Let's give the Chargers their due

[Patters]

Watching that game, I felt pretty certain that the Pats were going to lose up until the fourth quarter. Plus, I was very nervous about the fourth quarter since the Chargers are generally an incredible fourth quarter team. LT lived up to all the hype; their OL lived up to its hype; they easily won the field position game; for much of the game they confused Brady. I thought some of their attempted interceptions were bluffs to intimidate Brady, and it worked. For awhile, Brady was throwing more and more cautious. He only changed course when we fell behind. The Pats beat a great team. Our bend but don't break philosophy was pushed to its outer limits and everyone from Brady to Brown to Faulk to Colvin to Caldwell to Hobbs had memorable clutch plays. We needed every single one of those clutch plays to win. Against any other opponent, if we played the way we played against the Chargers, we would have blown them away. I was impressed with the Chargers, and thank them for giving us a great afternoon of football. I don't think I've seen a game that exciting since we played the Rams in SBXXXVI.

 

[maverick4]

The Chargers would have won if Marty Schottenheimer wasn't coaching yesterday!

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

The Chargers are a great young team with a ton of talent and barring injuries, they will be a fixture in the AFC power scene for years to come.

Tomlinson is a stud and Rivers is becoming a very nice NFL QB.

Merriman, as much as a loud-mouth ghetto punk as he is, is the kind of the guy you hate if he's not on your team and you absolutely love if he is!

Jammers & Castillo are two stars in the making.

All they need is a new coach that can teach them to close the deal.

We'll see them again in an important game. Count on it!

 

[lander]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the kind comments when it's all too easy to slam the SD players and fans.

Your team is clutch when it matters most. Looking forward to next year's rematch at your house.

 

[ch3oh]

It was a nail-biter. Tough team. If they were to represent the AFC I am sure they would bring home the Lombardi.

 

[TruthSeeker]

The Chargers are a great, awesome, highly talented team. We are better, hehe.

 

[JR4]

Great young team. They learn to keep their emotions under control
they could go all the way. No real weakness. They are just going to
keep getting better. PATs got agining LBs and some FA changes perhaps.
It will be tough next year. LT is unreal. Turner is good also.
I say this ... winning this game gave me a sensation I never before
experienced ... even in the superbowls. For PATs to generate this
upset, and it was an upset, with two 4thQ drives was just mind blowing.

 

[rainmaker]

I don't remember the last time that every time, the opposing team got within our ten yard line, I thought they'd score the TD. SD is pretty hard to stop when they get in the red zone. In any case, the better team toughed out a hard fought victory, but SD (outside of Merriman) showed up to play.

 

[Return of the Nizz]

I think the Chargers have a lot of talent. I also think they're the dumbest team I've seen in a long time.

 

[spacecrime]

The Chargers would have won if Marty Schottenheimer wasn't coaching yesterday!

Schottenheimer didn't do especially well, but the Chargers still had the game won if McCree knocks the fourth down pass to the turf instead of catching it and then try to run with it.

 

[spacecrime]

The Chargers are a great, awesome, highly talented team. We are better, hehe.

It all goes back to Piioli. "We arebuilding a team, not collecting talented players." I try to remember this every time the Pats do not go after a talented player.

 

[CTPatsFan]

Their punter sure has a knack for dropping that ball near or inside the 10 doesn't he? Seemed like the Pats were starting every series between the 2 and 10 adding more pressure on TB.

 

[gomezcat]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the kind comments when it's all too easy to slam the SD players and fans.

Your team is clutch when it matters most. Looking forward to next year's rematch at your house.

The Chargers are a great team and have youth at the important positions. Get a Head Coach with a brain and you will have a very good chance at winning the Big One in the next couple of years.

 

[patsox23]

Yes, it's a shame with all the "class" and "Marty blew it!" nonsense (soooo short-sighted), that what gets lost in the shuffle is that the Chargers are a GREAT young team. LT is the best player the NFL has seen in quite awhile. He had a tremendous, unstoppable, BEAST of a game.

That's a scary team as long as they don't mess it up and let the window close. It's one of the most remarkable aspects of the Patriots' success - we've turned the roster over a LOT and find ourselves largely the same "kind" of team. Not sure SD will be able to do that - and it helps when you luck into a Tom Brady - so they'll need to push hard next year, but they have as much talent as anyone. And deserve credit for that, for a great season, and for a hard-fought game yesterday, all trash-talk and silly post-game tantrums aside.

 

[Pats726]

I agree..the Chargers were a tough opponent!! They are young and strong in a number of areas...and what is interesting as was pointed out, youmg in many areas. To be this youmg and this good will mean if they get a solid coach, will be a tough and formidable opponent for many years ahead! When looking at the team and their age..I was amazed!! They will only get better..and if they play smart...they will have a good chance again to get a bye.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

you thought they were going to lose? really.

it was 21-13 in the 4th and my friend who is only rooting for the Pats because he got them in a pool thought the game was over. I told him to keep watching, that the Patriots can pull a game out of nowhere. I knew the odds were against them at that point yet I still thought they'd find a way. I'd say I'm a homer but this team doesn't make such belief so far fetched.

 

[PatsFan211]

Clearly the Chargers weren't doing so well because we (New England) won.

This is how the rest of the games till the super bowl go:

New England (Patriots) -New Orleans (Saints)
:agree:

Indianapolis (Colts)-Chicago (Bears)

To get more info and a countdown to super bowl Sunday go to www.superbowl.com

 

[PatsDeb]

Props to the Chargers. Like some have said above, I didn't see how we were going to win this game. Except for the last drive of the 1st half, and the last two drives of the 2nd half, Brady didn't look so hot (but the defense WAS keeping us in the game). Even when we tied it in the 4th quarter, I had visions of LT breaking a long run (and our hearts) on the ensuing possession, but it didn't happen. Too bad things got out of hand at the end of the game. I am sure the Chargers and their fans were shocked and heartbroken.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

The Chargers played their best game of the season Sunday and it wasn't enough. They might beat us the next 5 times we play them but with all the cards on the table, and one of the greatest 4th quarter play from Brady I have ever seen was just enough to win.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

I agree..the Chargers were a tough opponent!! They are young and strong in a number of areas...and what is interesting as was pointed out, youmg in many areas. To be this youmg and this good will mean if they get a solid coach, will be a tough and formidable opponent for many years ahead! When looking at the team and their age..I was amazed!! They will only get better..and if they play smart...they will have a good chance again to get a bye.

Maybe, but to use the NFL expressions du jour, it is what it as, and you are what you are. Continuing with the du jour (lunchtime here), everybody was ready to crown their ass but it didn't happen.