Chargers just aren't the same anymore

[MrNathanDrake]

Vincent Jackson is holding out
Antonio Cromartie is gone
L.T is gone
Kasim Osgood Pro Bowl Special Teamer is gone
Jamal Williams Pro Bowl NT run stuffer is gone
Merriman is done in SD

and Floyd, the Chargers #1 WR is probably not going to play due to a hamstring injury

The Chargers are known for starting slow and going on huge winning streaks but it wont happen this year. They just dont have the talent anymore.

Patriots will be 5-1

 

[DarrylS]

As much as I enjoy your optimism, on any given Sunday.. nothing is a lock.

 

[Kontradiction]

This Chargers team has taken it's fair share of licks this season. However, Qualcomm has always been a tough environment for us. This is still a rivalry game to them, so we're going up against a team that has and always will get up for us. On top of that, the crowd is going to be fired up. This isn't going to be an easy game for us by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Disco Volante]

As long as they have Rivers (a top 5 QB) they wil always have a shot.

 

[stinkypete]

The Chargers aren't the same anymore? Why not? Are they finally playing up to their potential? Did they actually win something in the playoffs?

 

[convertedpatsfan]

The Chargers aren't the same anymore? Why not? Are they finally playing up to their potential? Did they actually win something in the playoffs?

Nice

As for the OP, just a reminder that the 2-4 San Diego Chargers are 1st in offense and 1st in defense. Normally I don't put much stock into the yards measurement for those two stats, but the offense is also 5th in points, while the defense is only giving up only 255 yards per game, and while 19th in points allowed, they're a completely different defense at home.

They are 0-4 on the road, but 2-0 at home. At home, they've won 38-13 and 41-10, an impressive 79-23 combined. And they'll be playing at home against us.

I'm not saying we should wave the white flag or anything. But we should be taking this game seriously.

 

[abdul7]

YES...But who have they played so far ?!! I am not taking this game easily but when you see who they have lost to and their wins against,,thats when you know we have a Great chance to bury their season. We need this win badly because the next few games are soo much tougher. GO PATS. Abdul

 

[PatsDeb]

This Chargers team has taken it's fair share of licks this season. However, Qualcomm has always been a tough environment for us. This is still a rivalry game to them, so we're going up against a team that has and always will get up for us. On top of that, the crowd is going to be fired up. This isn't going to be an easy game for us by any stretch of the imagination.

I agree with what you say, but I have also read that the two Chargers home games have been blacked out locally for them this year for lack of ticket sales. Anyone know if this game is sold out? I think a fair amount of Pats fans usually go to the games too, even though it's a tough place to play.

The game could definitely go either way. They desperately need a win, but they are limping badly coming into this one. Anyone know if Gates can go? He usually gives us fits, but couldn't put weight on his ankle at the end of the last game.

 

[patsfan-1982]

you can look at the teams that san digeo has faced this year and all of them have better CB's then the pats and Philip Rivers, is averageing over 316 yerds a game.



the rams defense played great sunday sacking Rivers, 7 times and still gave up 250 yerds and only won by a FG at home... Rivers, could have he's 3rd 400 yerd passing game this season vs the pats on sunday it will not be a easy win the pats will have to play very good on both sides of the ball to come out with a win,

 

[Willie55]

Vincent Jackson is holding out
Antonio Cromartie is gone
L.T is gone
Kasim Osgood Pro Bowl Special Teamer is gone
Jamal Williams Pro Bowl NT run stuffer is gone
Merriman is done in SD

and Floyd, the Chargers #1 WR is probably not going to play due to a hamstring injury

The Chargers are known for starting slow and going on huge winning streaks but it wont happen this year. They just dont have the talent anymore.

Patriots will be 5-1

Gates may not play either

Originally posted by patsfan-1982
you can look at the teams that san digeo has faced this year and all of them have better CB's then the pats and Philip Rivers, is averageing over 316 yerds a game.



the rams defense played great sunday sacking Rivers, 7 times and still gave up 250 yerds and only won by a FG at home... Rivers, could have he's 3rd 400 yerd passing game this season vs the pats on sunday it will not be a easy win the pats will have to play very good on both sides of the ball to come out with a win,

Obviously the Chargers are a passing team. And Belichick's well-known theory of shutting down what the other team does best and letting them beat you some other way tells us that he'll attempt to shut down the Charger's pass offense this week, while letting them run.

