BelichickFan

That is how I'd start out. Not only is Tomlinson a great runner but he's a great receiver with at least 50 catches in each of his NFL season. He's not the same as Marshall Faulk, of course, but he's the same in the sense that the offense revolves around him and not just running the ball. As you'll remember, the first goal of SB 36 was to hit Faulk every time they could to disrupt him in whatever he was trying to do. I would think this would be a decent starting point. Of course, from there the offenses are vastly different.

It's horrible looking at Tomlinson's stats looking for a weakness as he's so good in all ways. But I did find one

Looking at his rushes per game, each set of 5 from 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 he's averaging 4.2, 7.7, 4.3, 6.1 respectively. No weakness there. But from 21-25 he's averaging 2.3. From 26-30th carry per game he's averaging 3.3. And he only has 35 carries from 21-25 (2 a game) and about 1 a game from more. So he's a 20 carry a game back and is slowed after that. I know I'm stretching because Turner's carries are pretty darn impressive too . . . but it's something.

BelichickFan

In theory but Turner's numbers are sick too.

I should have left out what I admitted was a stretch on Tomlinson (I won't call him by his initials, some other guy is LT). But the concept of the Marshall Faulk gameplan on Tomlinson is probably a decent way to start against the main cog of their offense.

MrTibbs

Take a closer look and you will see that the Chargers can't stop the run. Yes the Chargers get sacks but they stuff noone on the ground and don't pick it off as much as the Patriots. The CHargers have won 10 in a row and they are oozing confidence almost to the point of being arrogant. Merriman sent Jason Taylor a lights out hat and T-shirt along with popcorn so he can watch them in the playoffs. Obviously it was a shot at Jason Taylor but I would love for the Patriots to **** kick them and have Jason enjoy the popcorn while his AFCE counterpart Patriots dismantle the Chargers playoff run. The Chargers are primed to lose.

khayos

SD doesn't have the WR talent that the Rams did. The Chargers are about to have a rude awakening.

BelichickFan

Football Outsiders ranks their run defense 22nd so there is an opening there. Their defense is good and exciting but it's beatable, that's certainly an opening - I was thinking more about stopping Tomlinson, though.

Deus Irae

The good thing about this game is that there's no Marvin Harrison on the outside for San Diego. This should allow New England to match Hobbs and Samuel one-on-one on the outside a lot in this game, and focus the two safeties on run support and defending the tight end.

As usual with this team, the question of victory vs. defeat is probably going to come down to how well the front 3 (sometimes 4) can control that line of scrimmage, because I think Rivers will gift wrap some passes for the Patriots if he gets pressured. He's looked very shaky to me of late.

C'Bad Bolt

I always find it amusing when people get upset that LaDanian Tomlinson is referred to as "LT" because Lawrence Taylor was called that first. It is not LT's fault he has the same initials as Taylor, or that he is the best player in football.

Besides, isn't is better to bestow the "LT" nickname on a high character, humble guy such as LaDanian? Lets face it, the original "LT" was nothing more than a modern day Cincinnati Bengal.

BelichickFan

Dude, I don't care what you think. I'm just saying I won't call him that. Is that OK with you ?

Deus Irae

For better or worse, there's only one "O.J.", too.

Patriotic Fervor

I have noticed that the San Diego fans here, much like the team they purport to represent, are not used to the rarified air of NFL playoff activity.

My suggestion is, we humor them in the usual classy adult way we do here at PatsFans. We'll only have to tolerate them a week before we move on to the next opponent!

I say, let's be gracious. We can unload on them next Sunday night.

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....and that's the way I see it!