State your reasons why either team will win (Bolts vs. Pats)

[lightningbolt]

My top 5 reasons for why the Bolts could win:

1) Patriots defense gave up 416 passing yards and 2 passing TDs to Chad Henne so imagine what Philip Rivers will do.

2) Vincent Jackson is playing unlike when the two teams played last season.

3) Antonio Gates is healthy and playing unlike when the two teams played last season.

4) Marcus McNeil, our left tackle is playing unlike the last time the two teams played.

5) Our secondary has improved with the addition of Bob Sanders, if he plays.



My top 5 reasons for why the Bolts could lose:

1) Tom Brady is playing insanely good right now. He could potentially put 30+ points on our defense before halftime.

2) Nate Kaeding, who is the most accurate kicker in NFL regular season history is out for the season due to an injury last week. If the game comes down to a field goal, we're screwed.

3) Our DE, Luis Castillo was injured last week as well and won't be playing, leaving us exposed to the run and weakening our pass pressure.

4) Our special teams gave up a touchdown on the opening kickoff last week which leads me to believe we might have the same issues that we had last year with special teams. Poor play on the part of our special teams could cost us the game.

5) Mike Tolbert, who accounted for all 3 of our touchdowns in week 1, won't be playing due to injury, and he's clearly the best running back on our team at the moment, as Ryan Matthews still hasn't shown he can carry the workload.

 

[patsfan-1982]

my reason why the pats will win
the pats Oline looks good and Tom Brady with time is unstopable

my reason why san diego could win
the pats Defense will give up yerds if they can turn that into TD's and not FG they got a shot

 

[Fencer]

Lede if Chargers win
Dan Fouts was a piker. Last Sunday, Philip Rivers ...

Lede if Patriots win
Dan Fouts was a piker. Last Sunday, Tom Brady ...

 

[Mark12]

The Patriots don't lose at home in the regular season. Tom Brady has had all these weapons for enough time to build a great chemistry. For these reasons I believe the Pats are gonna win.

The Patriots team we watched Monday night is FAR the team they could potentially be. I am excited for the season to unfold.

 

[BradyFTW!]

If the Chargers win, it will be because McCourty was outsized and overmatched on Vjax, we couldn't cover Gates, and/or they managed to collapse the pocket on Brady with a fair amount of consistency.

If the Pats win, it will be because they made the Chargers' offense one-dimensional (all passing), caused a turnover or two, and/or dominated TOP, wearing the Chargers out with a lot of no huddle.

If the Pats can figure out a way not to get completely murdered by Jackson and Gates, I'm confident that they'll win. I have more confidence in the line's ability to protect Brady right now, especially if Vollmer's back, than I have in some time.

 

[Nikolai]

Whichever team wins will be because their TEs performed better than the other team's TEs. I really think that will be the difference. Neither team has a fantastic pass rush to seriously disrupt either QB, but the Chargers do have a pretty good WR threat in VJax, to compliment the Pats multi-head monster of Welker-Branch-Slater(?)-Ocho.

Even despite all that, I see a game that will be low scoring in the early going.

We'll have to see. The Chargers usually play the Pats tough, but it seems like they always play in San Diego. The Bolts don't have as much success in Foxboro.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

We have to stop VJax and Gates from making big plays. They have to stop an emerging deadly TE duo and BJGE behind a pretty stout goaline front from scoring, not to mention Welker and Branch and Woodhead from consistently moving the chains, and Brady from running their D ragged with no huddle and up tempo offense, we're at home where we rarely lose, they're spending all day today on a plane...our ST is exponentially better across the board. We know what to expect from your defense, even including Bob Sanders...You haven't ever faced this defense...it's a sea change...

The only way we lose is if we turn the ball over multiple times or more than one of our WR's/TE's develop an uncharacteristic case of the yips or we lose multiple players on defense to injury early... With the depth we've got at most spots almost anything that happens would have to be in multiples to cause a critical impact.

 

[Kid~Brady]

My top 5 reasons for why the Bolts could win:

1) Patriots defense gave up 416 passing yards and 2 passing TDs to Chad Henne so imagine what Philip Rivers will do.

2) Vincent Jackson is playing unlike when the two teams played last season.

3) Antonio Gates is healthy and playing unlike when the two teams played last season.

4) Marcus McNeil, our left tackle is playing unlike the last time the two teams played.

5) Our secondary has improved with the addition of Bob Sanders, if he plays.



My top 5 reasons for why the Bolts could lose:

1) Tom Brady is playing insanely good right now. He could potentially put 30+ points on our defense before halftime.

2) Nate Kaeding, who is the most accurate kicker in NFL regular season history is out for the season due to an injury last week. If the game comes down to a field goal, we're screwed.

3) Our DE, Luis Castillo was injured last week as well and won't be playing, leaving us exposed to the run and weakening our pass pressure.

4) Our special teams gave up a touchdown on the opening kickoff last week which leads me to believe we might have the same issues that we had last year with special teams. Poor play on the part of our special teams could cost us the game.