I think we saw that practice of taking away what a team does best this past weekend against the Ravens. The Pats were determined to stop the Raven's run game, which they did, not even letting up 100 yards, while letting Flacco pass on them.

 

[FalconHeavy]

Of all the members of the chargers team that were listed as not playing, an important one who will very much be there for next week is missing ...

NORV TURNER

 

[Triumph]

Arrington scares the hell out of me and Mcourty is taking his lumps as a rookie.

SD is desperate for a W and will attack this NE pass defense with no end.

 

[MassPats38]

The Chargers are 2-4, tied for second in the division with the Chiefs leading at 3-2. As lousy as that record may be, the Bolts are exactly one win from the division lead. Most teams are happy with just taking the division and getting in the playoffs and worry about home field when they reach that first goal. A win against the Pats, a team viewed by many as a top 5 team in the NFL, is just what the doctor ordered to get them back on track.

I expect it will be a tough game, and a tough game for the Pats to get up for after an overtime win followed by a cross-country trip. I'd love to see the Pats smack them around, but under the circumstances I'd be happy with a win.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Nice

As for the OP, just a reminder that the 2-4 San Diego Chargers are 1st in offense and 1st in defense.

They are 1st in yards per game but 5th in PPG (behind NE which is in 1st). They are the 18th on the CHFF Scoreability Index. It takes SD 16.54 yards to score a point, while NE scores a point for every 11.5 yards gained.

They are 1st in yards per game allowed, but they are 19th in PPG allowed (NE is 25th :bricks. They are 31st on the CHFF Bendability Index, allowing a point for every 12.07 yards. NE is 17th, allowing a point for every 16.51 yards.

So you have a defense that allows points for very few yards going against a team that is second in the league in scoring efficiency...I smell points. I expect NE to score above their average of 30.8 PPG. I'll say 34 points.

You also have an offense that is middle of the road in scoring efficiency going up against a defense that is middle of the road in scoring efficiency against. I would expect SD to achieve about their average of 26.2 PPG. Call it 27 points.

Allowing for a three point advantage to the home team, I'll say: NE 34 - SD 30.

 

[lostjumper]

The Chargers have faced the chiefs, jags, seahawks, cardinals, rams, and raiders. And they are 2-4. The Pat's would be 6-0 vs that schedule. Their #1 in yards vs those teams is not really anything special. I think the Pats will torch the chargers D. I'm guessing they score around 40 points.

 

[GrogansHeros]

Sounds to mee lke the Bolt coverage teams suck, which will give the PATS good field position...i still think it will be a struggle cuz this is basically SD season in the balance...to be 2-5 is just too big of a hole:bricks::bricks::bricks:

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Nice

As for the OP, just a reminder that the 2-4 San Diego Chargers are 1st in offense and 1st in defense.

And their STs are not just putrid, but historically bad.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

They're a jekyl and hyde team home and away

 

[BSR]

The Chargers have had a great passing attack, but half of their passing yards have been to Gates and Floyd. If those two aren't going, they are going to have to rely on Craig Davis, Patrick Crayton and Randy McMichael. If Gates and Floyd were both healthy this would be quite a test for our up and down pass defense. But I would feel much better about this game if Gates is out.

 

[ewg_gestalt]

The Chargers do have statistically one of the best offenses and one of the best defenses in the league. However, their special teams play has been so bad that you'd think a saboteur has been coaching them.

• They're giving up 24.4 yards per returned punt—5.5 more than runner-up Atlanta.
• They've given up 341 yards on punts—almost 75% more than Philadelphia.
• They're the only team to have given up TD's on both punts and kicks (3), and the only team to have given up more than one special team TD (4 + a safety).
• After just five weeks, they've had the sixth-highest total of disasters of any team in the last 60 years over a full season.

So, yeah, they're a scary team on offense and defense, but they're just as scary on special teams. Luckily for us, the ones that get scared are their own fans, not us.