Sunqueen212

The media has dubbed SD a powerhouse, which is deserving since they had a 14-2 record last year. But, I see a significant decline in their number of wins this year. 11-5 is my prediction. Anyway, two "powerhouses", one with a chip on its shoulder the other feeling disrespected. I like the Pats chance in this matchup.

I am not certain this is going to be one of the best games of the season. It will be a hard-hitting grinder for sure, but SD will have too many turnovers. Their quarterback is a good one, and will undoubtedly get better in a couple of years, but Rivers is inexperienced and will be confused by a BB defense that is well-rested and focused, unlike last time.

SD is not as good as advertised evidenced by their sloppy win against Bears. IMO they will have at least 5 losses this year, but will play well vs. the Pats by feeding off of pent-up frustration from last year. In the end, the Patriots will pull off a win. It will be a high-scoring nailbiter. Their 27-24 loss to our beloved Pats will only be the beginning of their decline into mortality for the year.

patsox23

The Patriots are going to win this game by more than a TD. Book it. This one they play their asses off, a fire under them, FOR Belichick. It's a shame Rodney cheated too - I'd love to see him in this game. It's gotta kill him not to be there. Idiot.

95stang

I have been excited about this game too. I do think all thats going on is a distraction, and I hope it goes away soon.

As a side note, I would be interested in what other teams do in the area of trying to figure out play calls compared to what we have done. I feel if we did something wrong and get punished (thats fair) then so should others if they are guilty too.

DisgruntledTunaFan

Seriously-I'd like to see how many coaching blunders Norv makes.

When he was the Skins coach-it was the norm every year for the Eagles/Cowboys/Giants to outcoach his tail in Dec.

PatriotsReign

OK, not bad my queen! I'm "fairly" impressed.

I'd like to add that the Chargers weakest link is their secondary so we need to really establish the run early to get them to creep up. Although their linebackers are excellent, I think our O line is good enough to break some big gainers outside. that way, we can really spread the field to open up the passing lanes.

The BIG issue is that if we pass too much, we'll put the ball in LT's hands way too often. I'd love to see us try to run most of the game and control the clock. With a guy like LT, you don't even need a passing game.

CanadianBoltFan

So you have determined after ONE game, the first game of the season when SD played a very tough defense, a better defense than the Patriots, that they are not as good as advertised.

What an expert you must be to evaluate a teams season on opening day.

Pretty hard to look "sloppy" the way the Jets played.

The Patriots will get all they can handle on Sunday. Expect a far more physical game than the Jets and a defense that will get after Brady. Your offensive line will be far more challenged this week.

Fencer

The Pats have started the decline of many a team by exposing the secret master way to clobbering them.

But if they were going to do that to the Chargers, it would have happened last January.

I think the Pats will exploit talents like AD, Moss, and Brady -- only one of whom was on the team last January -- to give the Chargers a pretty sound drubbing. But that's not something that's going to create a blueprint for teams without players of that kind to follow.

And remember something, Bolts fans -- those are almost pure additions. The Pats didn't have Harrison or a healthy Seymour in January either, and even apart from those two were possibly just as battered by the long season as the Chargers were.

DisgruntledTunaFan

Personally-I thought Chicago controlled the tempo of that game. Rex actually looked pretty decent. And do they MISS Thomas Jones-otherwise, those 2 fumbles wouldn't have happened.

You're right-I wouldn't judge any team after one game, but being a Dallas fan myself-I've watched alot of Skins games for years. As the season wears on, Norv will snatch defeat from the hands of victory. Personally, I hope he does well(he was an integral part of our SBs)-but I was relieved Jerry didn't hire him at the end.

OTOH-Norv is calling his own plays(unlike in Wash and Oakland-who had horrible playcallers)-so things may be different.

TripleOption

Sweet. That means that Moss, Stallworth and Welker are locked up with DB's in Man coverage. Who do you think wins that war?

The 3-4 can bring 4-5 defenders without compromising pass coverage. They will bring at least 5, as Merriman will be a rush end.

If they want to bring 6 or 7, they will either void zones or get into Man. If they think they can do what they did to the Bears and bring pressure with the Nickel CB, they are insane. If Brady sees it and hits Welker or Moss, it's 6 points.

__________________
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

--Robert J. Hanlon

FloridaPatsFan

I like our chances this sunday, but everything I have read coming out of the Chargers this week is that they are still pissed about last years playoff game. I don't think this is going to be an easy game for us at all.

If there is one thing I have learned watching the NFL since the 70's, its this: You are not as good or as bad as you are on opening day.

In other words, we should throw out last weeks game as an indicator of how good we are, as should the Jets (being blown out).