The stat that bothers me most going into San Diego

[The Dude]

and beyond

Take-Aways, Give-Aways

Baltimore +15
San Diego +13

Indy +7
New England +5


All season turnovers have been a problem and corey's fumble on sunday and Tom's two errant almost INT throws didn't help my confidence level any.

If the Patriots can HOLD ONTO THE BALL and, the recievers run the correct routes, Brady makes smart throws I think we can beat San Diego.

If not we are in for a LOOONG day

 

[MrTibbs]

It's +15 because they run it a million times and dont fumble it. They have to be at the bottom of the league in regards to interceptions. They take care of the ball thats why it's so high at +15. You gotta get a lead and make Rivers beat you not LT. This years Chargers is just like the 01 Rams. EVERYTHING goes through LT, EVERYTHING! It wouldn't surprise me to see them dust off the Rams gameplan for next weeks game vs. the Chargers.

 

[MrTibbs]

Rivers did hit for 22 TD's and only 9 picks but when you have LT playaction becomes EXTREMELY effective. Were the matchup is good for the Patriots is they don't need 8 guys in the box to stuff the run. The front 7 can do it all alone for the most part.

 

[The Dude]

San Diego had 16 int this year on defense and recovered 24 fumbles on defense

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Every single stat I look at makes me feel miserable about this game.

So I choose to focus on one above all others:

12-2 v. 5-12.

 

[AirForcePatFan]

While the Chargers are their own team, I'm kinda thinking the Pats are going to gameplan them like they did the Steelers when Rothlisberger was a rookie... Make him beat you... I'm not convinced that Rivers can handle the pressure, because he has such a nice supporting cast... When it comes to stats and the postseason, it doesn't mean much to me because the playoffs are a totally different animal. Rivers had a few "iffy" games, pressure him, he won't be able to get the ball to his receivers... Hobbs will probably be picked on because of Samuels great year. I feel much better after seeing how the offensive line performed yesterday against the blitz, I hope they prepare for that again.... Anyway, I have a good gut feeling( if anyone wished to go off my gut... lol) that we will pull the upset... I love going in as the underdog, the pats historically perform so much better when people say they can't do something...

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

If we turn over the ball more than once, we will lose the game, IMO.

We can't just give them a short field and then let them tee off on Brady. That's why I think the x-factor in the game is how well Brady's skill players do. I think his O-line will do alright because they are usually more focused in big games and against tough teams. The O-line seems to rise to the challenge. I would like to see Brady's skill players get open.

One thing Marty has done recently is shut down our top WRs. If that happens, we better play amazing defense or else they will outscore us early and then our game plan will go down the drain. This is my biggest concern about the game.

 

[kotong]

Every single stat I look at makes me feel miserable about this game.

So I choose to focus on one above all others:

12-2 v. 5-12.

------------

Sorry to break the news to you: Marty no longer calls the plays.

Expect a lot of offensive schemes your DC haven't seen before from the Chargers this year.

12-2 is nice but as they say in investing: Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

:rocker:

 

[PABoltsnut]

As others have stated before me, the majority of our turnovers comes off of forced fumbles and pressure on the quarterback. Shaun Phillips and, obviously, Merriman are the big two you'll have to worry about. I can't count the number of fumbles they've forced this season coming off the edge.

Getting interceptions is going to be key though, IMO. Dropped INTs (a LOT by CB Drayton Florence) have plagued us all year, and if Tom makes a rare mistake, we simply HAVE to capitalize on it, beceause the chances for INTs we'll get agaisnt Brady are going to be few and fare between.

As far as the theory of "shut down LT and the Chargers are done" (ever see the NFL network commercial? Actually, next time you do, watch Rivers' dance scene at the end. I've never seen something more pathetic, lol), that's simply not the case. Rivers played pretty badly in Kansas City and in Seattle, but his late game throws to Vincent Jackson singlehandedly ensured the win for us in both games.

We were ranked 16th in the league in passing yards this year, compared to New England's 12th, so when comparing the two team's in throwing the ball, the difference isn't that great (less than 200 yards, in fact.)

I just noticed that New England was 12th in rushing yards in the league and 12th in passing yards - daaaamn! Talk about balance.