5) Mike Tolbert, who accounted for all 3 of our touchdowns in week 1, won't be playing due to injury, and he's clearly the best running back on our team at the moment, as Ryan Matthews still hasn't shown he can carry the workload.

Tolbert's not playing? I thought he was. Have to change my fantasy team around now lol

 

[Fahrenhype]

The Chargers win if they turn the game into a slower paced, clock chewing affair. The Patriots defense still does not get off the field when it isn't forcing turnovers. Every third down that they do not defend worth a damn is more time that Brady sits on the bench.

That Patriots win if it is a shootout. Since Brady can seemingly go no huddle at will these days, the Chargers defense could get gassed if their offense isn't taking enough time off the clock on their drives. Trying to shut down one or two targets just isn't going to work when Brady has so many viable options. I expect the offensive line to play well since Connelly fills in well for Koppen, and Solder is a monster.

This game is probably a playoff preview but I'm not sure if it is going have much impact on seeding since the ultimate battle is making sure the Jets do not force the Pats into a wildcard position. They should have an easy win on Sunday against the Jags which could be a temporary setback, but it looks like the #2 team in the AFC North is a tougher draw this year than the defending conference champs* and the Jets play that game a week before coming to Gillette. The top seed in the AFC East could be a seesaw until later in the season

*I honestly cannot wait to see what Brady does to the Steelers defense. He carving them up even before they started looking old.

 

[patsinthesnow]

The Pats will win because they have the best TE tandem the NFL has ever seen.

The Chargers will win because of Patriot turnovers.

 

[livinginthe past]

The Chargers win if they turn the game into a slower paced, clock chewing affair. The Patriots defense still does not get off the field when it isn't forcing turnovers. Every third down that they do not defend worth a damn is more time that Brady sits on the bench.

You know, I just wish there was a game this season that I could reference where the Patriots D held an opponent to 2/14 3rd down conversions.

That'd make your little rant about 'not getting off the field' look pretty silly.

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Why the Pats will win:

1. They will score more than the Bolts.

The End.

 

[PatsCanDoIt]

Antonio Gates played last year. He Scored a TD. The best offensive player for the Chargers in that game was Darren Sproles. Marcus McNeil had a lot a trouble with Jared Allen last week. Actually the entire offensive line had trouble blocking. IDK if Floyd played last year but he wasn't thrown to.

This game will come down to pressure. Which defense can get to the QB. I like the Pats lines better.

 

[scout]

I think San Diego might see a little wrinkle in the Pats offense. I watched ESPN and they were all over the Pats and that 3 man tight end formation, which is geared to the run. Not so, with Brady who managed just over 500 yards with it. At some point, a team will try and defend against it, and BB has options ready. Meanwhile, the D jells. Right now, no one has an answer for the Patriots. Until they do, the Pats win regardless of who they play.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Last 10 trips to Foxboro SD has gone 1-9. And, we've heard about that game for 6 years. Charger fans forget about the losses in 07 here. But, cling to that 05 game as if it matters. Past history doesn't always indicate future results. Tom Brady has won 28 consecutive regular season games at home. That's 3 1/2 years. The Pats have won 17 straight at home. Undefeated in 09 and 10. Why would anyone pick the Chargers?

 

[BradyRocksMySox]

Tolbert's not playing? I thought he was. Have to change my fantasy team around now lol

Tolbert is playing, he just doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[serifyn]

This game will be a shootout, but i think it favors the patriots because they are at home and i dont think the chargers can get to Brady, Brady will win a shootout against any quarterback except Peyton Manning.

 

[goheels22002]

The Chargers win if they turn the game into a slower paced, clock chewing affair. The Patriots defense still does not get off the field when it isn't forcing turnovers. Every third down that they do not defend worth a damn is more time that Brady sits on the bench.[/i]

What? It's 2011, not 2010. The defense succeeded 86% of the time on 3rd down against the Dolphins in Week 1. This team does get off the field.

The Chargers lose in a slow-down game. They won't score enough points and will get stoned on 3rd downs if they grind away at 3 or 4 yards per play.

The Chargers win with perfect special teams play and by forcing Patriot turnovers. Otherwise it's a track meet and the Chargers defense will look like the Dolphins in the second half trying to catch their breath.

The Chargers need to focus on the rookies and returners and go for strips and turnovers every chance they get. Brady is not going to hand them the ball.

 

[Patriot Missile]

We should win because are uniforms are cooler.

 

[PatriotFan77]

Last 10 trips to Foxboro SD has gone 1-9. And, we've heard about that game for 6 years. Charger fans forget about the losses in 07 here. But, cling to that 05 game as if it matters. Past history doesn't always indicate future results. Tom Brady has won 28 consecutive regular season games at home. That's 3 1/2 years. The Pats have won 17 straight at home. Undefeated in 09 and 10. Why would anyone pick the Chargers?

I'm gonna go with this. Pats at home with Tom Brady playing out of his mind right now coupled with San Diego's penchant for slow starts.