the injured list this week and doubtful for the AFC Championship Game.
So with a trio of starters iffy for the Championship, can the Bolts beat the Pats?
With an impressive pass-rushing defense, the Chargers are going to make Tom Brady work for his supper. The Chargers have more sacks and less fumbles than the Patriots. Add an equally tough rushing offense - nearly twice as many yards as New England in the last five games played (Patriots 118 for 383 yards, Chargers 155 for 706 yards) - and the Bolts may upset the Pats and hand them their second in a row AFC Championship defeat.
If, that is, they can avoid penalties and interceptions (they threw 8 compared to the Patriots 3 in the last five games) and find a way around the instinctive weak-side linebacker Tedy Bruschi and the passing game of the Pats. Compared to the Chargers 1031 passing yards in the last five games, the Patriots 1515 passing yards make it no big surprise that they are favored to win.
But they were picked to win last year against the Colts. The Chargers and coach Norv Turner are on a nine-game winning streak. They may just surprise Bill Belichick and the Pats and make it ten.
Source: Head to Head, http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/headtohead?game_id=29524&displayPage=tab_head_to_head&season=2007&week=POST20
Published by Thia Evans
I was born and raised in Iowa and went to high school in Salt Lake City. I graduated with an Associate's Degree while raising three great kids. Two boys and a girl, nearly teenagers. I live with the man o... View profile
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4 Comments
Post a Commentaww, you were wrong :(
Yes... It does get frustraing that every article I read is against Chargers... Except for this one!... All the so called experts picked the Colts and everyone is all of a sudden a Pats fan now a days!.... The Bandwagon is bound to Sink sooner or later!... IF the Chargers play there game and can put together a good pass rush... They can win... Unlike what the whole nation thinks...
This CAN and will be the Chargers GREATEST moment in sports.. Even better than beating the Stealers in 94! We as Charger fans do not garruntee a win.. That would just be silly... But ALL the Pats fans and every other Joe out there is garrunteeing a win for the Pats!.. We shall see on Sunday!
I think the Chargers will pull it off, but by a slight margin. I'm hoping for a little pay back after last years debacle when the PAT's knocked the Chargers out of the playoffs. GO CHARGERS!!!!
And the Chargers are on a 9 game winning streak...what's your point? I said the Pats were picked to win but they're not going to walk away with the game. The Chargers aren't the same team the Pats beat in the Week 2 game. They're stronger and more focused with Norv as the coach. It's not going to be a game like it was then. The Pats are going to have to earn it. And maybe it will be a repeat of the game with the Colts last year - they were picked to win that too, if you remember, Thanks for reading it.